On this episode of dialogue we examine the strategic importance of one of the most dangerous places on earth, Pakistan’s tribal region. Our guests are Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University and the Asia Program’s Michael Kugelman. Ahmed served as Pakistan's High Commissioner to the U.K. and Ireland and is the author of more than a dozen award winning books including, Resistance and Control in Pakistan, which focuses on Waziristan, where he served as Political Agent. Michael Kugelman is Program Associate with the Asia program. He's written for publications such as Foreign Policy World Politics Review and The Times of India.  He's also a regular contributor to Dawn, one of Pakistan's major English language newspapers and recently co-edited the paper, Reaping the Dividend: Overcoming Pakistan's Demographic Challenges.