On September 19th, 2024, a security post in South Waziristan, Pakistan was attacked by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or the Pakistani Taliban. During the attack, 6 people were killed after the TTP opened fire on the security post along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The Pakistani military along the Durand line in North Waziristan, Pakistan states they killed 7 militants who were carrying ammunition and explosives coming from Afghanistan. The TTP operates out of Afghanistan and aligns themselves with the Afghan Taliban. However, the Afghan Taliban denies giving them posts along the Durand Line. On September 18th, 2024, Munir Akram, Pakistan’s Representative to the United Nations, told the UN Security Council that the Pakistani Taliban is a growing threat that would soon become a major global terrorist group.
This article is important because it shows that the Pakistani Taliban is willing to make bolder moves to try to overthrow the Pakistani government. The Pakistani Taliban might have attacked the posts shortly after Akram’s meeting with the UN Security Council to use the media to bring more attention to their group. Since the TTP has claimed that the Taliban in Afghanistan has given them safety along the Durand Line, this might affect the relationship between the two countries.
I think that Pakistan should build more security around the Durand Line for protection. They should also speak to the UN again for help to fight the TTP. They should restate how the Pakistani Taliban is becoming a bigger threat to Pakistan and moving towards becoming a larger global terrorist group.
This article connects to what we have been discussing other actors that play a big role in international relations. Terrorist groups like the TTP are able to affect where a country focuses their military and protection. The threat of the TTP coming into Pakistan is making headlines and forcing Pakistan to warn the UN.