 The attack on the tribal council took place in Orakzai, normally a relatively quiet corner of the nation's chaotic tribal areas.On 19 October 2008, the news media began to broadcast the news of Pakistan Army troops, led by an army lieutenant, being locked in a fierce battle with foreign militants to keep open the line routes to NATO forces in Afghanistan.For several months, the foreign militants had been trying to either attack or seal off the supply routes.