Top Features
The Forgotten Front
Wadhams and Korb outline critical challenges in Afghanistan and solutions for refocusing U.S. efforts on the primary front in the war on terror.Other South & Central Asia Features
November 17, 2008
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.
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
A “Downward Spiral” in Afghanistan
National Intelligence Estimate warns of “downward spiral” and other problems in Afghanistan, write Caroline Wadhams, Colin Cookman, and Jenny Shin.
September 24, 2008
A New Policy Toward Pakistan
The United States must overhaul its approach toward Pakistan, writes CAPAF Senior Fellow Brian Katulis.
September 23, 2008
The Perils in Pakistan
Caroline Wadhams weighs in on the Marriott hotel bombing in Islamabad and why the United States needs to be concerned about Pakistan's security.
August 21, 2008
U.S. Aid to Pakistan by the Numbers
The United States’ almost exclusive military assistance to Pakistan has not made the country safer or made progress in the war on terror.
August 21, 2008
America's Post-Musharraf Policy
Rather than forge personal relationships with individual leaders, the United States should make its pact with the Pakistani people, writes Brian Katulis.
August 20, 2008
Exit Musharraf
Brian Katulis debates Jacob Heilbrunn on Pakistan on blogging heads TV.
August 19, 2008
Reckless Management of U.S. Interests in the Caucasus
Scott Lilly raises questions about the U.S. role in the escalation of conflict in Georgia.
August 18, 2008
Musharraf’s Resignation Creates an Opening for U.S. Policy
President Musharraf’s resignation provides an opportunity for the United States to shift policy toward Pakistan, write Caroline Wadhams and Brian Katulis.
August 14, 2008
U.S. Aid to Afghanistan by the Numbers
While the United States has a history of helping Afghanistan fight, it hasn’t done much to help its people deal with the aftermath of wars.
July 30, 2008
Crisis in Waiting
The warning signs are growing that Pakistan is probably the crisis that will test the leadership of the next administration, writes Brian Katulis.
July 28, 2008
Bush Meets With Pakistan's Leader
President Bush has met with Pakistani Prime Minister Yusaf Raza Gilani. The two leaders' brief public remarks were cordial, but analysts say the private conversations most likely centered on the need for Pakistan to intensify the fight against extremists.
July 18, 2008
Forgotten No Longer
New signs of deteriorating conditions in Afghanistan are appearing every day. The insurgents aren’t going away, things aren’t getting better, and it’s time to pay attention.
July 4, 2008
Alarm Bells in Afghanistan
The forgotten war in Afghanistan has once again leapt back into the news with disturbing reports of rising international casualties and large-scale Taliban offensives in the south.
June 27, 2008
Where Did the Money Go? Oversight Lacking in Aid to Pakistan
Lax oversight of military aid to Pakistan points to lack of long-term planning in the fight against Al Qaeda.
June 26, 2008
The Country Most Likely to Trigger 3 a.m. Calls
Brian Katulis narrates a video from his travels in Pakistan and explains what the next president can learn from President Bush's approach to Pakistan.
June 11, 2008
Afghanistan Needs More Than Money
The upcoming International Conference in Support of Afghanistan represents an opportunity to renew U.S. commitments to the country.
June 10, 2008
Strengthening the Rule of Law in Afghanistan
A House committee hearing on oversight of U.S. efforts to train and equip Afghan police calls for suggestions on the best way to improve law enforcement in the country.
May 29, 2008
Time to focus on Pakistan
US intelligence officials agree Al Qaeda has found a safe haven in Pakistan, yet US politicians remain preoccupied with Iraq and Iran.
May 5, 2008
What to Do About the Terrorist Safe Haven in Pakistan
What are the Federally Administered Tribal Areas? Why should we be concerned about them? And what can we do about them?
April 29, 2008
Dealing with Militants
This past weekend's assassination attempt on Afghan president Hamid Karzai, along with ongoing negotiations between the Pakistani government and elements of the Taliban, should move the focus on America's national security debate away from Iraq. But it is not likely to have much of an impact - in large part because of the misplaced priorities of the Bush administration. America's national security debate remains fixated on Iraq, a policy costing US taxpayers upwards of $10bn a month and diverting attention away from other national security priorities.
April 28, 2008
Issue Pulse: Too Few Resources, Too Many Battles
Expert consensus is that continued strain from fighting two wars is keeping the United States from accomplishing goals in Afghanistan.
April 23, 2008
We Need a Plan for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas
Caroline Wadhams and Colin Cookman outline six strategic guideposts for addressing the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in Pakistan.
