South Asia

U.S. Prepared to Secure Pakistani Nukes

By James Joyner

“[I]f Pakistan collapses, the U.S. military is primed to enter the country and secure as many of those weapons as it can, according to U.S. officials,” report’s TIME’s Mark Thompson burying his lede three paragraphs into a story whose headline asks, “Does Pakistan’s Taliban Surge Raise a Nuclear Threat?”

Pakistan Solution Begins in India

By Bernard Finel

Coming on the heels of the imposition of Sharia rule in the Swat Valley in Pakistan comes news that the Pakistani Taliban has seized a foothold in the Buner district, a mere 70 miles from the capital Islamabad. Worse, the Pakistani military seems largely unwilling to confront this rising Islamist tide.

Pakistan Nearing Collapse

By James Joyner

“The move by Taliban-backed militants into the Buna district of northwestern Pakistan, closer than ever to Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad, have prompted concerns both within the country and abroad that the nuclear-armed nation of 165 million is on the verge of inexorable collapse.” So begins a report from TIME‘s Aryn Baker.

Optimism on Afghanistan

By James Joyner

This afternoon, Ashraf Ghani, former Afghan finance minister and member of the Atlantic Council International Advisory Board and Strategic Advisors Group, unveiled his report “A Ten-Year Framework for Afghanistan: Executing the Obama Plan and Beyond.”

Ghani, Ashraf — Transcript

FREDERICK KEMPE:  Welcome to everyone.  For those of you who don’t know, I’m Fred Kempe, president and CEO of the Atlantic Council.  And I say that partly because we record, so it shows up, then, on the transcript, and people will then Google and – let me, first of all, tell you what an honor […]

NATO Supply Route Through Caucasus Needed

By Tamerlan Vahabov

Instability along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border is making alternative supply routes for NATO troops increasingly necessary.

Transcript: Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Obama – Discussions on the New Strategy

Transcript by Federal News Service, Washington, DC. FREDERICK KEMPE:  Gentlemen, you’ve attracted a crowd.  Good afternoon and welcome to this ambassadorial discussion at the Atlantic Council.  I’m Fred Kempe, president and CEO of the Atlantic Council.  We’re delighted to welcome Ambassador Husain Haqqani of the Embassy of Pakistan and Ambassador Said Jawad of the Embassy […]

Afghanistan after the NATO Summit: A Stronger Alliance or a Quick Fix?

By Valerie Nichols

NATO’s 60th Anniversary Summit ended with a cheerful photo-op and a pleased President Obama.  America’s NATO allies have pledged 5,000 more troops for Afghanistan and a lot of cash.  But is this a real contribution to bolstering the alliance or simply a vocal display of camaraderie?