Top Features
Sustainable Security in Afghanistan
Report from Lawrence Korb, Caroline Wadhams, Colin Cookman, and Sean Duggan provides recommendations for a lasting security in Afghanistan.
Swords and Ploughshares
A report by Reuben Brigety presents the results of a simulation exercise to assess the impact of U.S. foreign assistance in Afghanistan.
Partnership for Progress
Report from Caroline Wadhams, Brian Katulis, Lawrence J. Korb, and Colin Cookman offers a new strategy for prosperity and stability in Pakistan and the region.Other South & Central Asia Features
November 2, 2009
Using U.S. Leverage to Strengthen Afghan Governance
The Obama administration needs to work with its close NATO allies to set a clear plan aimed at outlining expectations for the Karzai government, writes Brian Katulis.
October 28, 2009
Advancing Sustainable Security in South Asia
Don’t let the recent attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan distract from addressing South Asia’s strategic security challenges, writes Brian Katulis.
October 28, 2009
Our Faustian Bargains in Afghanistan
Afghan elections illuminate how ex-warlords’ influence continues to hold back democratic governance and threaten political stability, write Caroline Wadhams, Colin Cookman, and Christina Misunas.
October 26, 2009
Profiles of Afghan Power Brokers
An in-depth look at some of the more powerful figures in Afghan political society.
October 22, 2009
The Changing Climate in India
India brings new hope that developed and developing nations will be able to reach an agreement on emissions reduction, write Andrew Light, Julian L. Wong, and Sabina Dewan.
October 21, 2009
Keep Pushing Effective Governance in Afghanistan
The international community should continue to demand strong government in Afghanistan as the country heads into another round of voting, write Caroline Wadhams, Colin Cookman, and Peter Juul.
October 15, 2009
Don't Put All the Security Eggs in the Al Qaeda Basket
Faced with commander McChrystal's grim new security assessment, the Obama administration stands on the brink of making major reforms to its Afghanistan strategy—one that is further complicated by reports of election fraud that diminish the legitimacy of its partner government in Kabul.
September 28, 2009
The Wrong Question
In his recent assessment of the war in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, argued that focusing on increasing troop levels and resources misses the point. Despite this assertion, the U.S. public debate barrels along focused almost exclusively on one question: should the United States send more U.S. troops to Afghanistan?
September 17, 2009
Faith Experts Discuss Afghanistan
Brian Katulis briefs faith communities on the recent election in Afghanistan and how the United States and faith groups can provide sustainable help to the country.
September 9, 2009
The Imperfect Election Was the Easy Part ...
As members of an international election observation delegation to last month's presidential election and provincial elections, we were impressed that the courage of millions Afghan voters who showed up at the polls despite widespread violence and intimidation. Holding an election in a time of war is never an easy thing, and many Afghans faced the tough choice of going to cast their ballots in a combat zone.
September 2, 2009
Evaluating the Elections in Afghanistan
CAP panelists offer firsthand observations of last month’s Afghanistan elections and what steps the United States needs to take going forward no matter who wins.
August 24, 2009
Avoid the Rush to Judgment in the Afghan Election
Brian Katulis gives an update on the elections in Afghanistan at Foreign Policy.
August 21, 2009
In Afghanistan, Do What We Must
Lawrence Korb argues that it’s time we prioritized operations in Afghanistan over Iraq before the situation deteriorates further.
August 19, 2009
Slideshow: Afghanistan Heads to the Ballot Box
Brian Katulis shares photos and insights from Kabul, Afghanistan, where he is currently helping as a monitor for Thursday's election.
August 19, 2009
Watching the Afghan Elections
No matter the outcome of tomorrow’s elections in Afghanistan, the United States and others will need to move quickly before support fades for the mission there, write Caroline Wadhams and Brian Katulis.