April 16, 2008
Transforming U.S. Policy Toward Pakistan
We need to work with Pakistan to help them take advantage of the current window of opportunity to achieve progress on security, political, and economic fronts.
April 16, 2008
No Bang for the Buck
Lack of contracting oversight, epitomized by contracts to Efraim Diveroli's AEY, is hurting the mission in Afghanistan, write Lawrence Korb and Colin Cookman.
April 4, 2008
Afghanistan Is Not Iraq
The sinking ship of Iraq threatens to bring Afghanistan down with it. But Afghanistan is not Iraq.
April 2, 2008
The NATO Summit in Bucharest
Afghanistan, missile defense, enlargement, and peacekeeping in Kosovo form a complex agenda for NATO's three-day conference that starts today.
March 21, 2008
Israel and India: New Allies
Bruce Riedel looks at the growing ties between Israel and India in today's Middle East Bulletin.
March 4, 2008
Pakistani Voters Are Not Yet on the Same Page with U.S. Policymakers
Pakistani voters are not on the same page with the U.S. in the war against terrorist networks, warn Caroline Wadhams and Colin Cookman
February 28, 2008
An Inside Look at Pakistan
After serving as an election monitor in Pakistan last week, Caroline Wadhams offers insight, analysis, and footage of her trip.
February 25, 2008
Time to Change Course
The Afghanistan Study Group, like many other reports, highlights a deeply troubling situation in Afghanistan. Skyrocketing opium production, deteriorating security and a weak government plague efforts to build the Afghan state and to defeat the Taliban-led insurgency. While the majority of the Afghan population still supports Afghan President Hamid Karzai and the international presence, they are becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress on the ground.
February 22, 2008
Pakistan’s Enduring Challenges: Threats to U.S. Security Remain
Historic elections do not lessen terrorist threats in Pakistan, write Caroline Wadhams, Brian Katulis, and Colin Cookman.
February 20, 2008
Pakistan: The Next Steps
Caroline Wadhams and Brian Katulis in Pakistan observe election and post-election coalition efforts, and ask Bush administration not to interfere.
February 19, 2008
Election May Lead to Change in U.S. Pakistan Policy
The Bush administration says it expects to work with whatever government is formed in Pakistan after Monday's elections and hopes that the new government will work with President Pervez Musharraf. But many critics say this is the time for the United States to start changing its approach and stop simply relying on Musharraf. They say this election could provide just that opportunity.
February 19, 2008
Turning a Corner: Pakistan Elections Offer Promise
Caroline Wadhams and Brian Katulis in Pakistan report on their personal observations of historic parliamentary elections.
February 19, 2008
Pakistan's Leap of Faith
Final results in Pakistan's general elections are not yet in, but if the early signs are an accurate indication, the February 2008 elections will go down in history as a major defeat for President Pervez Musharraf and the political forces aligned with him. Depending on how the post-election bargaining develops, this election could actually go down as the first time in Pakistan's 60 year history when a peaceful transition of political power occurred.
February 19, 2008
Afghanistan Is Not Iraq
Bush insists Iraq and Afghanistan are the same war, but unless we separate them we'll lose them both, write Lawrence Korb and Caroline Wadhams.
February 19, 2008
Slideshow: The Parliamentary Election in Pakistan
A first-hand look at the process from Brian Katulis, who served as a monitor during the parliamentary election.
February 14, 2008
Elections Aren’t Everything: Post-Election Uncertainty in Pakistan Is Assured
Post-election uncertainty is assured, observe Caroline Wadhams and Brian Katulis, and the Bush administration looks unprepared.
February 1, 2008
State of Denial in Afghanistan
January 30, 2008
Remembering the Forgotten War in Afghanistan
A new independent study concludes that Afghanistan is descending into violence and risks becoming a failed state.
January 27, 2008
U.S. tinkering in Afghanistan
January 14, 2008
Our Ally in Islamabad
January 11, 2008
Our Pakistan Problem: Turmoil Requires a Shift in U.S. Policy
Relying on Pakistani president Musharraf is a mistake. We should reach out to the rest of the country, write Caroline Wadhams and Brian Katulis.
January 3, 2008
Getting Pakistan Right: Postponed Elections Are an Opportunity
Before the February elections, the U. S. and others must insist measures are taken to ensure a free and fair election, writes Brian Katulis.
December 28, 2007
Democracy Sidetracked Again
December 27, 2007
Pakistan Front and Center: Bhutto Assassination Adds to Crisis
The political crisis was palpable when I left the country last week, writes Brian Katulis, but Bhutto's murder will require greater U.S. resolve.
December 27, 2007
The NATO Divide: Why the United States and NATO Aren't on the Same Page in Afghanistan
December 27, 2007