Blogger S. Azmat Hassan analyzes the recent policy talks between U.S. and Pakistani officials. He explains that, as is often the case between a superpower and a much weaker country, the relationship brightens up when the former needs the latter in some capacity. But, it reverts to the doldrums when that requirement subsides.

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.

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.

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.

In Afghanistan, officials said that 27 people were killed last night in Uruzgan province, when NATO aircraft fired on what was believed to be a convoy of insurgents. It turned out that the people were all civilians, including women and children. For more on the civilian toll in Afghanistan, Martin Savidge interviews Alex Thier, and James Bays reports for Al Jazeera English.