Abubakar Siddique, a journalist for RFE/RL's Radio Azadi, specializes in the coverage of Afghanistan and Pakistan. He is the author of The Pashtun Question: The Unresolved Key To The Future Of Pakistan And Afghanistan.
As Afghan President Hamid Karzai heads to Washington for a four-day visit, his top priority will be to convince Washington to support his plan to reconcile with the very insurgent leaders who have helped organize a complex insurrection against Afghan and U.S. troops.
As the world media attempts to piece together the puzzle of the life of Faisal Shahzad -- who has been charged with terrorism in connection with the failed Times Square bombing attempt -- many are probing the significance of his privileged upbringing in Pakistan and his connections to a serene village.
Amid rising international pressure and domestic security concerns, the Pakistani military is under pressure to get off the fence over cleaning up a restive tribal district along the country's western border with Afghanistan.
A Pashtun tribe has resisted military demands that they return to their mountain villages in Pakistan's South Waziristan, saying the military campaign against Taliban extremists has left little to return to and that the security situation remains uncertain.
Analysts are baffled by the apparent abduction of former Pakistani intelligence agents widely seen as original mentors to jihadi groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has signed into law a bill that imposes sweeping constitutional reforms. The bill aims to strengthen parliamentary democracy in Pakistan while removing from the head of the state the power to dissolve parliament.
Afghan lawmakers claim that some 3,000 Afghans await execution in neighboring Iran. The issue has led legislators to push for fair treatment of Afghan refugees convicted of crimes, while some authorities are calling for their timely return.
The verbal jousting between the United States and Iran has provided fodder for debate over whether Iran has Afghanistan's best interests in mind, while placing Kabul in an uncomfortable position between its two allies.
Locals see a window of opportunity in the wake of a recent offensive in Marjah, which for years served as an insurgent stronghold in southern Afghanistan.
An unlikely voice has joined the chorus of criticism directed against the Afghan government's commitment to civil liberties -- the Taliban.
Afghan government efforts to reconcile with moderate Taliban are already in motion, despite domestic opposition. But Kabul appears unprepared to provide the conditions insurgents want to see.
The capture of top Taliban commander Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Karachi was widely portrayed as sign of Pakistan's commitment to taking on insurgents, but there appears to be much more behind it than meets the eye.
The top military commander of the Taliban, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, has been captured in Karachi, Pakistan, in a secret raid by U.S. and Pakistani intelligence forces, "The New York Times" has reported.
Upstart Afghan cricketers this week swept through group play by defeating Ireland, Scotland, and the United States. Success on the cricket field has emerged as a source of national pride.
Even before the death of Hakimullah Mehsud has been categorically confirmed, speculation is rife as to who would succeed him as the leader of Pakistan's most lethal extremist organization.
Looking to instill discipline, experience, and honor in the country's youth, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has announced he is considering replacing Afghanistan's volunteer army with one with manned by conscripts.
A New York jury unanimously convicted Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui earlier this week of attempted murder. But her family, Pakistani media, and right-wing political parties back home are not convinced of her guilt. They are protesting, saying it is an example of post-9/11 injustice against Muslims.
Afghan and U.S. officials are encouraged by a recent deal in eastern Afghanistan under which a major tribe has agreed to keep the Taliban out of their territory in return for aid. But while the move might help in stemming the Taliban tide, some warn it could create more conflicts and bloodshed in the future.
At an international conference on Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai said his government is ready to take on greater security responsibilities, but cautioned against an overly hasty withdrawal of foreign troops.
As he prepares for a major conference in London, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his entourage have crafted a detailed plan for reconciliation with the Taliban. But they also want assurances of long-term support to prevent their country from sliding into the chaos of the 1990s.
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