Pakistan’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Deal on US Air Strikes

Pakistan’s loud complaints about the regular US air strikes in its tribal areas have had so little effect on American policy that it has been speculated that there must be a “secret understanding” between the two. Pakistan’s government denied this earlier in the month, but new reports are indicating that this is more or less exactly what’s been happening. Read more

US drone strike kills 12 in Pakistan

A pre-dawn missile strike by a US drone on a suspected militant hideout in Pakistan’s volatile north Waziristan tribal region has killed at least 12 people. Read more

Suspected US missile strikes continue in Pakistan

A suspected US missile strike killed at least eight people in a Pakistani village close to the Afghan border today. Read more

US Drone Strike Kills at Least 13 in North Waziristan

US drones launched yet another unilateral air strike into Pakistan’s North Waziristan Agency today, hitting what was described as a “suspected al-Qaeda compound” with multiple missiles and killing at least 13 inside. Information travels slowly in this remote part of Pakistan, but an intelligence officer said “eight Pakistani Taliban and five guests” were among the dead. Read more

Pakistan Denies ‘Secret Understanding’ on US Strikes

A spokesman from the Pakistani embassy denied tonight a report that his government has a “secret understanding” with the United States on the contentious issue of unilateral US air strikes launched into Pakistani territory. The report stems from comments in an article by the Washington Post’s David Ignatius, who said “Pakistan’s leaders publicly decry U.S. attacks, and the United States, with a wink and a nudge to its ally, keeps on attacking.” Read more

Election’s Impact on War and Peace

Americans head to the polls today to decide on a successor to President Bush, and if the multi-hour long lines at polling places across the country early today are any indication, the turnout will be enormous. And while the foreign policy positions of the two major party candidates are far from polar opposites, they do differ in some key ways which will impact America’s assorted wars over the next two years. Read more

Pakistan warns US general against missile strikes

Pakistan warns top US general Petraeus against more strikes targeting militants in border area

Pakistan on Monday urged the American general taking charge of the war in Afghanistan to halt missile attacks on militants in its border badlands to avert a backlash against the U.S. in this vital ally in the war on terrorism.

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The Limits of Change

What to expect from the Obama administration on the foreign policy front

As I write this, we are 24 hours away from the end of this seemingly endless presidential campaign, and all the signs point to a victory – some would say an overwhelming victory – by Barack Obama. I won’t make any predictions here, what with the Bradley Effect and other unknowns – including the possibility of a “hanging chad“-like situation – but, given the polls, it’s incumbent on me to give my readers an indication of what to expect from an Obama administration in the foreign policy department, and this is undoubtedly reflected in the personnel he’ll assemble on his foreign policy team. Read more

Report: Turkey Promises to Play Role in Stopping US Attacks Into Pakistan

Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Parvez Kayani is being rushed to Turkey this evening for a meeting with Turkish government officials hot on the heels of Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani’s talks with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. The meeting appears to be the first step toward Turkish involvement in pressing the United States to halt its air strikes against targets inside Pakistan. Read more

Twin US Drone Strikes Kill 32 in Waziristan

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani once again warned NATO that the unilateral air strikes into Pakistani territory were “counter-productive” today as the United States launched two drone strikes, in North and South Waziristan Agency, respectively, killing a total of 32 people. Read more

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