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A string of deadly suicide bombings have recently hit Northwest Pakistan and the Pakistani Taliban are claiming responsibility. The attacks are apparently in retaliation against the Pakistani military for an offensive in South Waziristan for the past several months. Meanwhile, the White House last week authorized an expansion of the military drone program in Pakistan. The expansion coincides with Obama’s decision to commit to a troop surge in Afghanistan, but the administration is unwilling to publicly declare the parallel military action in Pakistan. The drone program enjoys bi-partisan support in Congress and US military officials say their actions in Pakistan are done with the knowledge and cooperation of the Pakistani Government. However, according to a Gallup poll over the summer, 67% of Pakistanis are against the attacks, with only 9-percent in favor. Additionally, a majority of Pakistanis polled ranked the US a greater threat to Pakistan than even India or the Taliban.

GUEST: Hamid Khan, Executive Director of South Asian Network

Listen to Part 1 of our conversation with Hamid Khan here.