Location of Waziristan in Pakistan
Waziristan is a region of northern Pakistan named for the Wazir tribe of Pashtuns. It covers 5,800 square miles, and it is divided into North Waziristan and South Waziristan, both tribal areas where Pashtuns make up the majority of the population. Since 2001, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, al-Qaeda, Turkestan Islamic Party, and other militant groups have used Waziristan as a safe haven from the Afghanistan War while also waging an insurgency against the government; now, United States CIA drone strikes and Pakistan Army offensives target the Taliban offensives.