"What are the possibilities and hazards facing American after the death of Osama bin Laden? Where is the Taliban now? And what are America's choices going forward as Operation Freedom winds down? These are some of the crucial questions Ahmed Rashid takes on in this follow-up to his acclaimed 'Descent into Chaos'. An urgent, on-the-ground report from within Pakistan, this highly anticipated update takes stock of past mistakes and successes, reviews the current situation, and offers informed insights about the future of America's relations with the troubled region.--[book cover]

Originally published by Viking Penguin, 2013.

Osama and Obama, legacy and inheritance -- Pakistan in crisis -- Pakistan: Who betrayed whom? -- Afghanistan: the first surge and the failure of elections -- Afghanistan: talking to the Taliban -- A sliver of hope: counterinsurgency in Swat -- Pakistan: broken relations, crimes, and misdemeanors -- Changing the narrative- or preparing for the worst.