Main Tabs Group

Overview
Formed: 
January 1, 2006

Disbanded: Group is active.

First Attack: March 2008: The Nazir Group detonated an improvised explosive device in front of a Pakistan Army brigade headquarters in Zari Noor, South Waziristan, Pakistan (5 killed, 11 wounded).[1]

Last Attack: August 2018: Nazir Group militants allegedly participated in a five-day siege mounted by the Taliban against Afghan security forces in southeastern Ghazni province, Afghanistan. Local Pakistani officials claimed that some of the Pakistani militants present during the siege belonged to Nazir Group, although these claims could not be independently verified (unknown casualties). [2]

The Nazir Group is a faction of the Pakistani Taliban that operates in the tribal agency of South Waziristan. The Nazir Group first gained prominence in 2006 when its original leader, Maulvi Nazir, was appointed as a Taliban leader in South Waziristan.[3] The Nazir Group primarily targets U.S.-led coalition forces and the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The group has aligned itself with Al Qaeda and embraced the philosophy of global jihad.[4] As of 2019, the Nazir Group is currently active under the leadership of Bahawal Khan and operates primarily in Wana, South Waziristan and the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.[5]

Narrative

The Nazir Group is a faction of the Pakistani Taliban that operates in South Waziristan, Pakistan. Although the group operates primarily in Wana, South Waziristan, it also conducts hit-and-run operations in the Khost, Paktia, and Paktika provinces of Afghanistan.[6] The group’s main goals are to “liberate” all Muslims and to establish global Shariah law. Although it is not known when the group officially formed, its origins trace back to the operations of its original leader, Maulvi Nazir. Nazir initially had ties to the Pakistani terrorist group Hezb-e-Islami in the 1980s, and he later joined the Afghan Taliban. The 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan drove Nazir to South Waziristan where took advantage of al Qaeda resources and built his reputation. In 2004, Nazir surrendered to Pakistani authorities, though he was promptly released by the military. He returned to the Taliban and gained popularity among the group’s leaders. In 2006, Nazir emerged as a powerful leader in the Taliban. He exercised control over operations in South Waziristan, often supported by pro-Taliban groups and co-ethnics from the Kakakhel tribe.[7] Other sources state that Nazir also identified as a leader of Al Qaeda.[8]

In 2007, the Nazir Group clashed with Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) militants operating in the area. Some blame the violence on the mounting political and economic tensions between the local population and “immigrant” Uzbeks living in the area.[9] Nazir’s economic opportunism is also cited as a reason for the clashes between the two groups. Nazir utilized his first victory over the IMU militants to call attention to the need for development projects and phone lines in the region. [10] Another source claims that the Nazir Group attacked the IMU after accusing Uzbek militants of assassinating al Qaeda operatives, including one of Nazir’s lieutenants, Sheikh Asadullah.[11] Both the Pakistan Army and the Nazir Group shared the goal of ousting foreign militants from the Waziristan region. During the fighting, Pakistani forces provided medical and logistical support for the Nazir Group.[12]

The Nazir Group briefly merged with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) when the TTP formed in 2007. However, this arrangement did not last. Disagreements between Maulvi Nazir and TTP leader Baitullah Mehsud over the Nazir Group’s rejection of Uzbek militants and its unwillingness to attack the Pakistani government drove the Nazir Group to leave the TTP in 2008.[13] On January 6, 2008, TTP militants allegedly attacked Nazir Group buildings, killing nine people. Nazir attributed this attack to Baitullah Mehsud and Uzbek supporters of Mehsud.[14] In response, the Nazir Group called upon the evacuation of all Mehsud tribespeople from Wana, the largest city in South Waziristan and a major “hub” for the Nazir Group.[15]

On July 9, 2008, the Nazir Group allied with the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group to create the Muqami Tehrik-e-Taliban (Local Taliban Movement).  The two groups continued their cooperation throughout 2008 and 2009. In February 2009, the Taliban leadership sent a delegation to urge the Nazir Group, the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, and the TTP to cease their infighting which distracted from the greater jihad in Afghanistan.[16] Cooperation was necessary to combat the additional 17,000 U.S. troops ordered by U.S. President Barack Obama to deploy to Afghanistan.  At the behest of the Taliban, the Nazir Group entered into a new alliance with both the TTP and the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group.[17] This umbrella organization, known as the Shura Ittihad al-Mujahedeen (Allied Mujahedeen Council), was formed under the command of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar, and the Haqqani Network patriarch Jalaluddin Haqqani.[18] Members of the Allied Mujahedeen Council pledged to combat the infidel governments of the United States, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.[19] Cooperation between the Nazir Group and the TTP appears to have been tenuous. In August 2010, a clash broke out between Nazir Group and TPP militants, resulting in three deaths.[20]

