What is the optimal strategy for the United States and its allies to pursue in Afghanistan? Observers across the political spectrum agree that military operations alone are not enough to secure Afghanistan against a powerful insurgency linked to global jihadism. There is increasing consensus as well that Pakistan - a refuge for important al-Qaeda figures, and also under attack by insurgents who identify themselves as Taliban - is deeply involved in this conflict. The Afghanistan-Pakistan Theater: Militant Islam, Security and Stability explores vital aspects of the situation the U.S. confronts in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. This collection represents a diversity of political perspectives and policy prescriptions. Nobody believes that the way forward will be easy; there is a pressing need for clear thinking and informed decisions.

1. An assessment of Pakistan's Peace Agreements with Militants in Waziristan (2004-2008) / Hassan Abbas.--2. Pakistan's Security and the Civil-Military Nexus / Shuja Nawaz.--3. Religious Militancy in Pakistan's military and Inter-Seervices Intelligence Agency / Daveed Gartenstein-Ross.--4. Pakistan's Islamist Frontier: Islamic Politics U.S. Ploicy in Pakistan's North-West Frontier / Joshua T. White.--5. Afghanistan's Flawed Elections : Implications for the Insurgency / C. Christine Fair.--6. The Drug-Conflict Nexus in South Asia : Beyond Taliban Profits and Afghanistan / Vanda Felbab-Brown.--7. Rough Terrain : The Human Terrain System in Afghnaistan / Vanessa Gezari.--8. The Enemy: Understanding and Defeating Jihadist Ideology / Sebastian Gorka.