David Sterman


David Sterman is a program associate at New America and Assistant Editor of the South Asia Channel. He tweets at @DSterms
Articles by David Sterman
An Indian Army truck transports troops to the air force base in Pathankot on January 4, 2016. Indian troops backed by helicopters searched an air force base January 4, after a weekend of fierce fighting with suspected Islamic insurgents in which seven soldiers and at least four attackers were killed. AFP PHOTO/ NARINDER NANU / AFP / NARINDER NANU        (Photo credit should read NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images)
An Indian Army truck transports troops to the air force base in Pathankot on January 4, 2016. Indian troops backed by helicopters searched an air force base January 4, after a weekend of fierce fighting with suspected Islamic insurgents in which seven soldiers and at least four attackers were killed. AFP PHOTO/ NARINDER NANU / AFP / NARINDER NANU (Photo credit should read NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images)
To go with Afghanistan-unrest-US-Bagram,FEATURE by Emmanuel PARISSE
In this photograph taken on November 1, 2014, a US flag is pictured as demolition work continues in Bagram Air Base, some 50 kms north of Kabul. First they remove the power supply, then they tear out fixtures by hand, before a mechanical digger destroys the roof in a cloud of dust -- the US military is ending its war in Afghanistan and the wrecking crews are busy. AFP PHOTO/Wakil KOHSAR        (Photo credit should read WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP/Getty Images)
To go with Afghanistan-unrest-US-Bagram,FEATURE by Emmanuel PARISSE In this photograph taken on November 1, 2014, a US flag is pictured as demolition work continues in Bagram Air Base, some 50 kms north of Kabul. First they remove the power supply, then they tear out fixtures by hand, before a mechanical digger destroys the roof in a cloud of dust -- the US military is ending its war in Afghanistan and the wrecking crews are busy. AFP PHOTO/Wakil KOHSAR (Photo credit should read WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP/Getty Images)
KARACHI, PAKISTAN:  Pakistani paramilitary soldiers and policemen stand alert outside the US consulate in Karachi, 08 September 2004, after Karachi police received a telephone call warning a bomb was planted in the consulate.  Pakistani authorities stepped up security in the city a few days ahead of the third anniversary of September 11 terror attacks on the US.    AFP PHOTO/ Aamir QURESHI  (Photo credit should read AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images)
KARACHI, PAKISTAN: Pakistani paramilitary soldiers and policemen stand alert outside the US consulate in Karachi, 08 September 2004, after Karachi police received a telephone call warning a bomb was planted in the consulate. Pakistani authorities stepped up security in the city a few days ahead of the third anniversary of September 11 terror attacks on the US. AFP PHOTO/ Aamir QURESHI (Photo credit should read AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images)
Indian Force One special commando forces apprehend a man during a simulated terrorist attack at the elite unit's inaugural function in Mumbai on November 24, 2009. The 256-strong unit Force One, modelled on India's National Security Guard, is designed as a quick response team for counter-terrorism following criticism that Mumbai police was under-equipped, ill-trained and lacking manpower to tackle the heavily-armed gunmen during the November 26, 2008 terror attacks. AFP PHOTO/ Indranil MUKHERJEE (Photo credit should read INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images)
Indian Force One special commando forces apprehend a man during a simulated terrorist attack at the elite unit's inaugural function in Mumbai on November 24, 2009. The 256-strong unit Force One, modelled on India's National Security Guard, is designed as a quick response team for counter-terrorism following criticism that Mumbai police was under-equipped, ill-trained and lacking manpower to tackle the heavily-armed gunmen during the November 26, 2008 terror attacks. AFP PHOTO/ Indranil MUKHERJEE (Photo credit should read INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images)