August 17, 2009
Five Things to Watch Around Afghan Elections
With three days until ballots are cast in presidential and provincial elections here, an air of uncertainty hangs over a process that U.S. President Barack Obama has called the most important event of the year in Afghanistan. Threats of violence along with worries about the potential for electoral fraud and possible post-election political violence loom, and no one knows what quite to expect in the coming days and weeks here.
August 10, 2009
Inadequate Afghan Security Forces
Regarding the article “U.S. seeks gauge for Afghan effort” (Aug. 7): The recent American-led operation into Afghanistan’s Helmand Province is long overdue. But the conspicuous shortage of Afghan security forces bodes ill for the current operation and the larger American-led mission in the country. While over 4,000 American marines are part of the operation, only a little over 600 Afghan defense personnel have accompanied them.
July 22, 2009
Interactive Map: Leaders of Pakistan's Militant Groups
Interactive map shows the locations of Pakistan's militant leaders, gives information about their motivations and tactics, and shows where the Pakistani military is fighting them.
July 22, 2009
Faces of Pakistan's Militant Leaders
Militant commanders in Pakistan are often collectively referred to as “Taliban,” but they groups possess varied origins, motivations, tactics, and leadership. These profiles offer insight.
July 21, 2009
Real Economic Development in Afghanistan: Women Rug Weavers Create Hope
Slideshow and Interview with Arzu Rugs CEO Connie Duckworth give an inside look at sustainable security in action in Afghanistan.
July 21, 2009
Understanding the Terrorist Threat
Congress must exercise oversight of the Obama administration’s counterinsurgency strategies in Pakistan, write Brian Katulis and Peter Juul.
June 24, 2009
Nuclear Security Cooperation Between the United States and Pakistan
A survey by Andrew J. Grotto and Michelle Hammer catalogues nuclear security cooperation between the United States and Pakistan from 2000 to 2009.
June 19, 2009
Slideshow: Pakistan's Internally Displaced People
This slideshow shows powerful images of Pakistan's refugees, telling a story of the issues they're facing and the violence that displaced them.
June 19, 2009
Interactive Map: Fighting Pushes Pakistanis from Their Homes and Threatens Further Instability
Pakistan’s displaced people deserve a close look this World Refugee Day—this interactive map shows how fighting has pushed Pakistan’s people from their homes.
June 11, 2009
Price of Success in Afghanistan: What Are the Stakes for the International Community?
The Century Foundation and the Center for American Progress held a luncheon roundtable on June 2, to discuss "The Price of Success in Afghanistan: What Are the Stakes for the International Community?"
May 28, 2009
Timeline: Militants Zero in on the Government
Interactive timeline shows that yesterday’s attack on Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence agency is another in a string of attacks by militants against the Pakistani government.
May 27, 2009
Meeting the Challenges in Pakistan
Lawrence J. Korb, Brian Katulis, and Colin Cookman report on the current situation in Pakistan and how to move U.S. strategy forward.
May 27, 2009
Video: Pakistan: Experts in the Field
Lawrence Korb, Brian Katulis, and Colin Cookman recently returned from a research trip to Pakistan, and this video chronicles what they found.
May 21, 2009
Building Long-Lasting Partnerships with Pakistan
CAP hosts a briefing with a diverse group of faith experts to explore areas where faith-based groups can help achieve sustainable peace in Pakistan.
May 19, 2009
The Security of Pakistan's Nuclear Arsenal
During the last week of April, I visited four cities in Pakistan (Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi). The purpose of the trip was to discuss a December 2008 Center for American Progress report that I coauthored, Partnership for Progress: Advancing a New Strategy for Prosperity and Stability in Pakistan and the Region.
May 7, 2009
The Missing Piece in the Pakistan Puzzle
Brian Katulis writes for Middle East Progress on this week’s round of trilateral talks between the United States, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
May 1, 2009
More Money and Counterinsurgency Training Alone Aren’t the Answer in Pakistan
Brian Katulis, back from Pakistan, offers analysis of Secretary Robert Gates’ proposal for a new Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund.