In 2011, the Nazir Group joined another umbrella organization, the Shura-e-Murakeba. Other members included the TTP, the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, and the Haqqani Network.[21] Al Qaeda brokered this alliance in order to unite various factions of the Taliban under a common plan of action. Members of the Shura-e-Murakeba refocused their efforts on fighting U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan. They also agreed to refrain from attacking Pakistani security forces and committing criminal acts in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).[22] However, tensions between TPP and Nazir Group re-emerged. On November 29, 2012, Nazir survived a suicide attack at the Rustam bazaar in Wana. Six militants were killed, twelve were wounded, and Nazir suffered wounds to his face and legs. Although no group claimed responsibility for the suicide attack, Nazir considered TPP responsible. The attack rekindled the longstanding rivalry between Ahmedzai Wazir tribesmen, who made up a significant proportion of Nazir Group, and Mehsud tribes, which dominated the TPP. Following the violence, Nazir once again ordered the evacuation of all Mehsud tribesmen from Wana. Nazir threatened to fine and demolish the houses of those who remained behind.[23]

In February 2013, the U.S. State Department designated the Nazir Group as a global terrorist entity and added Maulvi Nazir to its list of global terrorists. The U.S. State Department justified the designation on the grounds that the Nazir Group engaged in transnational attacks against U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan and provided sanctuary for Al Qaeda.[24]  The earliest recorded U.S. attack against Nazir occurred on October 31, 2008, when a U.S. drone strike targeted Nazir and Tahir Yuldahsev, reportedly wounding Nazir.[25] Later in 2009, U.S. drones also struck and destroyed a training camp run by Malang Wazir, a Nazir Group commander.[26] The U.S. has routinely conducted drone strikes in South Waziristan, targeting al Qaeda leaders harbored by the Nazir Group.[27] On September 28, 2014, two militants were killed and one militant was wounded in a U.S. drone attack in Karikot. These militants were reportedly members of the Nazir Group. Ainullah, a commander of Nazir Group, was supposedly the intended target of the U.S. drone attack.[28]

The Pakistani military and intelligence services have not undertaken major counterterrorism operations against the Nazir Group. The Nazir Group does not openly seek to overthrow the existing Pakistani government, and it has primarily operated in Afghanistan. For these reasons, the Pakistani government does not consider the group to be a pressing threat.[29] Pakistani security forces historically supported jihadist groups to compensate for their inability to achieve victory over India in conventional warfare. [30] The Nazir Group has been regarded as a strategic asset for hedging against Indian interests in Afghanistan.[31] In October 2009, the Pakistani government launched a military operation against TTP that left Nazir Group untouched.[32]

Pakistani officials have referred to Nazir Group as “good Taliban” for focusing their jihad against U.S. and NATO forces across the border, rather than against Pakistani troops.[33] Since 2007, the Pakistani government has negotiated several peace deals with the Nazir Group, allowing the group to rule openly in South Waziristan.[34] The most recent source that discusses peace agreements between the government and the Nazir Group suggests that an agreement was still in effect as of September 2014.[35] In exchange for its cooperation, the Nazir Group pressures the Pakistani government to minimize U.S. drone strikes in South Waziristan.[36] Despite these agreements, the group has historically provided safe haven to leaders of the TTP and Al Qaeda. The most recent evidence of this partnership, however, is from 2013.[37]

On January 3, 2013, Maulvi Nazir died in a U.S. drone strike. Bahawal Khan (also known by the alias Salahuddin Ayubi) was subsequently appointed as the leader of the Nazir Group.[38] The U.S. has listed both Khan and his sub-commander, Malang Nazir, on the official list of global terrorists. The group is currently active under Khan’s leadership. In late 2013, the U.S. launched several drone strikes in Wana, South Waziristan that targeted key Nazir Group operatives.[39] The Pakistani government openly condemned these air strikes, citing them as a breach of sovereignty.

