State weakness that enables terrorists to find sanctuary in Pakistan and Afghanistan poses a direct danger to Europeans and Americans. Terrorist attacks in Western capitals on both sides of the Atlantic emanated from ungoverned territories thousands of kilometers away in South and Central Asia, and terrorists continue to plot new attacks. Al Qaeda and its affiliates have sought weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear material, raising the risk that another terrorist strike in the heart of the West could be even more devastating. The West cannot afford to fail in the AfPak crucible. The strategic challenge for the U.S. and its European allies is sustaining a common commitment to the hard task of helping the elected governments of  Pakistan and Afghanistan develop the institutional capability to secure their territories, meet their people’s basic needs, and end the export of terrorism. This is a generational challenge for the West and its partners in Islamabad and Kabul. It would be dangerous to walk away from our commitment to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The only viable exit strategy for the West is a victory strategy.