RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, October 12, 2009, The Daily Beast
Bruce Riedel says this weekend’s attack on the army headquarters in Rawalpindi, the military center of Pakistan, underscores the volatility and fragility in the world’s second largest Muslim country. Riedel argues that the United States must encourage Pakistan too keep moving against extremists while assuring them we will not abandon the fight in the region. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Jason Campbell, Michael E. O'Hanlon and Jeremy Shapiro, October 07, 2009, The New York Times
Iraq remains between peace and war while the situation in Afghanistan still appears to be deteriorating, and Pakistan is doing better than Afghanistan but more progress is needed. Jason Campbell, Michael O'Hanlon and Jeremy Shapiro examine leading metrics from all three countries to assess how well the counterinsurgency and stabilization operations are faring. Read More
PAST EVENT
Monday, October 05, 2009
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Washington, DC
Afghanistan and Pakistan have challenged President Obama since he took office, as questions persist about the success of U.S. policies in the region. On October 5, Brookings hosted the launch of a new Pakistan Index with a discussion on the state of the Afghanistan mission and the effort to address extremist activities in Pakistan. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
David J. Kilcullen, September 10, 2009, The Brookings Institution
Leading counterinsurgency expert David Kilcullen argues that Pakistani security forces have performed inadequately against insurgents in the frontier with Afghanistan because poor governance and societal weaknesses have been exacerbated by decades of violence and lawlessness. Heavy-handed military tactics by the army have resulted in a perpetuation of violence, and have only further undermined local governance. A fundamental rethink of Pakistan’s political strategy is therefore necessary. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, August 27, 2009, YaleGlobal Online
Bruce Riedel writes that Afghanistan’s presidential election could provide a critical update on the progress of the war in that country. He argues the U.S. and NATO appear to have the upper hand given the Taliban's failure to have a major influence on the election, but says questions on the electoral process and regional impact still need to be answered. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Abdul Malik, August 21, 2009, The Brookings Institution
Pakistan has historically received large volumes of aid but it has also faced an increasingly difficult task of aid coordination. Abdul Malik examines aid quality and discusses its implication for the coordination and effectiveness of aid. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Saleem H. Ali, August 19, 2009, The Brookings Institution
The rise of Islamic militancy in Pakistan during 2008 and 2009 and the resulting military operation in the Swat valley can be traced back to the inculcation of radical ideologies among the youth in the Frontier region, many of whom attended madrassas. Saleem Ali provides recommendations to the Pakistani government as well as to U.S. policy makers and the international donor community regarding madrassas in Pakistan. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, August 19, 2009, The Daily Beast
Seen as a test of the United States’ new strategy in Afghanistan and the Taliban's influence in the country, Bruce Riedel believes the stakes in the August 20 Afghanistan elections are higher than who will be elected president for the next five years. He writes that if the elections are successful, the NATO mission and Afghan government will get a boost of confidence and legitimacy that has been badly needed. Read More
VIDEO
Bruce Riedel, August 10, 2009
Afghans voted on August 20 in the second presidential election since the Taliban were ousted by U.S.-led forces in late 2001. Despite a resurgent Taliban, Bruce Riedel says that victory in Afghanistan is attainable and that a clean election is absolutely critical to the legitimacy of the government.
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, August 10, 2009, The Daily Beast
Following the apparent death of Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud in a Predator drone strike, Bruce Riedel looks to the next target. Riedel says America and its allies must eliminate the far more dangerous and elusive Mullah Muhammad Omar because of his leading role in the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael Fullilove and Anthony Bubalo, July 28, 2009, The Australian Financial Review
Though there have been increased attacks, growing casualties and falling popular support, Michael Fullilove and Anthony Bubalo write that Afghanistan is still winnable. They believe the Obama administration has done well by increasing resources and refocusing on what can be achieved, and say there is too much at stake for the West to conclude Afghanistan is the graveyard of foreign armies and depart. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, July 23, 2009, The National Interest
Bruce Riedel warns not to be fooled by some of the positive news from Pakistan, because the Taliban and their allies have gained significant power there recently. Riedel says we face the potential of a nuclear-armed state run by Islamic extremists, shows the devastating consequences of such and offers ideas to keep it from occurring. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Daniel L. Byman, July 14, 2009, ForeignPolicy.com
CIA Director Leon Panetta has cancelled a secret CIA plan to train anti-terrorist assassins, but Daniel Byman notes that strikes by U.S. military drones have had mixed success as a tactic for combating al Qaeda in Pakistan. Given the humanitarian and political risks, each strike needs to be carefully weighed. But equally important is the risk of not striking—and inadvertently allowing al Qaeda leaders free reign to plot terrorist mayhem. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Rebecca Winthrop, July 14, 2009, Conflict Resolution and Prevention Forum
Pakistan’s humanitarian crisis brings a sharp focus on the need for long-term socio-economic development in the Northern region. In the Conflict Resolution and Prevention Forum, Rebecca Winthrop addressed the humanitarian crisis in Pakistan and called for further innovation and investment of education for girls and women. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Elizabeth Ferris, July 07, 2009, UCLA Conference on Peace and Reconciliation: Embracing the Displaced
Displacement is one of the tragic consequences of conflict. Elizabeth Ferris argues that once a conflict ends, resolving displacement and preventing future displacement is inextricably linked with achieving a lasting peace. Read More