The double suicide attack on the Iranian embassy in Beirut killed at least 23 people and throws yet more fuel on the smoldering political fires of Lebanon. But what is known about the group behind it?
The nomination of Mullah Fazlullah as the new head of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) does not seem to dramatically change prospects for an agreement between the TTP and Islamabad. Yet if signed, this agreement will not be able to stop violence in the tribal area of Pakistan and neighbor regions.
The appointment of Mullah Fazlullah to lead the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) may have negative consequences for negotiations in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
It is very unlikely that the U.S. decision to kill Hakimullah Mehsud will significantly set back U.S.-Pakistan relations, but drone strikes will remain an impediment.
Postwar feelings of transatlantic solidarity are no more. Today, Americans and Europeans have vastly different perceptions of the outside world and of the threats they face.
The impact of Pakistan on the situation in Afghanistan is seriously overestimated. Current problems and future risks will not allow Pakistan even to think about the decisive influence in Afghanistan.
After the U.S. troops withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban will most likely regain the power under the auspices of Pakistan and possibly of another neighbor—China.
The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014 equates with an unquestionable strengthening of the Taliban movement or even with its actual coming to power. The external actors will have to adjust to the new situation and the future Afghan coalition leadership which will include the Taliban.
Given the addition of Pakistanis at senior leader levels in al-Qaeda, there may well be a continued growing focus on the insurgency in Pakistan and possibly on striking foreign targets in India.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will soon have an important meeting with President Barack Obama in Washington, one that will largely focus on U.S. drone strikes.


















Stay connected to the Global Think Tank with Carnegie's smartphone app for Android and iOS devices