Pakistan Geostrategic Review: Recent Episodes

Zaki Khalid

Independent commentary on select regional and global issues from a unique Pakistani perspective. Host: Zaki Khalid (Twitter: @misterzedpk)

View Details

Mr Umer Karim (Visiting Fellow at Royal United Services Institute, UK) shares his comments on the status of Pak-Saudi relations and Prime Minister Imran Khan's recent visit to Saudi Arabia.

This programme is presented by Pakistan Geostrategic Review. Its objective is to share comments by prominent senior analysts and commentators on select issues of geostrategic concern for Pakistan. Quoting statements made in this programme is permitted, subject to proper linkback/ citation.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/jBQk_G1tdHc

View Details

Mr Ahmed Quraishi (Senior Journalist and Middle East Affairs Analyst) shares his comments on the Israel-Palestine conflict and Pakistan's role.

This programme is presented by Pakistan Geostrategic Review. Its objective is to share comments by prominent senior analysts and commentators on select issues of geostrategic concern for Pakistan. Quoting statements made in this programme is permitted, subject to proper linkback/ citation.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/Dh30ySdbOWs

View Details

Talha and Zaki host Taimur Khan (Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad) to discuss his article for CSCR, 'Will the US-Turkey S-400 Crisis Constrain Pakistan?'

This programme is presented by Pakistan Geostrategic Review in association with Islamabad-based Centre for Strategic and Contemporary Research. Its objective is to highlight articles of note authored by emerging research scholars from Pakistan. Through this video podcast series, we aim to provide them a platform where they can elucidate their perspective and defend their argument on different issues. 

Intro music composed and produced by Zaki Khalid. All rights reserved.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/zZummZKx_FM

View Details

Talha and Zaki discuss the meeting between US Defence Secretary General (Retired) Lloyd Austin and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, a detailed analysis of the UK's Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy and conclude with comments on the heated debate between US and Chinese diplomatic leadership in Alaska.

Intro music composed and produced by Zaki Khalid, all rights reserved.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/RyAh8SgTCeg

View Details

Talha and Zaki discuss the context and implications of Israel's reassignment to United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) and what it means for Pakistan. They also discuss India's destabilising posturing during conflict with Pakistan and its overall bearing on South Asia.

In the first segment, two statements need correction (the errors are regretted):

  1. It was Admiral William McRaven (Votel's predecessor) who conducted Operation Neptune Spear (2011).

  2. Senator Tom Cotton (Republican) represents Arkansas, not Kansas.

Intro music composed and produced by Zaki Khalid, all rights reserved.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/GKoeSKy7YoE

View Details

Comments by Zaki Khalid (Editor, Pakistan Geostrategic Review) on India's participation in 'Iran-Russia Maritime Security Belt 2021' in north Indian Ocean (which it denies). Also some comments on Hybrid  Warfare.

These comments were made live in the show 'Your World  Today' hosted by Mufti Yusuf Moosagie for Radio Islam International  (South Africa). Dated 19 February 2021 at 8:15pm Pakistan Standard Time.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/gnbnEvyuMbw

View Details

Air Marshal (R) M. Ashfaque Arain, Director (Strategic Defence & Security) at Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies in Islamabad, comments on the proposed theaterisation of Indian Armed Forces and its implications for air warfare between India and Pakistan.

This programme is presented by Pakistan Geostrategic Review. Its objective is to share comments by prominent senior analysts and commentators on select issues of geostrategic concern for Pakistan. Quoting statements made in this programme is permitted, subject to proper linkback/ citation.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/KZbDw9Fl2RA

View Details

Brigadier (R) Dr Tughral Yamin, Founder/ Associate Dean of the Centre for Intl Peace and Stability (CIPS) at NUST, comments on the proposed theaterisation of Indian Armed Forces and its implications for land warfare between India and Pakistan.

This programme is presented by Pakistan Geostrategic Review. Its objective is to share comments by prominent senior analysts and commentators on select issues of geostrategic concern for Pakistan. Quoting statements made in this programme is permitted, subject to proper linkback/ citation.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/rj9exxq9tYQ

View Details

Talha and Zaki host Maryam Raashed and Rida Anwaar to discuss their co-authored perspective paper for the Centre for Strategic and Contemporary Research (CSCR) titled 'Pakistan’s Foreign Policy In Transition: Driving Factors And Emerging Trends'.

