The assassination of Afghan government negotiator Burhanuddin Rabbani signals the challenges in any reconciliation talks with the Taliban and could exacerbate ethnic divisions, pushing the country into a civil war.

Recent Taliban attacks in Kabul have undermined Afghan confidence in local security forces and cast new doubt on a sustainable transition from U.S.-led efforts, analysts say.

Pakistan's arrest of senior al-Qaeda leaders signals renewed cooperation with the United States. But experts stress both sides have to work harder to tackle issues such as Pakistan's relations with militant groups and U.S. objectives in Afghanistan.

The deadliest month for U.S. troops in Afghanistan comes to an end amid renewed debate about the U.S. endgame there and whether the nearly decade-long conflict has achieved its goals.

The recent killings in Norway highlight the rise of anti-Muslim, anti-immigration feelings in Europe and the U.S. that could impede tackling other forms of homegrown terrorism, say experts.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged to press Pakistan on terrorism and tried to ease New Delhi's worries over Afghanistan on her visit to India this week. But a deteriorating U.S.-Pakistan relationship decreases Washington's ability to influence Islamabad on terrorism issues, say experts.

Heightened cross-border tensions and militant activity underscore the possible risks to the region as the United States prepares for its phased troop pullout from Afghanistan.

U.S.-Pakistan ties are increasingly frayed following a string of high-profile counterterrorism incidents, but experts say U.S. aid to Pakistan should continue and that the security relationship remains vital.

Revelations about Osama bin Laden's plans to attack targets in the United States raises questions about his role in al-Qaeda and the impact his death will have on the idea of global jihad.

This issue guide provides background and analysis on the foreign policy implications of the death of Osama bin Laden.

The death of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a U.S. operation in Pakistan marks a triumph for the United States, although the lasting impact on the U.S.-led "war on terror" is uncertain.

The Pakistani government's loss of its parliamentary majority has raised new concerns among some analysts of instability for a country crucial to U.S. efforts to combat Taliban and al-Qaeda militants.

The latest terrorism threat to emerge from Yemen, involving foiled package bombs, points to the continuing danger of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to the United States and the difficulties in defeating it.

Although violence in Afghanistan's parliamentary elections this weekend could be a setback for U.S. efforts, some experts see an opportunity for change if the elections lead to serious conversations about corruption and accountability.

Despite political uncertainty and a recent uptick in violence, the United States is winding down military operations in Iraq, a drawdown that will test Baghdad's nascent democratic institutions.

Repercussions of the failed Christmas Day bombing continue, with policy debate focused on Yemen as a new al-Qaeda front and possible delays shuttering Guantanamo Bay.

President Obama's decision to transfer Guantanamo inmates to an Illinois prison could speed closure of the facility, but the move has raised both security and civil liberties concerns.

The U.S. attorney general's decision to conduct a preliminary review of past CIA interrogations awakens spirited debate over the scope of the intelligence community's counterterrorism practices.

President Obama has reinforced his call to shut down the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, saying its flaws have weakened national security. But his plans for transferring detainees remain unclear and political battles loom.

Militancy has been spreading inside Pakistan. Experts say Pakistani authorities lack an effective strategy to battle the militants, raising deep concerns on the Afghan war front and beyond.