In this episode, Uzair talks to Dr. Qamar Cheema about Pakistan’s foreign policy priorities, including relations with Afghanistan and the United States. We also talked about whether Donald Trump will intervene in Pakistan’s affairs to help release Imran Khan.

Dr. Qamar Cheema is Executive Director of the Sanober Institute, a think tank based in Islamabad.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

2:00 Afghanistan relations

18:20 Trump releasing Khan?

26:10 Pakistan-Iran relations

31:05 Erdogan’s trip to Pakistan

37:20 Chinese disappointment

In this episode, Uzair talks to Khurram Husain about the PML-N government’s economic performance over the last year. We talked about how IMF stabilization is the easy part, why generating growth risks creating the same problems for the country, and the ways in which business interest groups are advocating for a return to past policies.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

1:20 Performance review

8:10 Reasons for lack of reforms

20:30 Stabilization a big achievement?

29:40 SBP’s role in killing inflation

In this episode, Uzair talks to Amir Husain about DeepSeek’s innovations in the world of artificial intelligence, which has been described as a “Sputnik Moment” by many in the technology world. We also talked about how DeepSeek achieved these innovations and what they tell us about China’s innovation ecosystem. Finally, Amir shares his view on export controls on cutting-edge technology and whether it helps achieve U.S. national security goals.

Amir Husain is a serial entrepreneur, veteran AI technologist, and author based in Austin, Texas. He has received widespread acclaim for his pioneering work, including Austin’s Top Entrepreneur award and inclusion in Austin’s 40 Under 40.

In 2013, Amir founded SparkCognition, now Avathon. Under Amir’s leadership, the company achieved a unicorn valuation, marking a significant milestone in its journey. As the Founder and Executive Board Member of this award-winning AI company, Amir led the firm as CEO from its inception until the end of 2023.

Amir has been awarded over 30 patents in AI and distributed systems. He serves on UT Austin’s Computer Science Board, NATO’s Innovation Advisory Board and the Board of Global Venture Bridge, fostering international entrepreneurial collaboration. He is the author of the best-selling book “The Sentient Machine,” a co-author of “Hyperwar: Conflict and Competition in the AI Century”, and has recently published “Generative Art”, “Generative AI for Leaders” and “Serious Machines.”

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

1:10 What did DeepSeek achieve?

19:20 US-China Chip Wars and Export Controls

33:10 Sputnik Moment and Choices for America

In this episode, Uzair talks to Ankur Bhardwaj about India’s economic slowdown and its root causes. We also talked about what options the government has to stimulate growth through the budget, and the reasons why the Indian Rupee has been weakening in recent weeks. Finally, we touched on major structural reforms that are needed in India and whether the Modi-led BJP government can push them through.

Ankur Bhardwaj is Web Editor at Business Standard.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

1:30 Slowing growth in India

10:10 Navigating the budget cycle

14:50 Reform priorities

19:20 Promoting exports

23:30 Navigating the politics of reforms

26:50 Risks in the near-term

In this episode Uzair talks to Ali Nazari about the current state of affairs in Afghanistan, the status of the resistance against the Taliban, and the ways in which the Taliban are allowing transnational terrorism to occur from Afghanistan.

Ali Nazari is Head of Foreign Relations for the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF). Ali began his career in communications at Khorasan TV, hosting a weekly show on politics and current affairs in Afghanistan. He then was Director of Media Affairs for Abdullah Abdullah's 2014 presidential campaign. As tensions between the Taliban and the government grew amidst the drawdown of NATO forces from Afghanistan, Nazary served as a chief foreign policy advisor and a liaison between Ahmad Massoud and foreign diplomats up until his departure from Kabul a few days after August 15, 2021. Since then, Nazary has served as Head of Foreign Relations for the NRF.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

1:50 The NRF and state of play in Afghanistan

6:50 Life under the Taliban

12:40 Pakistan’s bet on the Taliban

17:40 How can Pakistan change its Afghanistan policy?

24:30 Regional strategy

29:50 NRF and Pakistan relations

38:40 Expectations from Trump administration

43:40 Reading recommendations

Reading recommendations:

- In the Name of my Father: Struggling for Freedom in Afghanistan by Ahmad Massoud

- Afghanistan: A History from 1260 to the Present by Jonathan L. Lee

- Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations: Pitfalls and the Way Forward edited by Huma Baqai and Nausheen Wasi

In this episode, Uzair talks to Sardar Awais Leghari, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division), about the recently announced incentives for electric vehicle charging in Pakistan because of which tariffs will be cut by almost 45 percent. We spoke about why this announcement was made and what impact Minister Leghari anticipates as an outcome of these policy incentives.

We also spoke about near-term reform priorities in the power sector for 2025 and the minister’s views on uniform and competitive pricing for electricity in Pakistan.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

1:39 EV charging incentives

8:20 Solar net metering

16:20 Reform priorities for 2025

20:50 Competitive pricing

In this episode, Uzair talks to Amb. Asif Durrani about the state of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and why they have soured. Amb. Durrani is the former special representative to Afghanistan and Senior Research Fellow at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute.

You can read his recent article here - https://stratheia.com/choose-between-pakistan-or-ttp/

In this episode, Uzair talks to Khurram Husain about what 2024 was like for Pakistan’s economy and the outlook for 2025. We discussed how stability was restored on the economic fronts, its associated costs, and why no real reform has happened so far under the current setup.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

0:58 Stability restored

7:10 Finance minister’s performance

16:47 Investor confidence in Pakistan

23:20 Outlook for 2025

In this episode, Uzair talks Junaid Iqbal about his experience on Shark Tank Pakistan and the businesses that have excited him the most. We talked about valuations for businesses, the talent in the country, and the role Shark Tank can play in exciting next-generation talent in the country to be entrepreneurs.

We also talked about Junaid’s project @Pakistan&Counting, which is making excellent and nuanced content on business and economic topics.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

1:24 Shark Tank experience

9:45 Valuations for businesses

17:08 Pakistan & Counting

24:00 Pakistan’s power crisis and opportunity

38:45 Doing the right things in the economy

53:18 Conclusion

Links:

- https://www.youtube.com/@PakistanAndCounting

- https://youtu.be/rGioFk29o4U?si=yiIX43KfEZ9YTfZL

- https://youtu.be/_IhB6LkQXLU?si=MQk6N_QNbRr8ezv9

- https://youtu.be/5KX1uNFsvks?si=rdKmQJLGUQ5DkClY

In this episode, Uzair talks to Zaigham Khan about PTI’s final call protest which ended in failure on November 26. We talked about the reasons for this failure, the current regime’s own weaknesses, and why the PTI and Imran Khan ought to reconsider their strategy.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

1:20 Politics of dharna

9:30 Failure of coalition building

14:40 Why didn’t people come out?

23:08 PTI’s mistakes

32:47 Establishment’s weaknesses

39:20 General Munir’s strengths

45:02 Conclusion

Recommendations:

Imran Khan’s interview where he accepts using the ISI: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/news/transcripts/read-imran-khans-full-atlantic-council-interview-on-failed-peace-with-india-pakistans-plight-and-his-own-fate/

Imran Ismail’s podcast with Kamran Khan: https://youtu.be/cYdfWto0Cqc