The idea of a negotiated settlement to the Afghan war gained new currency this week. In our weekly roundtable, James Rubin, a former assistant secretary of state in the Clinton administration, and Gideon Rose of Foreign Affairs magazine, join Daljit Dhaliwal to discuss the pitfalls and possibilities of negotiating with the Taliban.
The U.S. is shifting its military focus from Iraq to Afghanistan, where a coalition of international forces seeks to stabilize the territory and combat terrorism. U.S. President Barack Obama has also ordered an additional 17,000 troops to carry out the mission in Afghanistan.
The U.S. launched Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2001, with British support. NATO'S international security force has turned its attention to Afghanistan and has troops engaged from 42 nations.
Worldfocus continues to explore this troubled region with special emphasis on the role played by U.S. allies across the globe. Worldfocus examines the ongoing conflict from the perspectives of several countries, including, Canada, Estonia, Iran, Pakistan and Russia.
"War in Afghanistan" is a collection of signature videos, interviews, an online radio show, reporter observations and analysis from the field and blogger perspectives.
War in Afghanistan
Week in Review
January 29, 2010
Week in Review: Negotiating with the Taliban
Interview & Video
January 28, 2010
Can local militias fight the Taliban in Afghanistan?
Worldfocus' German partner Deutsche Welle reports on a successful effort by local groups to drive out the Taliban in northern Afghanistan. And, Nora Bensahel, senior political scientist at the Rand Corporation, joins Daljit Dhaliwal to discuss the likelihood of succeeding with this strategy.
Video Blogwatch
January 28, 2010
‘Drone porn’ develops a cult following on the internet
As unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become increasingly central to America's wars, "drone porn" has taken the internet by storm with captivating aerial images of death and destruction. The Defense Department actually posts its drone attack footage on YouTube via public relations firm DVidsHub. Some of the videos have caught the attention of millions.
Interview
January 25, 2010
Obama and the World: Afghanistan and Pakistan
Ahmad Kamal, Pakistan's former Ambassador to the United Nations, and Hassan Abbas, a former Pakistani government official who is now with the Asia Society, join Edie Magnus for a roundtable on AfPak. They discuss power-sharing with the Taliban, drone strikes along the Afghan border in northwest Pakistan and American foreign policy challenges in the region.
How You See It
January 25, 2010
Western powers aim for Taliban power-sharing agreement
As the U.S.-led coalition fights an increasingly tough war against the Taliban, there is new talk of reaching out to elements of the group. On Thursday, a conference in London will explore ways of bringing the Taliban into the government and how to transfer security responsibility to Afghan forces. There is growing hope that an agreement with the Taliban could end the war.
Video
January 18, 2010
Taliban pulls off series of deadly strikes in heart of Kabul
The capital of Afghanistan has been struck by a series of highly coordinated terrorist attacks, including explosions next to Kabul's heavily secured ministry buildings. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the largest Kabul attack since 2001 and announced that their goal was an assault on the presidential palace. Al Jazeera's Tarek Bazley reports on the fragile security situation.
Web Original Map
January 12, 2010
U.S. intensifies drone attacks on Pakistan’s tribal region
In 2009, the U.S. launched at least 50 missile strikes against al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives in northwest Pakistan. While drone attacks are more frequent than ever before, there is wide disagreement about civilian deaths. View our interactive map of Pakistan drone attack locations since 2004.
How You See It
January 12, 2010
In tactical shift, drone-fired missiles rain on Helmand
In Afghanistan, 16 militants were killed in two separate attacks by unmanned drones. While drones have been used widely across the border in Pakistan, they have been mainly for surveillance purposes in Afghanistan. Analysts suggest that a tactical change has occurred. Should the U.S. broaden its use of unmanned drones against militants, even if innocent civilians die?
Interview
January 11, 2010
A deadly day in Afghanistan as U.S. troop surge continues
Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies joins Daljit Dhaliwal to discuss the reasons why we are seeing more casualties in Afghanistan and what to expect going forward.
S. Azmat Hassan (Blog)
January 11, 2010
U.S. seeks hearts and minds in combatting global jihad
Worldfocus blogger S. Azmat Hassan writes how mankind has engaged in violent extremism since Biblical times. Terrorism is propaganda by deed, since terrorism is theater. So, Hassan argues, al-Qaeda succeeds every time it plants fear and uncertainty in our hearts and minds.
