 Complete the following phrase:  In the context of the United States War on Terror, Central Asia has once again become the center of geostrategic calculations. Pakistans status has been upgraded to a major non-NATO ally because of its central role in serving as a staging point for the war in Afghanistan and for providing intelligence on Al-Qaeda operations in the region. Afghanistan, which had served as a haven and source of support for Al-Qaeda, under the protection of Mullah Omar and the Taliban, was the target of a 