Growing Indian influence in Afghanistan alarms Pakistan
India, seizing on Afghanistan’s travails, has pumped in over a billion dollars toward improving Afghanistan’s economic and social infrastructure. On the face of it, this magnanimity should be considered a praiseworthy gesture. But Worldfocus blogger S. Azmat Hassan writes how the U.S. needs to help fix Indo-Pak relations.
U.S. military makes plans for massive Kandahar offensive
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. Daljit Dhaliwal interviews Marvin Weinbaum of the Middle East Institute about the strategy, and Deutsche Welle reports on the legacy of Russia's war in Afghanistan.
Series of Taliban bomb attacks rock the Afghan capital
On Friday, a series of deadly attacks rocked Kabul, the Afghan capital. At least 16 people were killed and several dozen wounded in a four-hour assault that involved two suicide attacks and a car bomb. Martin Savidge interviews Rajan Menon of Lehigh University, and Hoda Abdel-Hamid of Al Jazeera English reports from Kabul.
Afghan government claims control of Taliban stronghold
The government of Afghanistan claimed control of the Taliban stronghold of Marjah in southern Helmand province today. For more insight into the ongoing war against the Taliban, Martin Savidge speaks to Rajan Menon, a professor of international relations at Lehigh University, and James Bays of Al Jazeera English reports from Marjah.
U.S., Pakistan reap benefits of cooperation against Taliban
Mullah Baradar is the most senior member of the Taliban captured in the eight-year war against the movement. The joint raid conducted by U.S. and Pakistani forces suggests a change in tactics by Pakistan's ISI. For years the intelligence service was reluctant to target the Taliban. Daljit Dhaliwal interviews Hassan Abbas for more.
NATO offensive clears Taliban stronghold in Helmand
On the third day of the biggest allied military offensive in Afghanistan since 2001, U.S., British and Afghan troops have converged on Marjah, a Taliban stronghold and opium hub in Helmand province. Coalition forces are said to be engaged in numerous firefights throughout the city. Brian Katulis, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, joins Daljit Dhaliwal for more.
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.
Kashmiri dispute looms large in politics of South Asia
The dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir has been ongoing since the 1940's and impacts security throughout the region. Worldfocus contributing blogger S.Azmat Hassan argues that settling the conflict there should be as urgent a foreign policy goal for the United States as working towards peace in the Middle East.
Nearly 50% more US troops to escalate Afghanistan war
With his long-awaited announcement on Afghanistan finally out of the way, President Obama now faces the next hurdle -- convincing Democrats in Congress and skeptical allies abroad about the wisdom of his plan. Many troops are hopeful that the plan will help wind down the war. David Brancaccio speaks with Masood Aziz about the the Obama plan.
Looking at the British side of the war in Afghanistan
This week, a Taliban sympathizer gunned down five British troops in Afghanistan. Daljit Dhaliwal speaks with Gideon Lichfield, deputy editor of The Economist online in New York, about British public sentiment and the reaction of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
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