Pakistonomy

In this episode, Uzair talks to Gilles Verniers about the recent French parliamentary election results. With many expecting gridlock in Paris, Gilles helps us understand what the results mean and what comes next for the country. Gilles Verniers is Karl Loewenstein Fellow and Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science at Amherst College, and Senior Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi. He also holds affiliations with the Centre for Advanced Studies of India at UPenn, and the Centre de Sciences Humaines in New Delhi. His research focuses on Indian electoral and party politics, political representation, women and minorities participation in politics and India’s democratic trajectory. He regularly contributes to various Indian media and was based in Delhi from 2005 to 2023. He graduated from Sciences Po, Paris. You can read his recent pieces on the elections here: - https://m.thewire.in/article/world/france-election-far-right-marine-le-pen-macron - https://thewire.in/world/france-dodges-a-bullet-for-now-but-sinks-in-uncertainty Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:05 Understanding the differences in the groups 9:30 The normalization of the far-right 20:40 Lack of coalition culture in France 30:05 Personalization of acrimony 33:01 The left’s agenda and its foreign policy 38:20 Reading recommendations Reading recommendations - Cas Mudde, The Far Right Today (2019) - James Shields (2007), The Extreme Right in France: From Pétain to Le Pen

This episode is about assessing Joe Biden’s foreign policy as it relates to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. While not a whole lot has changed in terms of the substance of US policy towards Palestine and Israel, a lot has indeed changed in terms of the political discourse in Washington. Uzair talked to Matt Duss about these developments and the long-term implications of Biden’s foreign policy choices. We also talked about the prospects for a broad agreement with Saudi Arabia, and the ways in which communities can engage at the grassroots levels to influence foreign policy. Matt Duss is Executive Vice-President at the Center for International Policy. The Center for International Policy is a woman-led, progressive, independent nonprofit center for research, education, and advocacy working to advance a more peaceful, just, and sustainable U.S. approach to foreign policy. Before joining CIP, Duss was a visiting scholar in the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. From 2017-22, Duss was foreign policy advisor to Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt). Duss’s work has been widely published, including in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Foreign Affairs, The Nation, The American Prospect, and Foreign Policy. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:20 What has changed in Washington? 5:20 Role of AIPAC 8:40 America’s leverage over Israel 12:20 Impact of the presidential debate 18:35 Long-term implications of US choices 22:10 Saudi-Israel normalization 27:10 Key risks on the horizon 30:30 What can we do to change policy? 32:45 Reading recommendations Reading recommendations - The Price of Peace: Money, Democracy, and the Life of John Maynard Keynes by Zachary D. Carter - Miles: The Autobiography by Miles Davis and Quincy Troupe

There has been a lot of confusion about the recently-announced Azm-e-Istehkam effort, which was initially dubbed as an operation but later revised to be a vision by the Sharif-led government. To talk about what the state is trying to do and to better understand the growing security crisis across Pakistan, Uzair invited Iftikhar Firdous to the podcast. Iftikhar is founder and editor of The Khorasan Diary, an organization that closely follows security issues in the region. We talked about the role of China and the Afghan Taliban in the ongoing crisis, the regional dynamics at play, and why the political division across Pakistan is exacerbating the crisis. If you want to stay on top of these topics, follow Iftikhar at @IftikharFirdous. You should also follow The Khorasan Diary at @khorasandiary and subscribe to their YoutTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/TheKhorasanDiary Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:20 What is Azm-e-Istehkam? 14:40 Militancy and illicit economy 26:20 No-go areas and growing insecurity 40:10 Chinese demands from Pakistan 46:02 Relationship with Afghan Taliban 53:10 Regional security dynamics at play

Shehbaz Sharif’s government has put forward a new budget for the upcoming fiscal year, setting off a debate on more taxes, government spending, and economic reforms. As parliament debates the budget, some things may change about the exact numbers. But to discuss what has been put on the table, Uzair spoke to Ammar H. Khan about what this budget signals and why it pursues a “deepening” of the tax net, as opposed to a widening. We also talked about the energy sector and why prices are being reduced for industrial consumers of electricity, as well as Ammar’s views on what he calls the heartland strategy. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:30 Budget takeaways 7:10 Pension reforms 10:30 Power subsidies 15:10 Inflation and salaried class 20:30 Digitization and taxes 26:16 Why are cash handouts criticized? 28:05 Electricity tariffs for industry 38:40 Heartland strategy and its issues

Kathy Baughman McLeod discusses the impact of heatwaves in South Asia, highlighting the need for preparation and policy changes. Topics include understanding heatwaves, solutions like cool roofs, and adapting to the new climate. Reading recommendations focus on climate change and its societal implications.