In this photograph taken on December 1, 2015, a member of the Afghan security force fires during an ongoing operation against Islamic state (IS) groups in Achin district of Nangarhar province.  Afghan security forces launched anti-militant operations on September 18 in different parts of Nangarhar province, killing hundreds of insurgents so far, police said.    AFP PHOTO / Noorullah SHIRZADA / AFP / Noorullah Shirzada        (Photo credit should read NOORULLAH SHIRZADA/AFP/Getty Images)
In this photograph taken on December 1, 2015, a member of the Afghan security force fires during an ongoing operation against Islamic state (IS) groups in Achin district of Nangarhar province. Afghan security forces launched anti-militant operations on September 18 in different parts of Nangarhar province, killing hundreds of insurgents so far, police said. AFP PHOTO / Noorullah SHIRZADA / AFP / Noorullah Shirzada (Photo credit should read NOORULLAH SHIRZADA/AFP/Getty Images)
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) take a photo together on a mobile phone during the evening 'Aarti' ritual on the banks of the River Ganges at Varanasi on December 12, 2015. Japan will build India's first bullet train under a sweeping tally of agreements made following talks in New Delhi on December 12, deepening a partnership Prime Minister Narendra Modi said would "shape the course of Asia".  Later the two leaders visited the Indian premier's parliamentary constituency of Varanasi, India's holiest city.  AFP PHOTO / PRAKASH SINGH / AFP / PRAKASH SINGH        (Photo credit should read PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/Getty Images)
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) take a photo together on a mobile phone during the evening 'Aarti' ritual on the banks of the River Ganges at Varanasi on December 12, 2015. Japan will build India's first bullet train under a sweeping tally of agreements made following talks in New Delhi on December 12, deepening a partnership Prime Minister Narendra Modi said would "shape the course of Asia". Later the two leaders visited the Indian premier's parliamentary constituency of Varanasi, India's holiest city. AFP PHOTO / PRAKASH SINGH / AFP / PRAKASH SINGH (Photo credit should read PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/Getty Images)
Indian paramilitary forces stand guard as candles placed by people in memory of those killed by militants from diferent walks of life burn in front of the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai on November 30, 2008. The attacks on Mumbai have again highlighted the lack of coherence in India's counter terrorism strategy, its underfunded intelligence services and its poor rapid response networks, analysts say.  AFP PHOTO/ Sajjad HUSSAIN        (Photo credit should read SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images)
Indian paramilitary forces stand guard as candles placed by people in memory of those killed by militants from diferent walks of life burn in front of the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai on November 30, 2008. The attacks on Mumbai have again highlighted the lack of coherence in India's counter terrorism strategy, its underfunded intelligence services and its poor rapid response networks, analysts say. AFP PHOTO/ Sajjad HUSSAIN (Photo credit should read SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images)
Indian Minister for External Affairs Salman Khurshid (L) welcomes Pakistan Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz (R) prior to a meeting in Gurgaon on the outskirts of New Delhi on November 12, 2013.  Aziz is in India for a three-day official visit.  AFP PHOTO/RAVEENDRAN        (Photo credit should read RAVEENDRAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Indian Minister for External Affairs Salman Khurshid (L) welcomes Pakistan Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz (R) prior to a meeting in Gurgaon on the outskirts of New Delhi on November 12, 2013. Aziz is in India for a three-day official visit. AFP PHOTO/RAVEENDRAN (Photo credit should read RAVEENDRAN/AFP/Getty Images)
KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 12:  The sun begins to set at Kandahar airfield on November 12, 2014 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Now that British combat operations have ended and the last UK base in Afghanistan had been handed over to the control of Afghan security forces, any remaining troops are leaving the country via Kandahar. As the drawdown of the US-led coalition troops heads into its final stages, many parts of Kandahar airfield - once home to tens of thousands of soldiers and contractors - are being closed or handed over to the Afghans.  (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN - NOVEMBER 12: The sun begins to set at Kandahar airfield on November 12, 2014 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Now that British combat operations have ended and the last UK base in Afghanistan had been handed over to the control of Afghan security forces, any remaining troops are leaving the country via Kandahar. As the drawdown of the US-led coalition troops heads into its final stages, many parts of Kandahar airfield - once home to tens of thousands of soldiers and contractors - are being closed or handed over to the Afghans. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Lights are seen from Naderkhan Hill on the out skirts of Kabul on October 21, 2012. Kabul now gets allegedly uninterrupted power supply as it imports the electricity from neighbouring Tajikistan. AFP PHOTO/ JAWAD JALALI        (Photo credit should read Jawad Jalali/AFP/Getty Images)
Lights are seen from Naderkhan Hill on the out skirts of Kabul on October 21, 2012. Kabul now gets allegedly uninterrupted power supply as it imports the electricity from neighbouring Tajikistan. AFP PHOTO/ JAWAD JALALI (Photo credit should read Jawad Jalali/AFP/Getty Images)
To go with PAKISTAN-UNREST-AFGHANISTAN by Emmanuel DUPARCQ with Usman Sharifi in Kabul
In this photograph taken on October 16, 2014 shows Pakistani motorists driving past an empty police check post with graffiti which reads as ISIS along a street on the outskirts of Karachi. The Islamic State organisation is starting to attract the attention of radicals in Pakistan and Afghanistan, long a cradle for Islamist militancy, unnerving authorities who fear a potential violent contagion. AFP PHOTO/ Asif HASSAN        (Photo credit should read ASIF HASSAN/AFP/Getty Images)
To go with PAKISTAN-UNREST-AFGHANISTAN by Emmanuel DUPARCQ with Usman Sharifi in Kabul In this photograph taken on October 16, 2014 shows Pakistani motorists driving past an empty police check post with graffiti which reads as ISIS along a street on the outskirts of Karachi. The Islamic State organisation is starting to attract the attention of radicals in Pakistan and Afghanistan, long a cradle for Islamist militancy, unnerving authorities who fear a potential violent contagion. AFP PHOTO/ Asif HASSAN (Photo credit should read ASIF HASSAN/AFP/Getty Images)
NATO foreign ministers attend a NATO ministerial meeting on Resolute Support operations in Afghanistan at NATO Headquarters in Brussels December 1, 2015. / AFP / POOL        (Photo credit should read JONATHAN ERNST/AFP/Getty Images)
NATO foreign ministers attend a NATO ministerial meeting on Resolute Support operations in Afghanistan at NATO Headquarters in Brussels December 1, 2015. / AFP / POOL (Photo credit should read JONATHAN ERNST/AFP/Getty Images)
Pakistani police march on the eighth day of Muharram in Quetta on October 22, 2015. The Islamic month of Muharram marks the seventh-century martyrdom of Prophet Mohammad's grandson Imam Hussein who was killed in battle in Karbala in Iraq 680 AD.   AFP PHOTO / Banaras KHAN        (Photo credit should read BANARAS KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Pakistani police march on the eighth day of Muharram in Quetta on October 22, 2015. The Islamic month of Muharram marks the seventh-century martyrdom of Prophet Mohammad's grandson Imam Hussein who was killed in battle in Karbala in Iraq 680 AD. AFP PHOTO / Banaras KHAN (Photo credit should read BANARAS KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Pakistani fighters F-16 fly on November 4, 2013 during in the Azm-e-Nau-4" (New Resolve) military exercise in Khairpure Tamay Wali in Bahawalpur distirict. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on November 4 warned peace could not be achieved "by unleashing senseless force", in his first public speech since a US drone strike killed Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud. AFP PHOTO / Aamir QURESHI        (Photo credit should read AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images)
Pakistani fighters F-16 fly on November 4, 2013 during in the Azm-e-Nau-4" (New Resolve) military exercise in Khairpure Tamay Wali in Bahawalpur distirict. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on November 4 warned peace could not be achieved "by unleashing senseless force", in his first public speech since a US drone strike killed Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud. AFP PHOTO / Aamir QURESHI (Photo credit should read AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images)