In April 2007, members of the Nazir Group allegedly formed the Aman (Peace) Committee after signing a peace agreement with the Pakistani government.[40] The agreement identified Nazir as the head of the Aman Committee. Other members of Nazir Group, including Malang, Haleemullah, Metha Khan and Abdul Hanan, were named as Nazir’s deputies.[41] After Nazir’s death, the Aman Committee broke into five factions, each headed by a different leader. Members of the Aman Committee are largely composed of Ahmadzai Wazir tribesmen, and the group is considered to be a government-backed militia.[42]

The Aman Committee has allegedly imprisoned residents, taxed businesses, silenced government critics and militants, and punished those found supporting Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan militants.[43] Members of the Aman Committee have also amassed significant wealth by settling land disputes.[44] On June 3, 2018, a clash between armed Aman Committee members and activists from the Pashtun Tahafuz Protection Movement resulted in the deaths of three activists.[45] Many sources attribute the attack to the Nazir Group, but the group has yet to confirm these allegations.[46] Despite local discontent, Pakistani security forces view the Aman Committee as vital in maintaining stability in Wana, a town that has been inhabited by militant groups since the start of the War on Terror.[47] On June 7, 2018, a tribal council succeeded in obtaining a truce between the Nazir Group and the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement until June 25, 2018.[48]

Organization

Vertical Tabs

Leadership

Maulvi Nazir (2006-2013): Maulvi Nazir was the second most important Taliban leader in South Waziristan after Baitullah Mehsud. He was a dual citizen of Pakistan and Afghanistan and was a member of the Kakakhel tribe. He was first associated with Hezb-e-Islami before joining the Taliban movement in Afghanistan.[49] Nazir fought with the Taliban in Afghanistan since before 2001, and he moved back to South Waziristan after Kabul fell to U.S.-led coalition forces.[50] As a Taliban commander, Nazir developed connections to numerous militant groups in the region, including the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban, Al Qaeda, and various Pakistani and Central Asian jihadist groups.[51] In 2004, Nazir briefly surrendered to Pakistani authorities but was promptly released by the military, after signing a peace agreement with Nek Mohammad. [52] Nazir sought to implement Shariah law in South Waziristan and expel Uzbek militants from Pakistan. After he was appointed the emir of the Taliban’s Wazir faction in 2006, Nazir worked to build close ties between the Nazir Group and other militant organizations, such as Al Qaeda and the Haqqani Network.[53] Other sources state that Nazir also identified as a leader of Al Qaeda.[54] In a 2011 interview with Asia Times, Nazir affirmed his support for the Afghan Taliban and Al Qaeda and insisted that the Taliban and Al Qaeda share the same goal of global jihad. Nazir was killed in January 2013 by a U.S. drone strike.[55]

Malang Nazir (2013 to present): Malang Nazir was appointed as a sub-commander of the Nazir Group in January 2013. He oversaw training centers and deployed militants to Afghanistan to support the Taliban. Before his appointment, Malang was involved in multiple operations in Pakistan and attacks against U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan. In 2008, Malang claimed responsibility on behalf of the Nazir Group for a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack against Pakistani soldiers in South Waziristan.[56] The U.S. State Department listed Malang Nazir as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in August 2013.[57] As of 2018, Malang serveas as head of one of five Pakistani factions of the Aman Committee.[58]

Bahawal Khan (2013 to present): Bahawal Khan, also known by his alias Salahuddin Ayubi, took command of the Nazir Group in 2013 after the death of Maulvi Nazir. Khan fought with Nazir in the Taliban, and the two had maintained a close relationship.[59] At the time of his appointment, officials predicted that Khan would maintain the tribal consensus achieved previously by Nazir. This tribal support ensured that the Nazir Group could operate peacefully out of Wana, Pakistan.[60] Khan has vowed to continue to support Al Qaeda and conduct attacks in Afghanistan. The U.S. State Department listed Khan as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in August 2013.[61] As of 2018, Bahawal also remains as head of one of five factions of the Aman Committee.[62]

Size Estimates
  • May 2007: no more than 3,000 (The Jamestown Foundation)[66]
  • December 2007: 3,000 to 4,000 (Gunaratna)[67]
  • February 2013: 8,000 to 10,000 (BBC)[68]
Name Changes