The world’s largest elections are over and they have delivered a surprise in India. While we will get more detailed analysis in the coming days, what is for certain is that the elections mark a return to coalition politics in the world’s largest democracy. Uzair spoke to Rahul Verma about what the results mean for India, Narendra Modi, and the country’s democracy. We also talked about what the BJP and Congress got right, what they are likely to do next, and the role of coalition allies moving forward. Rahul Verma is Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, and Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science, Ashoka University, Sonipat. He has a PhD in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley. His research interests include political representation, political parties, and voting behaviour. He is a regular columnist for various news platforms, and a regular TV commentator on elections, party politics, voting behavior, and public opinion polls. His book co-authored with Pradeep Chhibber, Ideology and Identity: The Changing Party Systems of India, develops a new approach to defining the contours of what constitutes an ideology in multi-ethnic countries such as India. He recently co-edited a volume with Sudha Pai & Shyam Babu - Dalits in the New Millennium. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:30 Key takeaways from the elections 8:30 Has Hindutva reached its peak? 21:30 Return of coalition politics 29:10 Scope for reforms in a coalition 33:50 What to look for in the near-term 38:47 Reading recommendations Reading recommendations: - Coalition Politics and Economic Development: Credibility and the Strength of Weak Governments by Irfan Nooruddin - Ideology and Identity: The Changing Party Systems of India by Rahul Verma and Pradeep Chhibber - Raag Darbari by Shrilal Shukla

In this episode, Uzair talks to Abdul Moiz Jaferii about the ongoing cases in Pakistan’s superior judiciary. We focused on the wiretapping case being heard by Justice Babar Sattar, cases related to Imran Khan, and the broader implications of the supposed standoff between the establishment and the judiciary. We also focused on the political ramifications of these cases through the summer and whether Imran Khan will be out of jail in the next few months. Abdul Moiz Jaferii is a lawyer and tweets @jaferii Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:30 The latest at the courts 7:30 IHC’s letter to Justice Isa 15:00 Illegal wiretapping case 33:30 Political ramifications 39:00 Will Khan be out soon?

In this episode, Uzair talks to Ali Khizar about the upcoming budget and the ongoing conversations between the IMF and Pakistan. We focused on why this government will only pursue incremental reforms, the issues with the power sector, and why broadening the tax base is unlikely for the time being. Ali Khizar is head of research at Business Recorder and has over 20 years of experience in economic research and business analysis. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:55 IMF’s focus for Pakistan 9:30 Taxes in the budget 22:50 Cost of energy 36:30 Privatization outlook 47:20 Political space for reforms

In this episode, Uzair talks to Ali Farid Khwaja about the potential of Saudi investments into Pakistan. We talked about why things were moving slowly, sectors Saudi is interested in, and why it is important for Pakistan to approach these conversations in a more professional manner. Ali Farid Khwaja is Chairman of KTrade Securities and has over a decade of experience in the technology and financial sectors. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:35 Current state of play 12:00 What Pakistan needs to get right 19:20 Engagement with IMF 27:20 What is Saudi seeking from Pakistan? 32:30 Risks to watch for 38:20 Conclusion

In this episode, Uzair talks to Khurram Husain about the latest decision by the central bank to keep rates unchanged. We talked about why the central bank has a credibility problem and how the IMF is influencing its choices. We also discussed the ongoing conversations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, why it feels different this time around, and the role of geopolitics. Finally, we also discussed the upcoming budget, the finance minister’s priorities, and how he can secure his position in the cabinet. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:00 Interest rates and the IMF 16:20 Saudi Arabia’s interest in Pakistan 24:45 Role of geopolitics in Saudi conversations 32:18 Budget and reforms outlook 39:05 How long will the finance minister last?