How to Pakistan

China is the everything-all-the-time old new thing (and new old thing) in Pakistan. Andrew Small is the Senior Transatlantic Fellow at the German Marshall Fund in Washington DC. His book, The China-Pakistan Axis: Asia's New Geopolitics, is a widely acclaimed reading of the complex and oft-misunderstood strategic alliance between Pakistan and China. Join us as we discuss all things China with a China expert that has specialized his study of that country through the lens of Pakistan. We talk about Yao Ming, about the leadership dynamic in Beijing under President Xi Jinping, and best of all? We keep our promise of not talking about CPEC! Andrew's book: http://www.andrewsmall.org/the-book/

In this episode we discuss the Orlando shooting in which fifty were killed by a man named Omar Saddiqi Mateen, an American of Afghan origin.

In this episode we discuss the health of the prime minister, and some related issues. Join us! (We apologize for the low sound quality).

University of Oklahoma professor Aqil Shah is the author of "The Army & Democracy: Military Politics in Pakistan", and more recently of a Washington Post oped titled, "Drone blowback in Pakistan is a myth. Here's why". Three days after his oped was published, Taliban leader Mullah Mansour Akhtar was killed in a drone attack in Pakistan. The drone debate is open again. Fasi and Mosharraf talk to Dr. Shah about his research on drone strikes, the concept of nationalism, the quality of public discourse, and in true How to Pakistan tradition, identity. Join us! "Drone blowback in Pakistan is a myth. Here's why." - by Aqil Shah, Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/05/17/drone-blow-back-in-pakistan-is-a-myth-heres-why/ "The Army & Democracy: Military Politics in Pakistan" - by Aqil Shah, Harvard University Press http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674728936

Note: This episode contains substantial portions in Urdu (and some sparse sprinklings of Pashto). In Episode 04 of Season 02 Fasi and Mosharraf discuss the life and times of Saleem Safi, one of Pakistan's most compelling journalistic voices. He describes his life's journey, his evolution as a journalist, the role of the Islami Jamiat e Talbaa in shaping him, the illusion of Islamism, and the humility that everyone should invest it, whenever and however they can. A fascinating conversation with a fascinating man. Join us!

On Episodes 02 and 03, we are joined by journalist and television anchor Ejaz Haider, currently the Editor for National Security Affairs at Capital TV. The second part of the conversation is about the transition from print to broadcast, the Deo-Salafist movement, the evolution of the Jamaat e Islami, civilian-military relations and the enormous powers of the Pakistan Army, and hand (or grass)-fed organic narratives. This is the second of a two-episode conversation with Ejaz Haider. The first was Episode 2 of Season 2.

On Episodes 02 and 03, we are joined by journalist and television anchor Ejaz Haider, currently the Editor for National Security Affairs at Capital TV. The first part of the conversation is about the mutual love for guns that is shared by Ejaz Haider and Fasi Zaka - which leads to exchanges about arms licenses in Pakistan, the overall licensing regime, and broader issues of police reform. This fascinating conversation continues in Episode 03.

Previously, on How to Pakistan... Fasi and Mosharraf started a podcast. People listened. Fasi and Mosharraf completed twenty episodes. Welcome to Season 2 of How to Pakistan. Join us as we attempt to explore the art of the Pakistani conversation.

The body count from the Easter Sunday bombing in Lahore now stands at seventy-two. Pakistan bleeds once again. Meanwhile, Islamabad's Red Zone continues to be occupied by pro-Qadri protestors demanding a long list of things. The republic stands guilty not only of failing to protect Christians (and Muslims, and all other nationals), but also of allowing the Red Zone to become a running joke. Join Fasi and Mosharraf for a conversation about the death and destruction in Lahore, and the mayhem in Islamabad.

In this episode we talk to Osman Samiuddin about the process of writing, and about being a writer. We talk some more about cricket, and learn about the depth and breadth of his knowledge of cricket history, and his love for Sheffield Wednesday. You can read Osman's book, The Unquiet Ones, by purchasing it, here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Unquiet-Ones-History-Pakistan/dp/9350298015 His epic piece on the "haal" of Pakistani cricket can be read at The Guardian website, here: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/the-nightwatchman/2014/nov/17/exploring-soul-pakistan-cricket-team-lazy-impatient-brilliant He writes regularly about all sports, including sailing, for The National, here: http://www.thenational.ae/authors/osman-samiuddin

The T20 World Cup in India was a disaster for the Pakistani men's cricket team. Not so for the women's team, or for New Zealand, West Indies, India or England. Join Mosharraf and Fasi as we dig into the ups and downs of the 2016 T20 World Cup with the great Osman Samiuddin as we try to understand what happened to the Pakistan men's team, and why it is an inferior cricket side. We also talk about one of Pakistan's great captains, the legendary Sana Mir.

Dr. Miftah Ismail is the Chairman of Pakistan's Board of Investment, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and has the rank of a Minister of State (for investment). He is a Wharton PhD with a specialty in Public Finance and Political Economy. He is the former CEO of one of Pakistan's largest food and confectionary manufacturers. He has been a member of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's inner circle of advisers on the economy, investment and energy for the last six years. Mosharraf and Fasi engage with Dr Ismail on the state of the economy, the trouble with the Chicago School approach to economics, the challenge of reform, the low rate of economic growth, and the state of power and energy in Pakistan. Dr Ismail explains his views on how economies function, why Hayek and Von Mises are better than demand-siders on the Left, and what might happen in the 2018 election. The conversation offers an enlightening peek into the kind of talent that Pakistan has at its disposal within the public sector.

What is the state of the Left in Pakistan? How left of centre is the PPP, really? What are the revolutionary credentials of the PTI? Why don't Pakistanis respond more enthusiastically to parties like the Awami Workers' Party? Is the state complicit in efforts to suppress and limit the voice of the marginalised and vulnerable? Can a good Muslim be a socialist? How would the socialists and leftists deal with PIA? Mosharraf and Fasi speak to Ammar Rashid, a senior member of the Awami Workers' Party, musician, philosopher and activist. Join us as we explore Pakistan through the eyes of a passionate advocate for people's rights.

Words. How do we pronounce them? Does it make it a difference? Leonardo Di Caprio. Sweet mouth. This is the first How to Pakistan "short". Enjoy. Here's the story reporting the sweet mouth: http://tribune.com.pk/story/1061739/the-revenue-pakistani-tax-official-celebrates-dicaprio-oscar-win/

March 08 is International Women's Day. March 09 is the Day After Women's Day. We observe the day after women's day with Episode 12, in which Mosharraf and Fasi speak to Azeema Cheema, a researcher and instructor at the National Defense University, and a woman. Azeema talks to us about women's day, and the place of women in Pakistan, and on How to Pakistan.