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Pakistan

Pakistan, the world’s second-largest Muslim nation, borders Afghanistan, Iran, India, and China and is a key player in Middle East and Asian relations due to its geography and complex history. RAND research has explored the forces shaping the development of Pakistan’s economic and political systems, its nuclear imperative, the role of local Islamic fundamentalist groups in global terrorism, and the effect of U.S. military policy and foreign aid to Pakistan on regional counterterrorism efforts.

News Release

News Release

Taliban's Sanctuary Bases in Pakistan Must Be Eliminated

If Taliban sanctuary bases in Pakistan are not eliminated, the United States and its NATO allies will face crippling long-term consequences in their effort to stabilize and rebuild Afghanistan.

Jun 9, 2008
Report

Report

U.S. Efforts in Afghanistan Will Fail If Taliban Not Routed from Pakistan

If Taliban sanctuary bases in Pakistan are not eliminated, the United States and its NATO allies will face crippling long-term consequences in their effort to stabilize and rebuild Afghanistan.

May 6, 2008
Report

Report

Afghanistan: From Chaos and Corruption to Sustainable Success

Since the 2002 U.S.-led attacks in Afghanistan, the country has struggled to stabilize their government and society. RAND co-hosted a conference attended by experts in academia, government and NGOs from over 20 nations to discuss the need for a strategic approach to Afghanistan's attempts at nation-building.

Apr 30, 2008
Report

Report

Breaking the Failed-State Cycle

The predominant threat to U.S. security in the 21st century comes not from the actions of opposing countries but from the fallout of collapsing ones. The world’s leading states can and should help the citizens of failed states by integrating efforts to reduce violence, advance the economy, and reform government.

Apr 6, 2008
Commentary

Commentary

America Is Making a Difference in Eastern Afghanistan

[The United States] has made some progress against the Taliban and other insurgent groups in eastern Afghanistan, and created a window of opportunity to spread this elsewhere, writes Seth G. Jones.

Apr 1, 2008
Commentary

Commentary

Danish Cartoons Doom Us All

Like two years ago, last week's rage in Pakistan over reprints of cartoons and a forthcoming Dutch film that insult Islam's holy book once again entangles Muslims and the West in a fury over freedom of speech, writes Farhana Ali.

Mar 21, 2008
Report

The Challenge of Nuclear-Armed Regional Adversaries

North Korea's test of a nuclear weapon in 2006 shows that such weapons are within reach of determined regional powers. Thus, defense planners in the United States and elsewhere must begin now to confront the new security challenges posed by nuclear-armed regional adversaries.

Mar 10, 2008
Commentary

Commentary

A Post-Musharraf Pakistan Policy

The United States no longer can afford to blindly support Musharraf. Hence, America is moving toward defining a new policy direction for Pakistan, and for good reason, writes Farhana Ali.

Mar 7, 2008
Commentary

Commentary

Why We Need to Nail Osama

[K]illing or capturing bin Laden remains a vital national and, indeed, international priority. Not only is it important — it is worth devoting significant resources and making major tradeoffs to do so, writes Elbridge Colby.

Feb 27, 2008
Commentary

Commentary

To Support Democracy in Pakistan

The Pakistani people have seized an important democratic opportunity by voting decisively against retired general President Pervez Musharraf and the Islamist parties. The U.S. would be wise to support this action financially, diplomatically and politically, writes C. Christine Fair.

Feb 24, 2008
Report

Report

United States Lacks the Capability to Counter Insurgency in the Muslim World

Iraq and Afghanistan have revealed serious shortfalls in the capabilities of the U.S. to counter insurgency in the Muslim world. Instead of relying predominantly on military occupation, the U.S. must become more able to bolster the ability of threatened states to win the contest for the support of their people.

Jan 25, 2008
Commentary

Commentary

Not That Bad a Legacy, After All

George W. Bush may leave a positive foreign policy legacy after all. A year ago this would have seemed difficult to credit... [Y]et over this period, Bush has put in place a series of more pragmatic policies from which even a Democratic successor will have a hard time moving away, writes James Dobbins.

Jan 17, 2008
Testimony

Testimony

U.S.-Pakistan Relations: Assassination, Instability, & the Future of U.S. Policy

In testimony presented before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, Christine Fair discusses the future of U.S.-Pakistan relations, the likelihood that Pakistan's leadership will vigorously pursue counter-terrorism objectives, and more.

Jan 16, 2008
Commentary

Commentary

Long-Term Instability?

The tragic assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto casts a dark shadow across Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state with a long history of militarism and militancy and may auger a deeper and irreversible slide into Islamist violence, writes Christine Fair.

Dec 31, 2007
Report

Report

Unofficial Diplomacy Efforts Can Have a Positive Effect Over Long Term

Unofficial diplomatic discussions can play a significant role in shaping attitudes in the Middle East and Asia, but are best used as a long-term strategy without expectations for dramatic policy shifts.

Aug 28, 2007
Dissertation

Dissertation

Improving Decision-making Systems for Decentralized Primary Education Delivery in Pakistan

Investigates the design and implementation of General Pervaiz Musharraf's avowed decentralization initiative.

Aug 21, 2007
Commentary

Commentary

Flagging Ally: Pakistan's Lapses Are Hurting the War on Terror

Published commentary by RAND staff: Flagging Ally: Pakistan's Lapses Are Hurting the War on Terror, in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Mar 18, 2007
Commentary

Commentary

Afghanistan's Local Insurgency

Published commentary by RAND staff: Afghanistan's Local Insurgency, in International Herald Tribune.

Jan 31, 2007
News Release

News Release

RAND Evaluates Efforts to Improve Effectiveness and Human Rights Performance of Internal Security Forces in 4 Nations

January 3, 2007 News Release: RAND Evaluates Efforts to Improve Effectiveness and Human Rights Performance of Internal Security Forces in 4 Nations.

Jan 3, 2007
Commentary

Commentary

Pakistan's Tribal Deals Aren't Working

Published commentary by RAND staff: Pakistan's Tribal Deals Aren't Working, in International Herald Tribune.

Dec 28, 2006

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