Afghanistan & Pakistan: Countries in Crisis

Afghanistan and Pakistan, neighboring states, are both in a precarious situation. In Afghanistan, the leader is Hamid Karzai and in Pakistan it’s Pervez Musharraf. They face huge internal problems. Both have been targeted for assassination. In Afghanistan, the Taliban are regrouping. Attacks are on the increase. Drug trafficking, largely curbed during Taliban rule, is way up. Warlords, who operate fiefdoms, challenge Karzai for power. And in Pakistan, Islamic parties have won electoral victories in two of that country’s four provinces. Its top scientist and national hero Abdul Qadeer Khan has admitted to selling nuclear secrets to other countries. Khan was immediately granted amnesty. Critics say a deal was struck so that the Pakistan military would not be implicated.

Interview by David Barsamian.