The Nazir Group is also known as the Waziri Taliban, the Mullah Nazir Group, and Commander Nazir Group.[63] In April 2007, members of the Nazir Group formed the Aman (Peace) Committee after signing a peace agreement with the Pakistani government.[64] Attacks by the Aman Committee have been attributed to the Nazir Group.[65]

Resources

The Nazir Group likely secures revenue from the same sources as other factions within the Pakistani Taliban. Al Qaeda and other militant organizations permitted to take sanctuary in South and North Waziristan provide funding to Taliban groups. Militants also impose taxes and protection fees on locally-controlled populations. Other sources of revenue include donations in the name of jihad, exploitation of natural resources, and money from criminal activities.[69]

Locations

Disclaimer: This is a partial list of where the militant organization has bases and where it operates. This does not include information on where the group conducts major attacks or has external influences.

The Nazir Group’s base of operations is in Wana, Pakistan.[70] The group operates primarily in the Ahmed Zai Wazir tribal territory of South Waziristan Agency.[71] Additionally, it has conducted hit and run operations in Afghanistan, specifically in the Khost, Paktia, and Paktika provinces.[72]

Strategy

Vertical Tabs

Ideology and Goals

Like the Afghan Taliban, the Nazir Group is committed to the enforcement of Shariah law.[73] The Nazir Group’s founding ideology was based on the teachings of the twentieth century Islamists Syed Abdu A’la Mawdud and Hassan al-Banna. Their writings rejected Western democracy as unacceptably secular and called for an Islamic state.[74] Nazir’s rhetoric was also influenced by Seyyid Qutb, who advocated violent overthrow of secular regimes.[75]

Unlike the Afghan Taliban, which focuses on jihad only in Afghanistan, the Nazir Group’s stated objective is global jihad. The Nazir Group seeks to “liberate” all Muslims and to establish global Shariah law. However, the Nazir Group is focused on first combatting U.S.-led coalition forces and the government of Afghanistan before conquering disputed areas such as Kashmir and Palestine.[76] The Nazir Group has not openly advocated for the overthrow of the Pakistani state, and it opposes U.S. and Indian intervention in the region.[77]

Political Activities

Although the Nazir Group is not officially involved in Pakistani politics, the Pakistani government has previously engaged in peace talks with the group because it does not openly seek to overthrow the existing Pakistani government.[78] Since 2007, the Pakistani government has negotiated several peace deals with the Nazir Group, allowing the group to rule openly in South Waziristan.[79] In spring 2007, the Nazir Group controlled most of the western part of South Waziristan. During this time, the Nazir Group imposed strict Shariah law without the hindrance of the Pakistani government or military. The group also instituted Islamic courts to settle local disputes in accordance with this extreme interpretation of Islamic law.[80]

The Nazir Group and Pakistani government have often shared overlapping interests. For example, in 2007, the Pakistani government benefited from the Nazir Group’s expulsion of Uzbek militants from South Waziristan.[81] In October 2009, the Nazir Group permitted Pakistani forces to conduct a large-scale military operation against their shared enemy, the TTP.[82] In exchange for its cooperation, the Nazir Group has pressured the Pakistani government to minimize U.S. drone strikes in South Waziristan.[83] Although the Nazir Group has not openly advocated for the overthrow of the Pakistani state, the group opposes any U.S. or Indian involvement in the region. Nazir’s successor, Bahawal Khan, appears to have continued a cooperative relationship with Pakistani military.[84]

In April 2013, the Nazir Group summoned electoral candidates contesting the National Assembly seat in South Waziristan for a meeting. Candidates were instructed to meet at Nazir commander Ainullah’s office at Kari Kot Bazaar.[85]

Targets And Tactics

The primary targets of the Nazir Group are U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan and the Pakistani government. Since 2006, the Nazir Group has facilitated training camps, dispatched suicide bombers, provided safe haven for Al Qaeda forces, and targeted the citizens of Afghanistan and Pakistan with assassiantions and attacks.[86] The group has also conducted cross-border operations against U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan and provided the Haqqani Network in Afghanistan with mercenary fighters.[87]

Attacks

Disclaimer: These are some selected major attacks in the militant organization's history. It is not a comprehensive listing but captures some of the most famous attacks or turning points during the campaign.

