As the battle for Marjah goes on, NATO is making plans for an even larger campaign in Kandahar, Afghanistan’s second-largest city and a center of the Taliban insurgency.

To help manage that growing effort, the Wall Street Journal reports the U.S. and its allies will create a new U.S.-led command in Southeast Afghanistan.

For more on the challenges that lie ahead, Daljit Dhaliwal interviews Marvin Weinbaum, a scholar at the Middle East Institute and former State Department analyst on Afghanistan.

To shed light on the legacy of conflict in Afghanistan, our German partner Deutsche Welle reports on the lessons of Russia’s long war there through the experience of one former soldier.

NATO hopes to wipe out the Taliban presence in this part of Helmand province, clearing the way for the Afghan government to take control.

At the same time, NATO hopes to encourage lower-level Taliban fighters to give up fighting and negotiate with the Afghan government.

Daljit Dhaliwal talks about about this first real test of President Obama’s new strategy for finishing the war in Afghanistan with Marvin Weinbaum, a scholar at the Middle East Institute and a former State Department analyst.

James Bays of Al Jazeera English reports on NATO’s campaign in Marjah, as coalition forces try to root out the Taliban and win over the local population.

For more on the emerging U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, Daljit Dhaliwal talks with Marvin Weinbaum, a scholar at the Middle East Institute and a former State Department analyst on Afghanistan.

Weinbaum discusses what he sees as the most important strategic focus in Afghanistan and an assessment of Ambassador Karl Eikenberry’s recently leaked comments calling for fewer troops.

There is another issue that permeates just about any conversation surrounding troop levels — the perception and the reality of widespread corruption in Afghanistan. Jonah Hull of Al Jazeera English reports on the perceptions of corruption from inside Afghanistan.

Marvin Weinbaum, a scholar at the Middle East Institute and former U.S. State Department analyst on Afghanistan, discusses the potential exit strategy of U.S. allies and waning support for the fight in Afghanistan among Americans.

Marvin Weinbaum, a scholar at the Middle East Institute and former U.S. State Department analyst on Afghanistan, discusses civilian casualties and the setbacks to the U.S. mission in Afghanistan.

On Friday, U.S. Marines pushed deeper into southern Afghanistan in the biggest offensive of the war. But many people there have already had enough of western attempts to rid the region of the Taliban, because so many of civilians have suffered the deadly consequences of the war.

In Pakistan, officials said two suspected U.S. missiles struck a training base and a hideout run by the head of the Taliban in South Waziristan. Officials said at least 15 people were killed 27 were wounded.

Marvin Weinbaum, a scholar at the Middle East Institute and former State Department analyst on Afghanistan and Pakistan, joins Martin Savidge to discuss the Pakistani and American campaigns against the Taliban and the battle for civilians’ hearts and minds.

The main goal of the operation, dubbed “Strike of the Sword,” is to launch a massive assault while simultaneously gaining back the trust of the people.

Marvin Weinbaum, a scholar at the Middle East Institute and former State Department analyst on Afghanistan and Pakistan, joins Martin Savidge to discuss the importance of Helmand and the new operation.

The three share common borders and a long list of common problems, from drug trafficking to militant insurgencies.

Marvin Weinbaum, a scholar in residence at the Middle East Institute and a former State Department analyst specializing on Afghanistan and Pakistan, joins Martin Savidge to discuss Iran’s economic interests and what role the country could play in helping the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan fight the Taliban.

In recent days, the U.S. has stepped up air strikes launched from unmanned drone aircraft.

The news of increased U.S. involvement comes as some of Pakistan’s senior officials are headed to Washington.

Marvin Weinbaum, a scholar in residence at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. and a former U.S. State Department intelligence analyst specializing on Pakistan and Afghanistan, joins Martin Savidge to discuss the current situation in Pakistan, the stepped-up drone attacks and the scheduled meeting in Washington with Pakistani and Afghani civilian and military leaders.