[{"_1":2,"_289":-5,"_290":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_16":17,"_287":288},"root",{"_5":6,"_14":15},"fb",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":12,"_13":8},"apiKey","AIzaSyAdxqOaB63feHHqSm_nZCKsSHpSAcxkct8","authDomain","thediplomat.firebaseapp.com","projectId","firebase-thediplomat","appId","ga",true,"routes/$issue",{"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":23},"slug","2015-10","path","/2015-10","issue",{"_24":25,"_26":27,"_28":29,"_30":31,"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43},"eid","-K-0wGoxmnYhN8Hr_6cN","title","Pakistan and the Taliban: Past as Prologue?","description","This month C. Christine Fair traces the complex relationship between Pakistan and the Taliban. We also cover Malcolm Turnbull’s successful ouster of Tony Abbott as Australian prime minister, the triumph of the People’s Action Party in the elections in Singapore, and the impact of politics on Nepal’s recovery from its devastating earthquake. All accompanied by reporting, analysis, and opinion from across the region.","masthead","","number",11,"date","October 2015","month",10,"year",2015,"status","rdy","toc",[44,59,76,84,110,134,159,184,209,234,255,271],{"_24":45,"_46":47,"_26":48,"_49":50},"CVRS","priority",0,"Cover Story","pages",[51],{"_24":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":27},"-K-0wK2OOu4m1G9glvMm","lead","

After riding the Islamist militancy tiger for decades, Pakistan now has a problem.

","model","story","preview",1,{"_24":60,"_46":58,"_26":61,"_49":62},"LDS","Leads",[63,67,71],{"_24":64,"_53":65,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":66},"-K-0wK2SrRZObsD0q6te","

In yet another political knifing in Canberra, a very different prime minister takes over.

","Australia: Change at the Top",{"_24":68,"_53":69,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":70},"-K-0wK2VO7eYXB2Li92R","

Most analysts were surprised that the ruling PAP did so well. They shouldn’t have been.

","Singapore’s Surprisingly Predictable Election Result",{"_24":72,"_53":73,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":75},"-K-0wK2Y4vvWyMvULKn7","

Plans are in place, the government knows what needs to be done, the money is there, and the survivors are waiting.

",2,"Nepal and the Politics of Earthquakes",{"_24":77,"_46":74,"_26":78,"_49":79},"INT","Interview",[80],{"_24":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":83},"-K-0wK55Yl35TrcK8H1M","

“There is absolutely no room to call this a democracy anymore.”

","Eva Abdulla",{"_24":85,"_46":86,"_26":87,"_49":88},"CHN",3,"China",[89,93,97,101,105],{"_24":90,"_53":91,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":92},"-K-0wK58MrHcj6mBBIjA","

But every step the U.S. and Taiwan take toward each other is likely to be read negatively in Beijing.

","China and Taiwan: The Slowing of Cross-Strait Relations",{"_24":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":96},"-K-0wK5Db4pWajapSYWw","

For all its flaws, China’s political system has some advantages over “showbiz democracy.”

","Why China Has No Donald Trump",{"_24":98,"_53":99,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":100},"-K-0wK5FZ3R8Li28zjqV","

China’s reliance on Middle Eastern oil is a very real threat to the stability of the global economic order.

","China’s Energy Security Achilles Heel",{"_24":102,"_53":103,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":104},"-K-0wK5GV692b3bVGPmq","

Cyber issues, the South China Sea disputes, economic issues, and military-to-military ties all featured on the Xi-Obama agenda.

","6 Takeaways from Xi Jinping’s US Visit",{"_24":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":108,"_40":41,"_26":109},"-K-0wK5JcSGif9uE-teR","

The joint statement is a milestone ahead of upcoming climate change talks in Paris.

",4,"Why the US-China Climate Deal Matters",{"_24":111,"_46":108,"_26":112,"_49":113},"NEA","Northeast Asia",[114,118,122,126,130],{"_24":115,"_53":116,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":117},"-K-0wK5LdPgAyGgo3_y4","

The announcement of a long-delayed trilateral summit is a positive step forward for China-Japan-South Korea relations, but is only a step.

","Trilateral Diplomacy to the Rescue in Northeast Asia?",{"_24":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":121},"-K-0wK5NHlDgeIyTxxGt","

Despite missteps by the ruling Saenuri, South Korea’s liberal opposition remains a house divided.

