Another BP Podcast is up. You can listen on Libsyn, Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher (and a variety of other platforms). Probably the easiest way to keep up the podcast since we don’t have a regular schedule is to subscribe to one of the links above. This episode was recorded over the phone, so please excuse some minor audio issues. As many of […]
Onward on the steppe!
Afghanistan; Graveyard of Western Policy Wonks (but certainly NOT the graveyard of empires)
I had posted an earlier blog post with the somewhat tongue in cheek title “America’s brilliant strategy in Afghanistan”. This was basically a note (and an audio version of the same) from Major Amin, arguing that strategically a US exit was a brilliant move as it ensured that this tar baby is now the problem […]
Afghan National Army Lieutenant General Sami Sadat
Below is an opinion essay in the New York Times by Afghan National Army (ANA) Lieutenant General Sami Sadat. LTG Sami Sadat,only 36, is one of the most loved and respected men in all of Afghanistan. He demonstrated remarkable success as the commander of the 215th Maiwand ANA Corps before being recalled to Kabul. The ANA […]
The US and the Taliban
This interview with an American journalist, Lara Logan, who has been reporting on Afghanistan for nearly 2 decades now and has been on the ground, is worth watching. It is nearly an hour long but I would request people to take some timeout and watch it in full. It is indispensable if you want to […]
What do Indians think of the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan? Pakistani responses are one thing but what are the Indian “camps”?
The world is surprised, and now even memeing, about the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan. In Pakistan, the outside country most responsible for this (unless you count America and the stupidity of its occupation strategies as the most responsible) there have been broadly three camps on this. The majority feeling was one of awkwardness, trepidation and […]
An Indian, a Pakistani and a World Bank guy talk Afghanistan
Another BP Podcast is up. You can listen on Libsyn, Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher (and a variety of other platforms). Probably the easiest way to keep up the podcast since we don’t have a regular schedule is to subscribe to one of the links above. In this episode Amey, myself and Karol Karpinski (Karol is a self-described financial plumber at the World […]
Open Thread – 08/20/2021 – Brown Pundits
Myra MacDonald on Pakistan and Afghanistan
General Bajwa, please retire
This blog was previously published on 28 November 2019 and is being re-published, like many recovered blogposts, over here. There has been a crisis of governance in Pakistan over the last few days as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) controlled government of Prime Minister Imran Khan has abandoned all its governance reponsibilities to try and get […]