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Sustainable Security in Afghanistan

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

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

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

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. By Andrew J. Grotto, Michelle Hammer
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. By Caroline Wadhams, Colin Cookman
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. By Caroline Wadhams, Colin Cookman
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?" By Lawrence J. Korb
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. By Peter Juul
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. By Lawrence J. Korb, Brian Katulis, Colin Cookman
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. By Sarah Dreier
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. By Lawrence J. Korb
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. By Brian Katulis
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. By Brian Katulis
April 27, 2009

First Impressions from Pakistan

Lawrence Korb, Brian Katulis, and Colin Cookman deliver preliminary observations from their current trip to Pakistan. By Lawrence J. Korb, Brian Katulis, Colin Cookman
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. By Lawrence J. Korb
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. By 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. By Brian Katulis, 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. By Brian Katulis
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? By Colin Cookman
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. By 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. By Spencer P. Boyer, James D. Lamond
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. By Lawrence J. Korb, Laura Conley
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. By Caroline Wadhams, Colin Cookman, 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. By 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. By Caroline Wadhams
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. By 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. By Scott Lilly
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. By Caroline Wadhams, 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. By 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. By Brian Katulis
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. By Caroline Wadhams, Colin Cookman
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. By Ben Dear
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. By Brian Katulis
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. By Caroline Wadhams, Colin Cookman, Ben Dear
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. By Colin Cookman
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? By Caroline Wadhams
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. By Brian Katulis
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. By Caroline Wadhams, Colin Cookman

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Where We Stand on National Security

CAP’s national security approach embodies progressive traditions that have protected our nation and nurtured our democratic ideals and freedom at home and abroad. Our policy priorities secure our country from attack and protect our national security interests abroad by ensuring our military forces are capable and ready, and our democratic alliances are strong and enduring. We understand that integrated military, diplomatic, and economic power guided by progressive ideals makes us safer and more prosperous.