U.S.-Pakistan Relations: Assassination, Instability and the Future of U.S. Policy

{
  "authors": [
    "Ashley J. Tellis"
  ],
  "type": "testimony",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "ctw",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "SAP",
  "programs": [
    "South Asia"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "North America",
    "United States",
    "Pakistan"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Security",
    "Foreign Policy"
  ]
}

Testimony

U.S.-Pakistan Relations: Assassination, Instability and the Future of U.S. Policy

In testimony before the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, Ashley J. Tellis emphasized that the United States should focus its efforts in Pakistan on ensuring a credible and legitimate electoral process whose outcome is acceptable to the Pakistani people, and not on securing political outcomes that favor Musharraf.

By Ashley J. Tellis

Published on Jan 16, 2008

Source: Testimony before the House Congressional Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia

On January 16, 2008,Carnegie Senior Associate Ashley J. Tellis testified before the House Congressional Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia at a hearing on "U.S.-Pakistan Relations: Assassination, Instability, and the Future of U.S. Policy." He was joined by Christine Fair of the Rand Corporation and Lisa Curtis of the Heritage Foundation. Tellis argued that the United States should focus its efforts in Pakistan on ensuring a credible and legitimate electoral process whose outcome is acceptable to the Pakistani people, and not on securing political outcomes that favor Musharraf.

Click on the PDF icons above to read Tellis' written testimony and transcript.

Event Video
To view this video, you will need Windows Media Player, or QuickTime.
Download Windows Media Player
Download QuickTime

Click on one of the options below to listen to video or audio of the testimony:

Testimony by Carnegie Senior Associate Ashley J. Tellis

Podcast

QuickTime

Windows Media

Question and Answer Session

Podcast

QuickTime

Windows Media

About the Author

Ashley J. Tellis

Former Senior Fellow

Ashley J. Tellis was a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Recent Work

Paper
Multipolar Dreams, Bipolar Realities: India’s Great Power Future
- Ashley J. Tellis
Commentary
India Sees Opportunity in Trump’s Global Turbulence. That Could Backfire.
- Ashley J. Tellis

Security Foreign Policy North America United States Pakistan

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie China

Commentary
Emissary
Trump and Xi Are Angling for Three Years of Stability
But their "principal to principal" model will only be as effective as the political strength of each leader back home.
Damien Ma
Commentary
China Sells Stability Amid American Volatility
U.S. unpredictability has allowed China to capitalize on its positioning as the “responsible great power”. Paradoxically, the more China wins the perception game, the more likely expectations will rise for Beijing to deliver not just words but to demonstrate with its deeds.
Chong Ja Ian
Commentary
Why Vietnam Is Swinging in China’s Direction
Hanoi and Beijing have long treated each other as distant cousins rather than comrades in arms. That might be changing as both sides draw closer to hedge against uncertainty and America’s erratic behavior.
Nguyễn Khắc Giang
Commentary
China’s Energy Security Doesn’t Run Through Hormuz but Through the Electrification of Everything
Across Asia, China is better positioned to withstand energy shocks from the fallout of the Iran war. Its abundant coal capacity can ensure stability in the near term. Yet at the same time, the country’s energy transition away from coal will make it even less vulnerable during the next shock.

Damien Ma
Commentary
Malaysia’s Year as ASEAN Chair: Managing Disorder
Malaysia’s chairmanship sought to fend off short-term challenges while laying the groundwork for minimizing ASEAN’s longer-term exposure to external stresses.
Elina Noor

U.S.-Pakistan Relations: Assassination, Instability and the Future of U.S. Policy

More Work from Carnegie China

Commentary

Emissary

Trump and Xi Are Angling for Three Years of Stability

But their "principal to principal" model will only be as effective as the political strength of each leader back home.

Damien Ma

Commentary

China Sells Stability Amid American Volatility

U.S. unpredictability has allowed China to capitalize on its positioning as the “responsible great power”. Paradoxically, the more China wins the perception game, the more likely expectations will rise for Beijing to deliver not just words but to demonstrate with its deeds.

Chong Ja Ian

Vietnam's Top Leader To Lam meets with young representatives from China and Vietnam participating in the "Red Study Tours" at the Great Hall of the People on April 15, 2026 in Beijing, China. T

Commentary

Why Vietnam Is Swinging in China’s Direction

Hanoi and Beijing have long treated each other as distant cousins rather than comrades in arms. That might be changing as both sides draw closer to hedge against uncertainty and America’s erratic behavior.

Nguyễn Khắc Giang

Commentary

China’s Energy Security Doesn’t Run Through Hormuz but Through the Electrification of Everything

Across Asia, China is better positioned to withstand energy shocks from the fallout of the Iran war. Its abundant coal capacity can ensure stability in the near term. Yet at the same time, the country’s energy transition away from coal will make it even less vulnerable during the next shock.

Damien Ma

Commentary

Malaysia’s Year as ASEAN Chair: Managing Disorder

Malaysia’s chairmanship sought to fend off short-term challenges while laying the groundwork for minimizing ASEAN’s longer-term exposure to external stresses.

Elina Noor