March 2008: The Nazir Group conducted a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack in front of a Pakistan Army brigade headquarters in Zari Noor, South Waziristan, Pakistan (5 killed, 11 wounded).[88]

May 2011: The Nazir Group broke a ceasefire agreement with the Pakistani government and attacked a Pakistan Army camp in Wana, Pakistan with missiles and rockets (unknown casualties).[89]

June 4, 2018: Armed militants mounted an attack on a gathering of the Pashtun Tashaffuz Movement (PTM) in Wana, South Waziristan, Pakistan. The attackers identified themselves as members of the Aman Committee, a militant entity that is comprised of Nazir Group members. Sources attribute the attack to the Nazir Group, but the group has yet to confirm these allegations (3 killed, 20 wounded).[90]

August 2018: Nazir Group militants allegedly participated in a five-day siege mounted by the Taliban against Afghan security forces in southeastern Ghazni province, Afghanistan. Local Pakistani officials claimed that some of the Pakistani militants present during the siege belonged to Nazir Group, although these claims could not be independently verified (unknown casualties).[91]

Interactions

Vertical Tabs

Designated / Listed
  • U.S. State Department Terrorist Designations List: February 26, 2013 to present[92]
  • U.S. Office of Foreign Assets control Specially Designated Nationals List: February 23, 2013 to present[93]
  • U.S. State Department Specially Designated Global Terrorist List: August 6, 2013 to present[94]
Community Relations

The Nazir Group has a strong presence in Southern Waziristan Agency, especially in the administrative capital of Wana. The group has used the territory it controls in this region to stage cross-border operations against U.S. coalition forces in Afghanistan. A 2009 report suggests that the Nazir Group has also maintained training camps in the Ahmedzai Wazir tribal territory and attempts to recruit young Pakistanis from the surrounding area.[95]

The Nazir Group also exercises ideological and legal control over the local population in South Waziristan.[96] The Nazir Group enforces Shariah law in its areas of territorial control.[97] After an agreement with authorities in April 2007, Nazir Group members of the Aman Committee have exercised control over half a million members of the Ahamdzai Wazir tribe with support from the Pakistani government.[98] Aman Committee militants allegedly clashed with activists from the Pashtun Tahafuz (Protection) Movement in June 2018, killing three activists.[99]

In 2012, the Nazir Group distributed pamphlets which warned health workers to cease polio vaccination operations until the drone strikes were stopped. These pamphlets came in response to a fake polio vaccination campaign led by the Central Intelligence Agency in Abbottabad.[100]

Relationships With Other Groups

The Nazir Group briefly merged with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) when the TTP formed in 2007. However, this arrangement did not last, and Nazir Group militants left the TTP in early 2008.[101] The split stemmed from a dispute between Maulvi Nazir and TTP leader Baitullah Mehsud over the presence of Uzbek militants in South Waziristan. Mehsud benefitted from the support of the Uzbek militants and therefore was in favor of their operations in the area.[102] In contrast, Nazir disliked the Uzbek militants for political and economic reasons. He accused Uzbek militants of killing more than 200 tribal elders in the region and blamed them for killing an Nazir Group commander.[103] The Nazir Group clashed with the Uzbek militants in 2007, prompting the TTP to respond. The TTP subsequently conducted several assassination attempts against Nazir, sparking open hostilities between the TTP and Nazir Group.[104]

Despite its history of conflict with the TTP, the Nazir Group entered into an alliance with the TTP and the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group in 2009. This umbrella organization, known as the Shura Ittihad al-Mujahedeen (Allied Mujahedeen Council), was formed on the command of Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar, and the Haqqani Network patriarch Jalaluddin Haqqani.[105] The alliance formed after U.S. President Barack Obama decided to deploy an additional 17,000 troops to Afghanistan. Members of the Allied Mujahedeen Council pledged to combat the infidel governments of the United States, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.[106]

In 2011, the Nazir Group joined with three other major Taliban groups – the TTP, the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, and the Haqqani Network – to form another umbrella organization, the Shura-e-Murakeba.[107] Al Qaeda brokered this alliance in order to unite various factions of the Taliban under a common plan of action that targeted U.S.-led coalition forces. Shura-e-Murakeba members also agreed to refrain from attacking Pakistani security forces and committing criminal acts in the FATA.[108]