This programme is presented by Pakistan Geostrategic Review in association with Islamabad-based Centre for Strategic and Contemporary Research. Its objective is to highlight articles of note authored by emerging research scholars from Pakistan. Through this video podcast series, we aim to provide them a platform where they can elucidate their perspective and defend their argument on different issues. 

Intro music composed and produced by Zaki Khalid. All rights reserved.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/oh2HiOX0n68

View Details

Talha and Zaki discuss the incoming US StateSec and SecDef, Russia's naval logistics supply centre in Sudan, France and Germany's relations with the US and consolidation of US Army's Europe and Africa commands, among others.

Intro music composed and produced by Zaki Khalid, all rights reserved.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/kH6M3s8jCFE

View Details

Talha and Zaki host Hamraz Sarwani (Centre for Strategic and Contemporary Research) to discuss his article that examines different analytical approaches to evaluating the progress of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

This programme is presented by Pakistan Geostrategic Review in association with Islamabad-based Centre for Strategic and Contemporary Research. Its objective is to highlight articles of note authored by emerging research scholars from Pakistan. Through this video podcast series, we aim to provide them a platform where they can elucidate their perspective and defend their argument on different issues. 

Intro music composed and produced by Zaki Khalid. All rights reserved.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/5NApHmT04Xw

View Details

Dr Adil Sultan (Air University, Islamabad) shares his comments on the recent signing of Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) between India and the United States of America.

This programme is presented by Pakistan Geostrategic Review. Its objective is to share comments by prominent senior analysts and commentators on select issues of geostrategic concern for Pakistan. Quoting statements made in this programme is permitted, subject to proper linkback/ citation.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/i03RWE3Wx1M

View Details

Talha and Zaki discuss the Pak-India trade tussle on basmati rice, Indo-Maldivian relations, US maritime force planning in the Pacific, developments in the Horn of Africa and C Raja Mohan's views on Asian nationalism.

Intro music composed and produced by Zaki Khalid, all rights reserved.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/Se_mAemjgZE

View Details

Talha and Zaki host Faizan Rai (University of Oxford) to discuss his paper for Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) titled 'Neutrality-cum-Balancing: Understanding Pakistan’s Foreign and Diplomatic Policy in the MENA Region'.

This programme is presented by Pakistan Geostrategic Review in association with Islamabad-based Centre for Strategic and Contemporary Research. Its objective is to highlight articles of note authored by emerging research scholars from Pakistan. Through this video podcast series, we aim to provide them a platform where they can elucidate their perspective and defend their argument on different issues. 

Intro music composed and produced by Zaki Khalid. All rights reserved.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/epOr17xtv3U

View Details

Talha and Zaki discuss Dhruva Jaishankar's paper for Lowy Institute on Indo-Australian cooperation, the recent QUAD foreign ministers' meeting in Tokyo, Indo-Maldivian relations and IRGC Navy's new base in Sirik

Intro music composed and produced by Zaki Khalid, all rights reserved.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/HA4NtgqokgU

View Details

Talha and Zaki host Kashoon Leeza (Quaid-i-Azam University) to discuss her article for South Asian Voices on Pakistan's economic diplomacy in Southeast and East.

This programme is presented by Pakistan Geostrategic Review in association with Islamabad-based Centre for Strategic and Contemporary Research. Its objective is to highlight articles of note authored by emerging research scholars from Pakistan. Through this video podcast series, we aim to provide them a platform where they can elucidate their perspective and defend their argument on different issues. 

Intro music composed and produced by Zaki Khalid. All rights reserved.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/-BtKO4DQqDY

View Details

Talha and Zaki discuss developments pertaining to the SCO and Central Asia, Pakistani Prime Minister's Speech at UN General Assembly, developments in the Western Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, Arab-Israeli reconciliations and Germany's Indo-Pacific policy.  

Intro music composed and produced by Zaki Khalid, all rights reserved.

