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Map of Asia |
Email this citationCIAO DATE: 12/03
New Priorities in South Asia
Frank G. Wisner II, Nicholas Platt, and Marshall M. Bouton
October 2003
Executive Summary
South Asia may be halfway around the globe from the United States, but in the age of the Internet and globalization, what happens there–as the September 11,2001,terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda tragically underscored–can affect all Americans. The challenge to U.S. policy over the medium term (through 2010) is to design and implement a stable and sustained approach that will solidify bilateral ties with three of the key countries of the region–India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan–and give the United States an opportunity to influence major regional developments. This report assesses the strengths and weaknesses of India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and recommends how U.S.policy can best take advantage of the opportunities while addressing the dangers that they present. Success in dealing with South Asia will require sustained and highlevel attention, sensitive diplomacy, a realistic view of what is possible, and, especially with Pakistan and Afghanistan,investment of substantial resources.
