AfPak round-up

Big names:

Military situation in Afghanistan will get worse, Petraeus says
Sees need for US to adapt strategy

Pakistan Faces Threat From Terrorism, Not India, Petraeus Says

Pentagon Commander Visits Afghanistan [JCS Chairman Adm. Mullen, about Wardak province]

Afghan presidential candidates hope to conjure up Obama magic
Politicians are trying out his name and his Web-savvy tactics in their nascent campaigns

Obama to Host Talks With Afghan, Pakistani Presidents

Ignatieff invited to exclusive Afghanistan meeting
Will attend U.S. talks as human rights expert [Toronto Star puff piece, disguised as news]

Update: Ever closer:

Taliban claims victory near Islamabad

Taliban militants who implemented Islamic law in Pakistan's violence-plagued Swat Valley last week have now taken control of a neighboring district.

Control of the Buner district brings the Taliban closer to the capital, Islamabad, than they have been since they started their insurgency. Islamabad is 60 miles (96 km) from the district.

"Our strength is in the hundreds," said Moulana Mohammad Khalil, as heavily armed men openly patrolled the roads in pickup trucks, singing Islamic anthems.

The militants had taken control of the area to ensure that Islamic law, or sharia, is properly imposed, Khalil said.

The government called the advance into Buner a breach of a recently-signed peace agreement [more here on consequences of that agreement]...

Lots more here on similar Taliban activities from Bill Roggio in The Long War Journal (via The Thunder Run).