","South Korea’s Liberals: Destined to ‘Struggle,’ Not to Rule?",{"_24":123,"_53":124,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":125},"-K-0wK5OY_xZYd3NSWlM","

The U.S. has had diplomatic breakthroughs with Cuba and Iran. Don’t expect the same for North Korea anytime soon.

","Why North Korea Can’t Be the Next Cuba",{"_24":127,"_53":128,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":129},"-K-0wK5RbB0-zTTvzalb","

Abe’s new Cabinet will signal his priorities for Japan after winning reelection as LDP president.

","Japan’s Coming Cabinet Reshuffle",{"_24":131,"_53":132,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":108,"_40":41,"_26":133},"-K-0wK5ZuX2RmolbxgUm","

The idea of Korea as “Hell Chosun” captures a creeping sense of futility among young South Koreans.

","Is South Korea Now 'Hell Chosun'?",{"_24":135,"_46":136,"_26":137,"_49":138},"SOA",5,"South Asia",[139,143,147,151,155],{"_24":140,"_53":141,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":142},"-K-0wK5dI3Ff4JtCWash","

The days of rebellion and violence in India’s northeast are nearly over.

","The Promise of Peace in Nagaland",{"_24":144,"_53":145,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":146},"-K-0wK5fCiyjE-QCgNec","

Existing measures to protect India’s rich heritage have proven to be woefully inadequate.

","Smuggling India’s Antiquities",{"_24":148,"_53":149,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":150},"-K-0wK5hXwL88TYF9Jhg","

A Pakistani judge, citing climate change as the most serious threat facing Pakistan, has ordered the government to take action.

","Court Order Forces Pakistan to Act on Climate Change",{"_24":152,"_53":153,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":154},"-K-0wK5iFHPT7vYMfBVe","

How a potential permanent UNSC member approached the crisis in Syria.

","India and the Syrian Civil War",{"_24":156,"_53":157,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":108,"_40":41,"_26":158},"-K-0wK5kZ-N8FCt6FmsH","

The region’s share of global GDP is low relative to its share of the world’s urban population, a new report says.

","South Asia Failing to Fully Leverage Urbanization",{"_24":160,"_46":161,"_26":162,"_49":163},"SEA",6,"Southeast Asia",[164,168,172,176,180],{"_24":165,"_53":166,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":167},"-K-0wK5l1AZoMzMGjnfX","

The country’s civil war is already one of the world’s longest-running conflicts.

","Election Politics Torpedo Myanmar’s Ceasefire",{"_24":169,"_53":170,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":171},"-K-0wK5nJ5JJtD0cWC0O","

Development is sparking rising tensions in southeastern Myanmar.

","Myanmar: Shan Villagers and the Salween Dam Fight",{"_24":173,"_53":174,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":175},"-K-0wK5pUjSvf11uQRP8","

Drug trafficking in the Golden Triangle is not just a law enforcement issue.

","Solving Southeast Asia’s Drug Problem",{"_24":177,"_53":178,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":179},"-K-0wK5reJyG9zq0R7rr","

Hanoi and Tokyo find their interests converging, especially when it comes to security and economics.

","Vietnam, Japan Strengthen Strategic Partnership",{"_24":181,"_53":182,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":108,"_40":41,"_26":183},"-K-0wK5sYhiOVdTXVa8n","

A Thai journalist recounts his recent “attitude adjustment” under the country’s ruling junta.

","How Thailand’s Military Junta Tried to ‘Adjust My Attitude’ in Detention",{"_24":185,"_46":186,"_26":187,"_49":188},"CEA",7,"Central Asia",[189,193,197,201,205],{"_24":190,"_53":191,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":192},"-K-0wK5tsT6RITJWNVea","

You could be forgiven for forgetting about the existence of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

","The CSTO: Serving Russia’s Interests Since 1992",{"_24":194,"_53":195,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":196},"-K-0wK5u-lbLvA9QvNFu","

Dushanbe seems to have completed a 24-year slow war against political Islam.

","Nozim Kalandrov, Reuters",{"_24":198,"_53":199,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":200},"-K-0wK5wPe_QjP10-Q30","

Ashgabat’s construction boom benefits a very select few.

","Offshore Turkmenistan: ‘Sultanism’ in the Construction Industry",{"_24":202,"_53":203,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":204},"-K-0wK5y3MnAx-bP-gPD","

Last year, Putin commented that “Kazakhs had never had statehood” before 1991. Astana was not pleased.

