Pakistonomy

Uzair talks to Colonel Ajai Shukla (retired) about the fallout of the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir. We spoke about the state of the insurgency in the region, how their tactics and strategies are evolving, and what can be done to improve security. In addition, we also touched on the prospects of a India-Pakistan war and potential off ramps that could be available for either side to take. Colonel Ajai Shukla (Retired) is a columnist and freelance journalist. He writes on strategic affairs, defence policy, military technology and the defence economy. He has written extensively for Business Standard, a pan-India daily; and for The New York Times, Guardian, BBC, Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post. He hosts a defence affairs blog, Broadsword (ajaishukla.com), which is visited daily by over 5,000 readers from across the world. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:00 Normalcy in Kashmir 6:00 Evolution of tactics 11:40 Intelligence failures and counterinsurgency 19:20 Evidence about links to Pakistan 25:30 India-Pakistan tensions 31:10 General Munir’s strategy 35:10 Conclusion

Uzair talks to Dr. Hassan Abbas about the ongoing standoff between India and Pakistan following the recent terror attack in Kashmir. We talked about what options are on the table for both sides, the role of the United States, and why engagement and negotiations are the only path forward for both countries. Dr. Hassan Abbas is Distinguished Professor of International Relations at the Near East South Asia Strategic Studies Centre (NESA), National Defense University in Washington DC. He serves as a senior advisor at Project on Shi’ism and Global Affairs at Harvard University’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, and his current research work focuses on building narratives for countering political and religious extremism & rule of law reforms in developing states. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:30 Backdrop of the terror attack 14:20 Allegations and evidence 18:50 Narratives and media 25:10 Commitment traps 29:40 US response so far 36:30 Misreading the other side

Uzair talks to Muhammad Faisal about the fallout from the recent terror attack in Kashmir and the options both India and Pakistan have moving forward. We talk about the nuclear stability risks in the region as well as potential off-ramps that can help deescalate the situation. Muhammad Faisal is a Research Fellow at the University of Technology in Sydney and an expert in strategic stability and India-Pakistan relations. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:30 What led to this crisis? 15:40 Options for both sides 33:30 Off ramps and deescalation

In this episode, Uzair talks to Adil Husain about his perspective on how AI is going to disrupt the labor market and create new opportunities for young talent in markets like Pakistan. Adil is an entrepreneur and strategist based in Washington. You can read his full piece here - https://adilhusain.substack.com/p/the-real-ai-threat-is-a-27-year-old If you want to get in touch with Adil, message him on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adilhusain

In this episode, Uzair talk to Abdul Moiz Jaferii about the frivolous cases against journalist Farhan Mallick, who was arrested during Ramzan and given bail after Eid. We discussed the ways in which a process was used to deliver punishment against him, and how the state of Pakistan is moving towards criminalizing thought in the country. Abdul Moiz Jaferii was part of the legal team that is continuing to represent Mr. Mallick in his ongoing cases.

Uzair talks to Zahid Husain about the worsening security situation in Balochistan, which has led the army chief to assert that Pakistan must become a “hard state.” We discussed what can be defined as a hard state, and also try to understand the reasons for why Zahid Husain calls Pakistan a “predator state.” Zahid Husain is an author and journalist who writes a weekly column for Dawn. You can read his latest column titled “A Predator State” here: https://www.dawn.com/news/1900408 Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:40 What is a predator state? 15:10 The state’s colonial mindset 24:10 Difference in KPK and Balochistan 33:50 Anti-military sentiment in Punjab 38:10 Evolving views on military intervention

Uzair talks to Adil Mansoor about the state of Pakistan’s agriculture sector and the outlook for the year. We focused on the wheat and sugar markets, whether deregulation is here to stay, and the ways in which farmers have dealt with collapsing wheat prices. Adil Mansoor is an agriculture analyst and writes for Business Recorder Research. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:40 Water shortages 4:10 Wheat outlook 18:00 Food inflation coming back? 24:20 Sugar prices 36:50 Storage and supply chain issues 42:00 Market reforms

Uzair talks to Arifa Noor about the mood in Islamabad after the Jaffer Express terror attack in Balochistan. We discussed the failures of Pakistan’s Balochistan policy, why political elites have continued to cede space to the military on key topics, and the decline in parliament’s standing over the years. Arifa Noor is a journalist at Dawn and host of the TV show Newswise. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:50 Jaffer Express fallout 13:10 PPP pushes back against canal projects 23:10 PTI and an opposition alliance 31:30 Media blackouts and conspiracy theories

This episode focuses on the ongoing and worsening crisis in Balochistan, where militancy is rising and the political process shows no signs of improving. Rafiullah Kakar joins Uzair to explain what is going on in the province, the root causes of the insurgency, and why a number of political problems have added fuel to the burning fire in Balochistan. Finally, Rafiullah also discusses his research on the structural and constitutional drivers of the core political economy issues in the province, with the conversation concluding on what can be done to alleviate the crisis in Balochistan. Rafiullah Kakar is a policy analyst currently pursuing a PhD at Cambridge University, where he is seeking to understand the political economy of sub-national state capacity through a comparative study of education policy in two Pakistani provinces: Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. You can read Rafiullah Kakar’s paper that was discussed on the podcast here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14662043.2024.2382458 Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:50 Worsening militancy in Balochistan 17:10 Engaging with young political leaders 25:50 India’s role in the insurgency 32:20 Is the status quo secure? 36:10 Structural drivers of the issues 47:20 Devolution of power 56:00 Competition in politics

This episode focuses on the latest developments in Pakistan’s startup and innovation ecosystem Uzair talks to Sarah Munir about the latest findings from invest2innovate’s 2024 Startup Ecosystem Report. Sarah is CEO at invest2innovate and has over 15 years of experience in driving impact and fueling growth. invest2innovate supports startup communities in growth markets and has been working in Pakistan since 2011. You can read the full report here - https://invest2innovate.com/ecosystem-reports/ Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 3:50 Key findings and learnings 11:30 Learnings for young entrepreneurs 14:30 Learning for investors 17:20 Policy and regulatory issues 23:10 Cultural shifts around entrepreneurship 27:10 Critical thinking and innovation 30:00 Opportunities for growth 33:30 Going beyond maturity 37:08 Reading recommendations Reading Recommendations: - Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain - Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight - Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built by Duncan Clark - Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear