On October 27, 2010, Pakistani journalist Imtiaz Gul sat down with moderator Peter Bergen to discuss US-Pakistani relations following high-level strategic meetings between the two countries. Mr. Gul detailed Pakistan’s domestic situation and the impact of the 2010 “super floods” which threw the civilian government into disarray and further enhanced the reputation of the military. His anecdotes and analysis underscored the complexity of the situation as well as competing interests found among ethnic groups, rival governments, and insurgents.

The discussion touched on many topics including Pakistan’s role in Afghan reconciliation talks. Mr. Gul’s comments also indicated that there is a shifting sense of priorities in the Pakistani military establishment and that more and more Pakistanis are questioning the utility of militant groups as an unconventional policy instrument. Such a shift should be encouraging for those who desire stability in the region, especially because recent terrorist attacks indicate the conflicts there are not necessarily localized.