","Take Note, Putin: Kazakhstan Celebrates 550 Years of Statehood",{"_24":206,"_53":207,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":108,"_40":41,"_26":208},"-K-0wK629Y15nb3wl6UT","

Bishkek demands a little more respect for its democratic progress, but all is not lost in the U.S.-Kyrgyz relationship

","Kyrgyzstan, the Mouse That Roared?",{"_24":210,"_46":211,"_26":212,"_49":213},"OCE",8,"Oceania",[214,218,222,226,230],{"_24":215,"_53":216,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":217},"-K-0wK63UC6Lol8Q7Y2F","

The “Lucky Country” now needs to prepare itself for a very different Chinese economy.

","China Turbulence Batters Australia",{"_24":219,"_53":220,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":221},"-K-0wK64bfZ9q43NYUPE","

Will it be continuity or change for Australia’s new prime minister?

","Australia: Whither Foreign Policy Under Turnbull?",{"_24":223,"_53":224,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":225},"-K-0wK66ISTG05v8Nq3d","

Australia has been shamefully slow to eliminate this infectious eye disease. Finally, progress is being made.

","Fighting Trachoma in Indigenous Australia",{"_24":227,"_53":228,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":229},"-K-0wK67j5-w2vSltd19","

Is replacing phosphate with refugees the best solution for Nauru?

","Small Island, Big Business: Nauru’s Choice on Migrants",{"_24":231,"_53":232,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":108,"_40":41,"_26":233},"-K-0wK68W-kxNKyMtiEk","

A former Australian colony celebrates a milestone.

","Papua New Guinea: 40 Years After Independence",{"_24":235,"_46":236,"_26":237,"_49":238},"SCR",9,"Security",[239,243,247,251],{"_24":240,"_53":241,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":242},"-K-0wK7vs_s-ZGTNJhvL","

A history of the British and their allies defeating Communist insurgents in Malaya in the 1950s shows that counterinsurgency can work.

","The Malayan Emergency: Blueprint for a Successful Counterinsurgency Campaign?",{"_24":244,"_53":245,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":246},"-K-0wK7wBivXRVPZ5YXp","

The effort could play an important role in the rebalance.

","Can the US Marines Help Build Indonesia’s Amphibious Capabilities?",{"_24":248,"_53":249,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":250},"-K-0wK7yZPmF-c1k-o4M","

It’s misleading to interpret Japan’s record defense budget as a sign of “remilitarization.”

","Japan’s New Defense Budget: Fact vs. Fiction",{"_24":252,"_53":253,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":254},"-K-0wK80UXxGhiYONjRK","

A region-wide approach will be needed to effectively tackle a growing menace.

","Fighting Piracy: Is a Grand Asian Strategy Possible?",{"_24":256,"_46":37,"_26":257,"_49":258},"DPL","Diplomacy",[259,263,267],{"_24":260,"_53":261,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":262},"-K-0wK85EXFBM9A180Gw","

For over 20 years, India has sought membership in APEC. It’s time its bid was taken seriously.

","Has India’s Hour at APEC Finally Come?",{"_24":264,"_53":265,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":266},"-K-0wK87VvrSnTclU2iX","

The strength of relations between the two countries is intriguing.

","South Korea’s Growing Ties With Uzbekistan",{"_24":268,"_53":269,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":270},"-K-0wK886FA_a4VeBqn2","

The euphoria of summer is bumping up against some tricky political realities.

","The Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Growing Pains",{"_24":272,"_46":33,"_26":273,"_49":274},"ASL","Asia Life",[275,279,283],{"_24":276,"_53":277,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":278},"-K-0wK8B9JyrasA_3EKF","

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is an Indian holy man and action movie stay who also evokes the old divides between the Brahman and tribal cultures.

","MSG: New Action Guru, Old Struggle",{"_24":280,"_53":281,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":282},"-K-0wK8DUyPuSyS3aDn5","

Two very different paths, taken with very similar dreams.

","Boxing and Pageants in the Philippines",{"_24":284,"_53":285,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":286},"-K-0wK8FkZDka66MHMqD","

With a troubled past, Cambodia’s bustling capital is today a naturally occurring marvel.

","Phnom Penh, City Interrupted","routes/$issue.cover",{"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":23},"actionData","errors"]