The Nazir Group has maintained a relationship with the Afghan Taliban, the Tanzim Al Qaeda al-Jihad, the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, and the Islamic Jihad Union. The Nazir Group has built a close alliance with the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, the members of which also belong to the Wazir Tribe.[109] The Nazir Group may also be connected to Ansarul Mujahideen, a group which mounted attacks on Pakistani troops in retaliation for the drone strikes that killed Nazir.[110]

Although the Nazir Group has made various agreements with the Pakistani government to refrain from assisting other militant organizations, the group has reneged on its promises. In 2009, the Nazir Group agreed that it would not shelter Al Qaeda members or members of the TTP. However, the Nazir Group has a history of providing safe haven to leaders of the TTP and Al Qaeda.[111] Specifically, the Nazir Group has protected high-ranking Al Qaeda leaders, such as Ilyas Kashmiri, Abu Khabab al Masri, Osama al Kini, Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan, and Abu Zaid al Iraqi (all of whom were killed while under Nazir’s protection).[112] The Nazir Group has also sheltered members of the Pakistani Taliban, in violation of their agreement with the Pakistani government.[113] Because the Nazir Group aids groups that attack Pakistani institutions, the Pakistani government is officially unopposed to the United States’ decision to target the group.[114]

State Sponsors And External Influences

Al Qaeda’s mission of global jihad has ideologically influenced the Nazir Group.[115] This focus differentiates the Nazir Group from most other Taliban factions, specifically those in Afghanistan, which are only concerned with conducting jihad in the surrounding regions currently infiltrated by U.S.-led coalition forces.[116] The group is heavily dependent on external support to sustain its operations.[117]

Footnotes
Footnotes: 

[1]  Terrorist Designations of the Commander Nazir Group and Malang Wazir.” 2017. U.S. Department of State. Web. 26 Feb. 2013. <http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/266577.htm>.

[2] Habibzada, Mohammad. “Afghanistan, Pakistan at Odds Over Ghazni Assault Claims.” VOA News, August 16, 2018. https://www.voanews.com/extremism-watch/afghanistan-pakistan-odds-over-g...

[3]  “South Waziristan’s Maulvi Nazir: The New Face of the Taliban.” 2017. Jamestown. Web. 14 May, 2007. <https://jamestown.org/program/south-waziristans-maulvi-nazir-the-new-fac....

[4] “Question Mark of South Waziristan: Biography and Analysis of Maulvi Nazir Ahmad.” 2017. Critical Threats. Web. 17 July. 2009. https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/question-mark-of-south-waziristan-biography-and-analysis-of-maulvi-nazir-ahmad; “'Good’ Pakistani Taliban Leader Nazir Affirms Membership in Al Qaeda.” 2017. FDD’s Long War Journal. Web. 4 May, 2011. <http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2011/05/good_pakistani_taliban_le....

[5] “Bahawal Khan to Succeed Pakistan Militant Leader Mullah Nazir.” BBC News. Web. 4 Jan. 2013. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-20909841; “Question Mark of South Waziristan: Biography and Analysis of Maulvi Nazir Ahmad.” 2017. Critical Threats. Web. 17 July. 2009. <https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/question-mark-of-south-wazirist....

[6] Gunaratna, Rohan, and Douglas Woodall, eds. Afghanistan After the Western Drawdown, 226-227. Rowman & Littlefield, 2015.

[7] “South Waziristan’s Maulvi Nazir: The New Face of the Taliban.” 2017. Jamestown. Web. 14 May, 2007. <https://jamestown.org/program/south-waziristans-maulvi-nazir-the-new-face-of-the-taliban/>.

[8] Killed 2 'Arabs' In First Drone Strike In South Waziristan In More Than A Year". FDD's Long War Journal. https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/09/us_killed_2_arabs_in.php; Roggio, Bill. 2016. "Pakistan: Friend Or Foe In The Fight Against Terrorism? | FDD's Long War Journal". FDD's Long War Journal. https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2016/07/pakistan-friend-or-foe-i...

[9] “South Waziristan’s Maulvi Nazir: The New Face of the Taliban.” 2017. Jamestown. Web. 14 May, 2007. <https://jamestown.org/program/south-waziristans-maulvi-nazir-the-new-face-of-the-taliban/>.

[10] “South Waziristan’s Maulvi Nazir: The New Face of the Taliban.” 2017. Jamestown. Web. 14 May, 2007. <https://jamestown.org/program/south-waziristans-maulvi-nazir-the-new-face-of-the-taliban/>.

