Pakistan and Afghanistan are both of great strategic importance to the United States and will continue to be significant national security priorities for the foreseeable future. From a U.S. perspective, they present several major security, diplomatic, and economic challenges. Both countries are critical to regional and international security and stability.This report reviews and assesses current U.S. policy in the region, treating the challenges in Pakistan and Afghanistan as connected but also distinct. The task force offers recommendations on how to adapt U.S. policy to most effectively address both the shortand long-term challenges the United States faces in South Asia.
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The Council on Foreign Relations sponsors Independent Task Forces to assess issues of current and critical importance to U.S. foreign policy and provide policymakers with concrete judgments and recommendations. Diverse in backgrounds and perspectives, Task Force members aim to reach a meaningful consensus on policy through private and non-partisan deliberations. Once launched, Task Forces are independent of CFR and solely responsible for the content of their reports. Task Force members are asked to join a consensus signifying that they endorse "the general policy thrust and judgments reached by the group, though not necessarily every finding and recommendation." Each Task Force member also has the option of putting forward an additional or a dissenting view. Members' affiliations are listed for identification purposes only and do not imply institutional endorsement. Task Force observers participate in discussions, but are not asked to join the consensus.
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