Pakistan, for the first time in its history, is stationing an additional 6,000 para-military police units in the border areas in the southwest. This is Baluchistan. The 16,000 police already in Baluchistan only operate in the provincial capital and a few large towns. In the rest of Baluchistan, tribal law prevails, and each tribe has its own laws. Osama bin Laden is thought to be hiding in Baluchistan. Pakistan has long wanted to assert its control over the tribal areas, but has lacked the resources to do so. Apparently some of the American military aid is being earmarked for operations in the tribal areas.