Deadly Embrace: Pakistan, America and the Future of Global Jihad

For decades, the United States has pursued narrow short-term interests in the Pakistan, all in an effort to promote stability in South Asia and U.S. national security. Arguably, many of the resulting policies proved counterproductive in the long-term, contributing instead to political instability within Pakistan and radicalizing segments of the Pakistani public. This background has helped set the stage for the global jihad confronting much of the world today.

On January 18, the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings hosted the launch of Deadly Embrace: Pakistan, America, & the Future of Global Jihad (Brookings Press, 2011), the latest book by Senior Fellow Bruce Riedel. In Deadly Embrace, Riedel discusses the forces behind these developments, detailing the history of Pakistan-U.S. relations and exploring the broader impact of that dynamic. Riedel discussed what the Obama administration can do now to repair the damaged U.S.-Pakistani relationship and how the U.S. can avoid making similar mistakes in dealing with extremist forces in Pakistan and beyond. Following his opening remarks, Riedel was joined by former Ambassador Karl Inderfurth, who holds the first Wadhwani Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Senior Fellow Kenneth M. Pollack, director of the Saban Center, provided introductory remarks and moderated the discussion. After the program, the panelists took audience questions.