The Audit by Tabadlab

Security, economic, and political concerns often dominate the narrative of Pakistan-US relations. But people-to-people contact and cultural exchange remain important aspects of the relationship – especially when it comes to how Pakistan is perceived globally. The US is home to a large Pakistani diaspora, and American cultural influence is significant in Pakistan. What prevents or inhibits American tourists from travelling to – and in – Pakistan? How does Pakistan compare as a tourist destination to other countries in the region? What kind of cultural exchange can take place between the two countries? How can both governments facilitate easier movement between two countries, and what benefits can this have for each? In this episode, Adam Weinstein and Sara Khan unpack this often-overlooked facet of US-Pakistan ties. Featuring: Anne Patterson and Musadaq Zulqarnain.

While Pakistan faces economic and political turmoil, it must also confront the resurgence of the Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP). The terrorist threat is now started taking a national face, instead of just being restricted to the country’s tribal belt. Does Pakistan have a coherent counterterrorism narrative and strategy to fight the TTP? Is there an appetite on both ends for a possible US-Pakistan collaboration to confront this threat? And is there room for this relationship to move beyond security issues and onto strengthening economic cooperation? Learn more in this special episode of The Audit - featuring Adam Weinstein, Research Fellow at the Quincy Institute, and Tabadlab's Maryam Mirza.

As Pakistan approaches an election, former Prime Minister Imran Khan's narrative of what forces brought about his ouster has reemerged. But where does conspiracy end and reality begin in Pakistan's complex political fabric? In this episode, Zeeshan Salahuddin and Ayesha Burney broaden the discourse around the foreign interference narrative, exploring the civilian-military (im)balance of Pakistan's governance dynamics, and questioning whether the US has a sincere interest in supporting democracy in Pakistan and globally. Featuring: Raoof Hasan, Michael Kugelman, Dr Ian Talbot, Sen. Mushahid Hussain, Dr Madiha Afzal, and Adam Weinstein

During the 2010 floods, the scale of relief assistance from the United States was substantial, but the 2022 floods did not draw the same response. Zeeshan Salahuddin and Adam Weinstein analyse the changes in the US-Pakistan relationship during the last decade, their impact on humanitarian aid, and the importance of a loss and damage mechanism for the way forward. Featuring: Lt Gen. Michael Nagata, Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed, Amb. Robin Raphel, Amb. Cameron Munter, Dr Huma Baqai, and Kashmala Kakakhel

Since the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, shifting geopolitical realities across the world suggest a possible shift in Pakistan-US relations. How can Pakistan navigate rising US-China tensions? What does the US owe Pakistan as South Asia sees increasing fallout from climate change? How can the two countries move past security as a focal point to broaden bilateral ties? Learn more in this special episode of The Audit - featuring Michael Kugelman, Director South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, and Tabadlab's Zeeshan Salahuddin.

This week marks the 21st anniversary of 9/11 – the event that precipitated the US War on Terror and continues to impact the Pakistan-US relationship today. Adam Weinstein unpacks the legacy of this imperfect alliance and the conflicts that have shaped it. Featuring: Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi, Ambassador Anne Patterson, Ambassador Husain Haqqani, Congressman Howard Berman, and Jamaat-e-Islami's Asif Luqman Qazi.

You can't have a conversation about Pakistan-US relations without talking about money. Since the 60s, bilateral ties between the two have been dominated by flows of dollars from Washington to Islamabad. Adam and Maryam unpack the intricacies of these dollar flows, with help from Adam Tooze, Kulsoom Lakhani, Haroon Sharif, and Musadaq Zulqarnain.