Campaign 2012: Afghanistan and Pakistan Policy

Follow @BICampaign2012

The winner of this year’s presidential election will face major policy decisions on a wide range of issues. One of them is how to craft a foreign policy strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, two countries beset by development, governance, and security challenges as well as a tense relationship with each other. The increasing political influence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the continued existence of al-Qaeda sanctuaries in volatile border areas, and Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities pose an international security threat that extends beyond south Asia.

On February 15, the Campaign 2012 project at Brookings held a public discussion on Afghanistan and Pakistan, the second in a series of forums that will identify and address the 12 most critical issues facing the next president. Charles Hoskinson of POLITICO moderated a panel discussion with Brookings Senior Fellows Michael O’Hanlon, Bruce Riedel, Vanda Felbab-Brown, and Elizabeth Ferris.

After the program, panelists took questions from the audience.

Download papers from the event:

• Maximizing Chances for Success in Afghanistan and Pakistan, by Michael E. O’Hanlon and Bruce Riedel
   
• The Afghanistan Challenge: A Government that Serves the Afghan People, by Vanda Felbab-Brown
   
• The Afghanistan–Pakistan Challenge: Meeting Humanitarian Needs, by Elizabeth Ferris