Pakistan, Afghanistan, and US Foreign Policy

Pakistan reportedly building a foothold in Afghanistan. We’ll look at its growing influence and what it means for American influence in the region.

Confirmation hearings today for General David Petraeus as he readies to take over in Afghanistan. He faces huge challenges.

Pakistan has stepped in to fill what it sees as a security vacuum. Afghanistan’s Hamid Karzai has soured on the Americans. There’s talk of talking to the Taliban. Power-sharing. And more.

What’s going on here? And what does Pakistan’s growing role mean for the US strategy and long-term influence? We’ll get answers from top regional watchers.

This hour, On Point: Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the US.
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Guests:

Ahmed Rashid, journalist and commentator. He's author of "Descent into Chaos: The United States and the Failure of Nation Building In Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia."

Larry Goodson, Professor of Middle East Studies at the U.S. Army War College and author of "Afghanistan’s Endless War: State Failure, Regional Politics, and the Rise of the Taliban" and the forthcoming "The Talibanization of Pakistan."

James Dobbins, Director, International Security and Defense Policy Center, RAND National Security Research Division. He's author of "After the Taliban: Nation-Building in Afghanistan."