What led to the creation of the mujahadeen in Afghanistan? What were their goals? Were they successful?
Who are the Afghan Taliban? How did they ultimately gain power?
Who was/are the Northern Alliance? What is their relationship to the Taliban? What impact did the events of September 11 have on the Northern Alliance?
What is Pakistan’s defining national security issue? How has that issue affected its relationship with the U.S.?
What is the main concern regarding a conflict between India and Pakistan? How can the U.S. help mitigate the risk of such a conflict?
Describe the attack against Mumbai, India in 2008? What counterterrorism measures did India take following that attack?
What is the ISI? How does it serve the interests of the Pakistani government. How does it conflict with the interests of the Pakistani government?
Who are the Sikhs? What was their most famous terrorist attack? What threat do they currently pose to India?
Briefly describe the history of the LTTE and assess their current threat?
What tactic is LTTE most famous for and how has it influenced other terrorist groups worldwide?
What role did the U.S. play in creating and supporting the original mujahideen in Afghanistan and Pakistan in the 1980s? Why did the U.S. take such an approach? What other alternatives might the U.S. have pursued to achieve its goals in the region at that time?
Reidel argues that Pakistan’s ISI has had, and still has (at the time of the article), significant ties to Al Queda and the Taliban. Are you convinced by his arguments? Why or why not?
Is a stable relationship with Pakistan still vital to U.S. interests in Southwest Asia? Why or why not? Does the current relationship with Pakistan help or hinder the U.S. fight against terrorism worldwide?
What recommendations does the author make with regard to both Sri Lanka and the Tamils? How might these recommendations be applied, if at all, to other separatists conflicts?
Can you tell from the article if the author is pro or anti-Tamil? How, if at all, do you think any bias has affected the recommendations being made?
