#AskAbhijit 296: Taliban, Muttaqi, Pakistan-Afghanistan, Nobel, Russia, Myanmar, Venezuela, EU, CIA

In this comprehensive geopolitics Q&A session, Abhijit discusses the significance of Taliban Foreign Minister Muttaqi's historic visit to India and the escalating tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with the Taliban now labeling Pakistan as a terrorist nation. The episode covers the politicization of the Nobel Peace Prize as a tool for regime change operations, Japan's continued status as a US-occupied nation since 1945, and why Japanese prime ministers have little real power. Key topics include India's failure to develop indigenous tech products due to systemic issues and labor arbitrage mindset, the US deep state's origins and global influence post-WWII, China's rare earth export restrictions triggering US tariffs, and India's refusal to accept American trade demands despite pressure. The discussion extends to analyzing propaganda affecting various nations, the potential consequences of US military bases in Pakistan, India's need for educational and anti-corruption reforms, and the strategic implications of Afghanistan pivoting toward India while distancing from Pakistan. Throughout, Abhijit emphasizes India's current position of maintaining sovereignty against superpower pressure while highlighting critical internal reforms needed to prevent future vassalization, touching on everything from transport aircraft capabilities to the H1B visa system as a talent trap, and examining how historical events continue to shape current geopolitical dynamics.