Tom's Take

[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/16/christianetom.jpg caption caption="Sr. Writer for Amanpour, Tom Evans, works on scripts with Christiane"]

AMANPOUR. today has an Exclusive interview with the outgoing United Nations special representative to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, who steps down in early March.  The offensive in the South of the country has focused attention on the battlefield, yet Eide says that success in Afghanistan will ultimately be political not military.  Christiane also speaks to one of the world’s preeminent experts on the Taliban, Ahmed Rashid, about the capture of the Taliban second in command, Mullah Baradar.   Afghanistan tops our round-up of stories in the news today. Here are some perspectives.

Tom Evans

Sr. Writer, AMANPOUR.

AFGHANISTAN – Is Pakistan stepping up its cooperation with U.S. and Afghanistan in fight against Afghan Taliban?

–         Afghan official tells Associated Press Pakistan arrested two Taliban ‘shadow’ provincial governors 10 to 12 days ago

–         Taliban ‘shadow’ governors were reportedly key figures responsible for insurgent group’s expansion in northern Afghanistan recently

–         Arrests came around same time Pakistani and U.S. operatives apprehended Afghan Taliban’s number two figure, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, in Pakistani city of Karachi

QUESTION: Is stepped up Pakistani cooperation with U.S. and Afghanistan an effort by Islamabad to show it must be taken seriously as a partner in the reconciliation process in Afghanistan?

CHINA/U.S. – Will today’s meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama worsen already strained relations between Beijing and Washington?

–         Pres. Obama to meet Dalai Lama at the White House today despite strong objections from Beijing which says Tibet is part of its sovereign territory

–         China saying the meeting will seriously damage ties between the Washington and Beijing

–         Meeting comes amid other bilateral tensions; over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, internet censorship and hacking, and international trade

QUESTION: Can the U.S. and China afford worsening relations given their economic interdependence and need for joint action on international challenges such as Iran, North Korea, and climate change?

DUBAI – Will diplomatic shockwaves from suspected Mossad assassination of top Hamas official in Dubai reverberate around the world?

–         Ireland and Britain demanding answers from Israel over fraudulent use of Irish and UK passports by many of suspects in the killing of top Hamas official in a hotel room last month

–         Dubai authorities released “names” and photos of 11 suspects who had European passports: six from Britain, three from Ireland, one from Germany, one from France

–         No government has directly accused Israel of the killing, but Dubai police chief says he’s 99 percent sure Mossad was behind it. Israel says there’s no evidence it was involved

QUESTION: Could this developing diplomatic firestorm badly damage relations between Europe and Israel?