Pakistan is under pressure. Its economy is struggling, insurgencies threaten internal stability, and tensions with India remain unresolved. But with China investing heavily in its strategic infrastructure and Saudi Arabia deepening its defence relationship with Islamabad, could Pakistan's problems become a much wider regional crisis?
In the inaugural edition of Dispatches from India, Dr John Bruni speaks with Major General (Ret.) P.R. Shankar of the Indian Army about the geopolitical forces reshaping South Asia and their implications for the wider world.
The conversation begins with India's increasingly complicated relationship with Washington. Can New Delhi rely on the United States under Donald Trump? And does Washington fully appreciate India's importance to American strategy?
Attention then turns to Pakistan.
How much control does Pakistan's civilian government actually exercise? Can its military manage simultaneous security challenges in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and along the Afghan border? And what do the country's internal struggles mean for its longstanding confrontation with India?


The discussion also examines three increasingly consequential relationships:


Pakistan and Saudi Arabia: Could Islamabad's security commitments draw Pakistani forces into a confrontation with Yemen's Houthis? What might this mean for India and regional security?

Pakistan and China: With Chinese investments and the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor exposed to political instability and insurgency, how far will Beijing go to protect its interests?

Pakistan and India: Is Pakistan still capable of sustaining a major conventional confrontation with India, or have its economic and internal security problems fundamentally changed the strategic balance?  

Show Notes:

👉🏻 About Ravi Shankar LTGEN (Ret.) Ravi Shankar is a former Director General of Artillery in the Indian Army and a leading commentator on Indian defence, military strategy and regional security. He writes and speaks extensively on India’s strategic challenges, military modernisation, China, Pakistan and the changing character of warfare. 

Shankar's excellent YouTube Channel, The Gunners Shot, can be found here: https://gunnersshot.com/
 

🔗 Contact Shankar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/palepu-ravi-shankar-084980214/  

Pakistan is under pressure. Its economy is struggling, insurgencies threaten internal stability, and tensions with India remain unresolved. But with China investing heavily in its strategic infrastructure and Saudi Arabia deepening its defence relationship with Islamabad, could Pakistan's problems become a much wider regional crisis? In the inaugural edition of Dispatches from India, Dr John Bruni speaks with Major General (Ret.) P.R. Shankar of the Indian Army about the geopolitical forces reshaping South Asia and their implications for the wider world. The conversation begins with India's increasingly complicated relationship with Washington. Can New Delhi rely on the United States under Donald Trump? And does Washington fully appreciate India's importance to American strategy? Attention then turns to Pakistan. How much control does Pakistan's civilian government actually exercise? Can its military manage simultaneous security challenges in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and along the Afghan border? And what do the country's internal struggles mean for its longstanding confrontation with India?
 The discussion also examines three increasingly consequential relationships:
 Pakistan and Saudi Arabia: Could Islamabad's security commitments draw Pakistani forces into a confrontation with Yemen's Houthis? What might this mean for India and regional security?
Pakistan and China: With Chinese investments and the China&ndash;Pakistan Economic Corridor exposed to political instability and insurgency, how far will Beijing go to protect its interests?
Pakistan and India: Is Pakistan still capable of sustaining a major conventional confrontation with India, or have its economic and internal security problems fundamentally changed the strategic balance?  
Show Notes:
👉🏻 About Ravi Shankar LTGEN (Ret.) Ravi Shankar is a former Director General of Artillery in the Indian Army and a leading commentator on Indian defence, military strategy and regional security. He writes and speaks extensively on India&rsquo;s strategic challenges, military modernisation, China, Pakistan and the changing character of warfare.&nbsp;
Shankar's excellent YouTube Channel, The Gunners Shot, can be found here: https://gunnersshot.com/ &nbsp;
🔗 Contact Shankar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/palepu-ravi-shankar-084980214/ &nbsp;

The Focus is the flagship current affairs podcast of SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical  think tank.

Hosted by Dr. John Bruni—a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media—The Focus brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for Jane’s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst.

Produced by Neil Smart, The Focus cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.

The Focus&nbsp;is the flagship current affairs podcast of&nbsp;SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical &nbsp;think tank.
Hosted by&nbsp;Dr. John Bruni&mdash;a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media&mdash;The Focus&nbsp;brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the&nbsp;Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for&nbsp;Jane&rsquo;s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst.
Produced by&nbsp;Neil Smart,&nbsp;The Focus&nbsp;cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.