Myra MacDonald is the author of Defeat is an Orphan: How Pakistan Lost the Great South Asian War and White as the Shroud: India, Pakistan and War on the Frontiers of Kashmir. The former Reuters Bureau Chief in India, MacDonald is an incisive observer of South Asian politics and commentator on the region’s history (follow her on Twitter!).

On the podcast we discussed Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan, why India cares about that relationship so much, and the looming role of China in the region. I also ask her if she believes the American withdrawal could have been executed more smoothly.

The good news is MacDonald does not believe that Pakistan wants to cause too much mischief in Kashmir right now because of the Karakoram Highway, which connects it to China. If you have some spare time, I highly recommend reading about this road. Some of the vistas and scenery are incredibly spectacular.