[11] Roggio, Bill. 2008. “Taliban Commanders Clash in South...” FDD’s Long War Journal. FDD’s Long War Journal. January 9, 2008. https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/01/taliban_commanders_c.php.

[12] “South Waziristan’s Maulvi Nazir: The New Face of the Taliban.” 2017. Jamestown. Web. 14 May, 2007. <https://jamestown.org/program/south-waziristans-maulvi-nazir-the-new-face-of-the-taliban/>.

[13] Gunaratna, Rohan, and Douglas Woodall, eds. Afghanistan After the Western Drawdown, 226-227. Rowman & Littlefield, 2015; “Question Mark of South Waziristan: Biography and Analysis of Maulvi Nazir Ahmad.” 2017. Critical Threats. Web. 17 July. 2009. <https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/question-mark-of-south-wazirist....

[14] Roggio, Bill. 2008. “Taliban Commanders Clash in South...” FDD’s Long War Journal. FDD’s Long War Journal. January 9, 2008. https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/01/taliban_commanders_c.php.

[15] Roggio, Bill. 2008. “Taliban Commanders Clash in South...” FDD’s Long War Journal. FDD’s Long War Journal. January 9, 2008. https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/01/taliban_commanders_c.php; Roggio, Bill. 2014. "US Killed 2 'Arabs' In First Drone Strike In South Waziristan In More Than A Year". FDD's Long War Journal. https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/09/us_killed_2_arabs_in.php.

[16] Gall, Carlotta. 2009. “Pakistan and Afghan Taliban Close Ranks.” The New York Times, March 26, 2009. https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/27/world/asia/27taliban.html?_r=2.

[17] The Survivalist of North Waziristan: Hafiz Gul Bahadur Biography and Analysis.” Critizal Threats. Web. 6 August, 2009. < https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/the-survivalist-of-north-waziri....

[18] “Question Mark of South Waziristan: Biography and Analysis of Maulvi Nazir Ahmad.” 2017. Critical Threats. Web. 17 July. 2009. <https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/question-mark-of-south-wazirist....

[19] Gunaratna, Rohan, and Douglas Woodall, eds. Afghanistan After the Western Drawdown, 226-227. Rowman & Littlefield, 2015; “Question Mark of South Waziristan: Biography and Analysis of Maulvi Nazir Ahmad.” 2017. Critical Threats. Web. 17 July. 2009. <https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/question-mark-of-south-wazirist....

[20] The Newspaper’s Correspondent. 2010. “Hakimullah`s Men Clash with Nazir Group; Three Killed.” DAWN.COM. August 19, 2010. https://www.dawn.com/news/554448/hakimullahaes-men-clash-with-nazir-grou....

[21] “Taliban Name Mullah Nazir’s Replacement.” 2017. FDD’s Long War Journal. Web. 4 Jan. 2013. <http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/01/taliban_name_mullah.php>.

[22] “Taliban Name Mullah Nazir’s Replacement.” 2017. FDD’s Long War Journal. Web. 4 Jan. 2013. <http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/01/taliban_name_mullah.php>.

[23] LWJ Staff. “Mullah Nazir Orders All Mehsud Tribesmen to Leave...” FDD’s Long War Journal, FDD’s Long War Journal, 2 Dec. 2012, www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/12/mullah_nazir_orders_all_mehsud.php. Accessed 23 Nov. 2019.

[24] “Terrorist Designations of the Commander Nazir Group and Malang Wazir.” 2017. U.S. Department of State. Web. 26 Feb, 2013. <http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/266577.htm.>

[25] Roggio, Bill. 2009. “US Strikes Target Mullah Nazir in South...” FDD’s Long War Journal. FDD’s Long War Journal. June 18, 2009. https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/06/us_strikes_target_mu.php.

[26] Roggio, Bill. 2009. “US Strikes Target Mullah Nazir in South...” FDD’s Long War Journal. FDD’s Long War Journal. June 18, 2009. https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/06/us_strikes_target_mu.php.

[27] Roggio, Bill. 2014. "US Killed 2 'Arabs' In First Drone Strike In South Waziristan In More Than A Year | FDD's Long War Journal". FDD's Long War Journal. https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/09/us_killed_2_arabs_in.php.

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