With China and Southeast Asian states disputing claims to the energy-rich South China Sea, the United States is likely to bolster its presence in the area, writes CFR’s Joshua Kurlantzick.

The killing of Punjab’s governor, Salman Taseer, was symptomatic of widespread religious intolerance and fanaticism in Pakistan, says CFR’s Ed Husain.

Without a major surge in force levels, the best outcome that the United States can hope for in Afghanistan is that the Taliban will tire of fighting and pursue peace, writes CFR’s Max Boot.

China’s flagship investment project in Pakistan could provide a much needed economic spark, but significant security and political challenges loom.

The country’s next president must bridge the ethnic and religious divisions that could destabilize the booming Muslim-majority democracy, explains CFR’s Karen Brooks.