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/p2UsbgIsEy8

View Details

Hosted by Zaki Khalid and Talha Ibrahim. Visit: tinyurl.com/pgryoutube

View Details

Registration: tinyurl.com/pgrnewsletterregn /// Email: pakgeostrategicreview@protonmail.com

View Details

Comment by Zaki Khalid

View Details

Mossad chief Yossi Cohen’s Back-Channel Deliberations on Palestine

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s stance on Indo-China Standoff at the LAC

Deputation of India’s Naval Liaison Officers in the Madagascar and UAE

View Details

Paper on India’s Foreign Affairs Strategy by former NSA Shivshankar Menon

Turkey’s Regional Assertiveness

Indo-Russian stance during the Sino-US tussle

Spike in Iranian Military and Cyber Activities during COVID-19

View Details

Since the emergence of the novel coronavirus i.e. COVID-19, we've been reading reports about how this pandemic has directly impacted the Operational Environment, whether it is higher defence planning, force posturing, annual military exercises, technology acquisitions or aspects related to strategic deterrence. By and large, we can say that the global security calculus itself has been disrupted.

Pakistan is already situated in a turbulent neighbourhood; the onslaught of COVID-19 adds further uncertainties to its Threat Matrix. To understand these regional ramifications, I was delighted to host Dr Adil Sultan

Dr Adil Sultan is Director at the Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS) in Islamabad and also the Founder of Strafasia.com, a prominent global affairs forum based out of the UK. Moreover, Dr Adil is a Visiting Research Fellow at King's College London.

Recorded: 22 April 2020

View Details

Report on China's Logistics Capabilities for Expeditionary Operations

Xi-Putin defiance against politicisation of COVID-19

Geopolitical actors rush to aid Sri Lanka amidst COVID-19

Google's 'Blue-Raman' submarine cable linking India, Israel and Italy

View Details

America's 'Indo-Pacific Reassurance Initiative' against China

COVID-19 and Indian Military's Regional Medical Diplomacy

Apache Helicopters for Maritime Strikes in the Persian Gulf

View Details

India boosting influence in the Western Indian Ocean

Turkish-Russian confrontation in Syria

US budget allocation for the Indo-Pacific

China's criticism of US on Arms Control and Disarmament

Sri Lanka's push for SAARC revitalisation

View Details

India's humanitarian assistance and disaster relief activities in the Indian Ocean

Nepal debates concerns around US Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grants

US President Donald Trump's Middle East 'Peace Plan'

Australia to appoint 'India-hand' in Nw Delhi

Japan appoints liaison officer at US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT)

View Details

Upcoming SCO Heads of Government summit in India

Sri Lankan leadership's back-to-back meetings with reps from US, Japan, Russia and China

Oman after Sultan Qaboos

Egypt's new Ras Banas naval base in the Red Sea

Israeli Military Intelligence includes Turkey as a threat

View Details

US assassination of Iran Quds Force commander Major General Qasem Soleimani - Implications for regional stability

New Delhi's developments in the Lakshadweep

Establishment of New, Emerging and Strategic Technologies (NEST) Division within India's Ministry of External Affairs

Iran's diplomatic outreach to Russia and China

Libya - Battleground for Turkish and Arab strategists

View Details

Instituting a Chief of Defence Staff in India - Implications for Pakistan and the Region

Turkey's new tri-continental network linking the Mediterranean Sea with Indian Ocean

India-Oman Maritime Transport Agreement and Implications for Western Indian Ocean

Sino-US soft power competition in Djibouti

Afghan Elections and India's Invitation to President Ghani

View Details

Understanding the long-term implications of the US Senate's revised understanding of 'Western Indian Ocean' in the National Defence Authorisation Act (2020)

Highlights of the Indo-US 2+2 Ministerial and Indian Defence Minister's visit to US Navy's Pacific installations

India's nomination for membership in the 'Five Eyes' intelligence-sharing network

India's COAS-Designate Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane

Geoplitical implications for Pakistan through about-face on 2019 KL Summit

Regional Security Dialogue in Tehran

Sino-Russia strategic convergence in Asia

View Details

India procuring SiG-716 assault rifles

Indian amphibious ops capability

Iran's trilateral maritime exercise

Saudi-Iran rapprochement

Afghan peace talks

US assertiveness in the 'Indo-Pacific' and Western Indian Ocean Region