The NBR Analysis offers thought-provoking essays and briefs on the most important economic, political, and strategic issues in the Asia-Pacific region today. PDFs are free.
The prevalence of militant activities in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) makes the region increasingly vulnerable to the influence of al Qaeda and other transnational actors. Moreover, the insurgent presence in the FATA challenges Islamabad’s already limited authority in the region, and threatens a destabilizing spillover effect into other parts of the country. As Islamabad competes with these groups for control in the region, a multi-pronged strategy of socio-political development and economic assistance initiatives, as well as a successful counter-insurgency campaign, is needed. As the essays by Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema and Ijaz Khan show, these activities pose their own sets of challenges and opportunities for Pakistan. Robert G. Wirsing provides an introductory overview of the current situation in Pakistan and an assessment of the findings emerging from these two essays, arguing that important differences in the strategic outlooks of the United States and Pakistan bear far-reaching consequences not only for Pakistan’s regional and domestic political interests but also for U.S. policy.
Introduction: Emerging Trends and Developments in Pakistan's FATA—Implications for the United States Robert G. Wirsing
Challenges Facing Development in Pakistan's FATA Ijaz Khan
Challenges Facing a Counter-Militant Campaign in Pakistan's FATA Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema
The State of Cooperation in the East China Sea James Manicom (Apr 13)
Whose Pacific Century? The 113th Congress and Asia Edward Gresser and Daniel Twining (Apr 13)
Intensifying Contradictions: Chinese Policing Enters the 21st Century Jonathan Walton (Feb 13)
The Impending Tide of Chinese Investment in the United States Robert A. Kapp (Feb 13)
The Leap in North Korea’s Ballistic Missile Program: The Iran Factor John S. Park (Dec 12)
Northeast Asia Turns Its Attention to the Arctic Linda Jakobson (Dec 12)
Getting the Trans-Pacific Partnership Over the Finish Line Deborah Elms (Oct 12)
How Defense Austerity Will Test U.S. Strategy in Asia Michael C. Horowitz (Aug 12)
Does the United States Need a New Russia Policy? Stephen E. Hanson (Jun 12)
Can Pakistan’s Neighbors Help Deal with Pakistan? Mahin Karim (May 12)
Korea’s Elections and the KORUS FTA Yoon-shik Park (Apr 12)
After the Summit: Investing in Nuclear Materials Security Christopher P. Twomey (Apr 12)
Taiwan's Future: Narrowing Straits Robert Sutter (May 11)
Aftershock: The 112th Congress and Post-Crisis Asia Edward Gresser and Daniel Twining (Mar 11)
Sino-U.S. Competition and U.S. Security: How Do We Assess the Military Balance? Dan Blumenthal (Dec 10)
Power Constrained: Sources of Mutual Strategic Suspicion in U.S.-China Relations David M. Lampton (Jun 10)
Pakistani Partnerships with the United States: An Assessment Daniel Markey (Nov 09)
Shock of the New: Congress and Asia in 2009 Edward Gresser and Daniel Twining (Feb 09)
Post–September 11 Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations: Prospects for Counter-insurgency Cooperation Abdulkader H. Sinno and Rasul Bakhsh Rais (Dec 08)
Challenges Facing Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Ijaz Khan and Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema (Aug 08)