Afghan Valley Offers Test for Obama Strategy

By SABRINA TAVERNISE The Jalrez Valley, where Americans have reduced violence while improving services and creating jobs, is a test case. (The New York Times)

Pakistan Army Claims Control of Main Swat Town

By SABRINA TAVERNISE A general says the public helped win a major victory in a three-week campaign against the Taliban. (The New York Times)

A Better Bargain for Aid to Pakistan

By C. Christine Fair
The U.S. should disperse billions in aid through a well-structured trust fund. (The Washington Post)

Several Blasts in Pakistan After Taliban Warning

By ISMAIL KHAN and SALMAN MASOOD Multiple bombs exploded in two Pakistani cities on Thursday, just hours after the Taliban issued an extraordinary warning for people to evacuate cities. (The New York Times)

Popular Former Premier Is Back in Pakistani Politics

By Griff Witte
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, May 26 -- Pakistan's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, the nation's most popular politician, can participate in elections despite an earlier ban. (The Washington Post)

Pakistan Says It Makes More Gains on Taliban

By SALMAN MASOOD The army said it had taken the central square of Mingora, the largest city in the Swat Valley. (The New York Times)

Pakistan and Taliban Battling for Key City

By SALMAN MASOOD The Pakistani military is trying to wrest the largest city in the contested Swat Valley from the hands of Taliban militants. (The New York Times)

U.S. Captain Hears Pleas for Afghan Detainee

By RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr. An American officer, who in civilian life is a policeman, helped find a lawyer for a man held as a suspected Taliban leader. (The New York Times)

Pakistani Refugee Crisis Poses Peril

By Griff Witte
MARDAN, Pakistan -- Bacha Zab, a 32-year-old fruit salesman, dodged army shelling and Taliban sniper fire to escape his native Swat Valley. But when he reached the safety of a government-run refugee camp in this northwestern Pakistani city, he was told there was no more room. (The Washington Post)

Battle for Swat's Main City Begins

By Griff Witte
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, May 23 -- Pakistani troops pushed into the largest city in the contested Swat Valley on Saturday and fought block to block with Taliban militants in an apparent escalation of the army's effort to retake the picturesque area, which has become a symbol of insurgent defiance and... (The Washington Post)

Taliban Foiling Pakistani Army

By Griff Witte
KHWAZAKHELA, Pakistan, May 22 -- The Pakistani army has retaken control of key parts of the contested Swat Valley in recent days, but the Taliban has kept its grip on some of the area's largest towns nearly a month into a massive military offensive, army commanders said Friday during a visit near... (The Washington Post)

UN seeks $543 million for Pakistan war refugees

By CHRIS BRUMMITT
ISLAMABAD -- The United Nations appealed Friday for $543 million to ease the "incredible suffering" of nearly 2 million refugees from Pakistan's war against Taliban militants. (The Washington Post)

A Peace Overture in Afghanistan

By DEXTER FILKINS Leaders of armed groups in Afghanistan are talking to intermediaries about a potential peace agreement. (The New York Times)

Pakistan army wrests town from Taliban, killing 80

By ZARAR KHAN
ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani forces killed 80 militants and drove the Taliban from a major urban stronghold on Wednesday, the army said, as U.S. military planes brought aid for civilians fleeing fierce fighting in the northwest. (The Washington Post)

Arms From U.S. May Be Falling Into Taliban Hands

By C. J. CHIVERS Evidence suggests munitions procured by the Pentagon leak from Afghan forces for use against American troops. (The New York Times)