Hafiz Gul Bahadur, the most powerful Taliban commander in North Waziristan agency and an ally of the Haqqani Network, menaced recently that he would tear up a long-standing peace deal with the Pakistani military.The threat comes after the Pakistani military caused significant collateral damage when it retaliated against a militant attack on one of its positions.

Numerous terrorist plots targeting the U.S., Western interests, and Pakistan have been planned in, launched from, or facilitated in North Waziristan.

The tribesmen's long-delayed return to Waziristan is significant because their successful resettlement will do more to re-establish stability and deny the Taliban a safe haven in the agency than any military operation could.

Terror in Pakistan has been sporadic and limited, however, military activity elsewhere in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), has significantly increased.

The Pakistani government has been conducting military operations in South and North Waziristan since the beginning of June to eliminate the country's most wanted terrorist, Beitullah Mehsud, and his network.

This AEI Critical Threats briefing will address the status of the conflict in Waziristan and its impact on regional security concerns.

Hafiz Gul Bahadur is a key Taliban leader in North Waziristan and an enigmatic man of complex ideology, shifting alliances, and an overarching commitment to his own survival.