April 27, 2009
First Impressions from Pakistan
Lawrence Korb, Brian Katulis, and Colin Cookman deliver preliminary observations from their current trip to Pakistan.
April 24, 2009
Korb vs. vanden Heuvel
The Center for American Progress's Lawrence Korb debates Katrina vanden Heuvel, publisher of The Nation, for the website Rethink Afghanistan.
April 22, 2009
Interactive Map: Europe's Role in Afghanistan
NATO countries have pledged more troops and money for Afghanistan, but it remains to be seen whether this will signal improvements, writes Natalie Ondiak.
April 15, 2009
Lessons from Iraq: Using Aid Effectively in Afghanistan and Pakistan
CAP explores the lessons from Iraq and the challenges in Afghanistan with the special inspector generals who are leading reconstruction efforts in both countries.
April 6, 2009
The War That’s No Longer Forgotten
A panel of experts joined CAP to discuss the situation in Afghanistan and new strategies for achieving sustainable security in the region.
March 31, 2009
The Next Likely Step for Terror Networks Is More Attacks in the Heart of Pakistan
Terrorist attacks in Pakistan are likely to escalate, and stopping them will require intelligence, police work, and government's efforts, write Brian Katulis and Peter Juul.
March 30, 2009
Pakistan Requires a Sustainable Security Strategy
Brian Katulis discusses the current state of affairs in Pakistan and what the Obama administration can do to work politically, diplomatically, and economically in the country.
March 26, 2009
Seven Reasons Why We Need to Engage in Afghanistan
A sustained effort in Afghanistan is crucial to keeping the United States and its allies safe and to restoring stability to the entire region.
March 20, 2009
Weekly Round Up March 16 - 20, 2009
CAP focused this week on the sixth anniversary of the Iraq war, a growing crisis in Afghanistan, and turning the economy around.
March 12, 2009
Video: Sustainable Security in Action
Video documents a simulation where experts apply the sustainable security approach to foreign affairs to operations in Afghanistan.
March 9, 2009
Building Democracy in Afghanistan
At a CAP event on February 26, Afghan Foreign Minister Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta focused on strategies to build democracy in Afghanistan.
March 6, 2009
Weekly Round Up: March 2 - 6, 2009
CAP provided analysis of equal rights events this week, produced an interactive map of air strikes in Pakistan, and continued its analysis of the recession.
March 5, 2009
Threats, Options, and Risks in Pakistan
U.S. Predator missile strikes in Pakistan have risen in the past year, writes Colin Cookman. But the question remains, how effective are they?
March 5, 2009
Interactive Map: U.S. Airstrikes in Pakistan on the Rise
Interactive map shows an increase in U.S. airstrikes in Pakistan, many of which have been targeted at key members of Al Qaeda.
February 23, 2009
The Public Supports U.S. Involvement in Afghanistan
Maintaining public support for operations in Afghanistan will be critical to the Obama administration’s success, writes Ruy Teixeira.
February 11, 2009
Pakistan is Closer Than You Think
Now that the inaugural celebrations are over, we’ve moved into that difficult phase of the presidency called governing. To say that President Barack Obama faces unprecedented challenges is practically an understatement. At the very least, he faces greater challenges than any president since Franklin D. Roosevelt. On the international front alone, he must grapple with wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, a global financial meltdown, a sullied American reputation, an explosive situation in the Middle East, an aggressive Russia and a defiant Iran. And those are only a few of the more urgent items.
October 24, 2008
The contributions of Iran
FEW COUNTRIES were as helpful to the United States in its early involvement in Afghanistan as Iran. Yet after the fall of the Taliban, the US failed to capitalize on the possibilities of that strategic relationship. Now coalition and Afghan troops are losing ground against the same insurgents they confronted in 2001, in a war that the United States is unlikely to win unless it rethinks its relationship with Iran.
October 9, 2008