Does the threat from al Qaeda justify a major escalation in Central Asia?

Foreign Policy by Stephen M. Walt | Apr. 7, 2009 (Opinion)

The Afpak muddle (part 2)

Does the threat of international terrorism -- specifically al Qaeda -- justify a costly, long-term engagement in Afghanistan and Pakistan? President Obama and his advisors think so, but I'm still not convinced. I certainly understand that we have a terrorism problem; I just don't believe that it is serious enough to warrant the level and type of effort the administration is proposing. And if the results of the recent NATO summit are any indication, our ... Full Story »

Posted by Kaizar Campwala

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3.9

by Derek Hawkins - Apr. 10, 2009

Illustrates the difficulty in the long-term pursuit of terrorist groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Very well done.

Equally important, the United States is not going to mount a large scale invasion of Pakistan, which is what would be necessary to completely eliminate al Qaeda from that region. And there is little reason to think that the Pakistani military will do the job for us any time soon. Furthermore, U.S. military strikes in Pakistan — even limited ones — tend to undermine the Pakistani government and increase the risk that Pakistan will become a failed state.