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New Atlanticist

Mar 28, 2009

Obama’s Afghanistan Plan: What’s So New About It?

By James Joyner

President Obama’s new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan has won the backhanded praise of Hamid Karzai, who termed it “better than we were expecting.”  Gordon Brown has lauded the plan as well and called for NATO to do more.

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Mar 27, 2009

New Afghanistan Plan: Still No Exit Strategy

By James Joyner

President Obama gave a speech this morning outlining his new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, which served as the unveiling of a (slightly) more detailed white paper [PDF].

Afghanistan Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Mar 25, 2009

Pakistan – USA Trust Gap Must be Closed

By Harlan Ullman

George Bernard Shaw quipped that England and America were two like nations divided by a common language.  Today, Pakistan and America are divided by far more than language. One of the most divisive dangers beyond al Qaeda and extremism is the looming trust deficit between Pakistan and America. 

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Mar 20, 2009

Escalation in Pakistan?

By Bernard Finel

David Sanger and Eric Schmitt’s report in the  New York Times that “President Obama and his national security advisers are considering expanding the American covert war in Pakistan far beyond the unruly tribal areas to strike at a different center of Taliban power in Baluchistan, where top Taliban leaders are orchestrating attacks into southern Afghanistan” […]

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Mar 18, 2009

Pakistan: Peril or Promise?

By Harlan Ullman

You are president of Pakistan.  Your country faces seemingly intractable and simultaneous crises. You rightly believe that an existential threat to your nation is posed by the insurgencies led by religious zealots and extremists.

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Mar 16, 2009

Pakistan Capitulates to Protestors, Reinstates Judge

By James Joyner

Pakistan’s government has agree to reinstate ousted Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhamad Chaudry in an effort to defuse violent protests in Lahore that have the country in turmoil.

Pakistan

Event Recap

Mar 13, 2009

NATO Head: Pakistan FATA Key to Afghan Security

Speaking before a full house at the 2009 Warsaw Transatlantic Forum, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer called for enhancing regional cooperation in Afghanistan in order to counter the Taliban insurgency. Noting the central role of Pakistan in the conflict, he urged for improving security and development in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Mar 13, 2009

Pakistan Protests Bring Fear of Military Coup

By James Joyner

Top diplomats from the United States and the United Kingdom are trying to broker a deal between the government of Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari and chief opposition leader Nawaz Sharif amid fears that a string of protests could result in yet another military takeover.

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New Atlanticist

Mar 10, 2009

Pakistan Army Hits Back at Taliban

By Peter Cassata

Pakistan’s military has successfully driven Taliban militants from Bajaur Agency, a small chunk of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) sandwiched between Afghanistan and the Northwest Frontier Province.  The news is welcome, but Bajaur’s relatively small area and milder terrain make the victory much more difficult to replicate in other regions of the FATA.

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Feb 26, 2009

Weakened al Qaeda a Greater Threat to Pakistan?

By Jeffrey Lightfoot

U.S. Predator strikes against high-level al Qaeda targets in the tribal areas of Pakistan are disrupting the group’s operations, but the terrorist organization has responded by stepping up its efforts to further destabilize an already fragile Pakistani government.

Pakistan

Experts