Author of 'Pakistan: Courting the Abyss', 'Pakistan: At the Helm' and 'Pakistan: The Balochistan Conundrum. Former Member National Security Advisory Board
Joined December 2015
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A personal announcement.
I have started my own podcast titled ‘The Great Game Reloaded’. The first episode can be viewed 👇
youtube.com/watch?v=rl9DNI45…
Among the doom and gloom in Pakistan, here is something interesting. Pakistan Railways (PR) has outsourced the operation of the Karakoram Express –Karachi Cantt-Lahore-Karachi Cantt- to the private sector ‘as part of its efforts to improve train services and provide passengers with modern travel facilities.’ The train has a premium lounge while passengers are offered mineral water, fresh meals, bedding, mobile charging points, Wi-Fi and an infotainment system. A big leap for PR & Pakistan.
tribune.com.pk/story/2637876…
Only in #Pakistan. Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz has served a Rs5 billion defamation notice on Fed Min Ch Salik Hussain, who belongs to PMLQ, part of ruling PMLN coalition, both in centre and Punjab, for remarks portraying widespread corruption across the province. Hussain's brother, Ch Shafay Hussain, is part of Punjab govt serving under Maryam! Salik has seven days to withdraw the allegation and pay the damages. Some see this as opening moves for a potential ‘regime change’ in Punjab or at least to bargain for more concessions in Centre/Punjab. Future developments would be really interesting.
tribune.com.pk/story/2638544…
Pakistan's duty-free access to the European Union (EU) could be in doldrums due to a deteriorating HR situation. EU monitoring report underlined that Pakistan needed to take robust steps to reverse negative trends on enforced disappearances and violations of freedom of expression. "In this regard, laws on blasphemy, cybercrime (such as PECA), defamation, counterterrorism and sedition should be amended or repealed." This is a tall ask but continuation of the GSP+ scheme is critical for Pakistan without which its exports to the EU will take a huge hit.
tribune.com.pk/story/2638497…
An interesting podcast I did with @vaibhavUP65 on the current situation in #Pakistan.
youtu.be/syXNsrvHyT8?si=vgTg…
Looking forward to speaking at #TJD2026. The theme is 'Dharamyudh'- The Battle for Bharat. 30 Oct-01 Nov 2026 at Hotel Clarks, Amer, Jaipur. Registration Link and Schedule-
event.thejaipurdialogues.com
What a brilliant cartoon by Tariq Afridi in The News International of 25 Oct 2026. Describes situation in #Pakistan comprehensively.
A caricature of Army chief Asim Munir looking on & laughing at the politicians would have been icing on the cake!
thenews.pk/print/1445040-25-…
Pakistan never ceases to amaze. Army Chief-backed Special Investment Facilitation Council is keenly pushing a plan to establish Pakistan’s first luxury medical tourism model centre in Islamabad, focused on aesthetic tourism and cosmetic surgery. The plan includes a 25,000 square feet facility to develop a five-star luxury medical centre, with room for future expansion. Given the state of Pakistan’s medical infrastructure, this is what Pakistan’s population really needs!
thenews.pk/print/1431791-sif…
A hard-hitting article by @hidhussain ‘A Rubber-Stamp Parliament’ where he talks about ineffectiveness of #Pakistan’s Parliament. This reflects sorry state of democracy & creeping authoritarianism warning ‘The shadow of authoritarianism looms over the country…’ A timely forewarning.
dawn.com/news/2038720
Tilak Devasher retweeted
Ready for an insightful discourse on national security, strategic deterrence, and India’s fight against terrorism? @tilakdevasher1 , former Special Secretary and author, takes the stage at Season 11 of The Jaipur Dialogues! Join the conversation as he shares his perspectives on Pakistan, terrorism, and India’s strategic challenges.
🗓️ Date: 30 October – 1 November 2026
📍 Venue: Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur
🎟️ Scan the QR code to secure your spot today – event.thejaipurdialogues.com…
#TJD2026 #TilakDevasher #NationalSecurity #CounterTerrorism #BattleForBharat #TheJaipurDialogues2026 #JaipurDialogues
After the bureaucrats, it is the turn of the cops. Acc to Dawn, since 29 August, four cases of armed dacoity have taken place in Islamabad targeting Chinese nationals. In two cases, serving police officials in uniform, rpt ‘in uniform’ were involved. In Sep, three serving capital police personnel were found involved in operating a dacoit gang in Islamabad. Police officials, in uniform, operating dacoit gangs is bad enough; targeting nationals of 'All-Weather friend', is worse. What happened to the ‘fool-proof’ security for the Chinese? And where is Pak-China ‘deeper than oceans’ friendship? Just asking. dawn.com/news/2038358
Something is seriously wrong in Pakistan. Def Min Khawaja Asif has revealed that a significant number of govt officers had prepared for their relocation abroad while still serving. Note ‘significant number’ & ‘while still serving.’ Portugal is the new favourite destination for the bureaucratic exodus.
Since bureaucrats have their ear to the ground, is it a case of rats deserting a sinking ship? Just asking.
tribune.com.pk/story/2635554…
An article I wrote for the @IndianExpress today on the dismissal of the PTI govt in KPK, #Pakistan and its implications.
With Indo-Pak border closed, firing on Pak-Afghan border & now Pak-Iran border also closed, only land border open for #Pakistan is with China. That too will close in a short while due to winter. Is Pakistan deliberately boxing itself in? A bonanza for smugglers!
Tilak Devasher retweeted
The Jaipur Dialogues Annual Summit is back! 🇮🇳 This year’s theme: Awakening Bharat Author, National Security Expert & Strategic Analyst @tilakdevasher1 will be joining us at the Summit to discuss Pakistan, South Asian geopolitics and India’s evolving security environment.
📅 30th October – 1st November 2026 📍 Clarks Amer, Jaipur
Want to hear Tilak Devasher at the Summit? Register Now - event.thejaipurdialogues.com…
🤖 Made with AI
A podcast I did with @Sanjay_Dixit on the situation in #Pakistan and esp the imposition of Emergency in KPK
youtu.be/dPqE5gE3Z_c?si=Khkn…
Tilak Devasher retweeted
#RawReport | 'This has been going on for a long time, the Durand Line has been in existence ever since Pakistan was created': @tilakdevasher1, Author & Ex-Member, NSAB
#Pakistan #KhyberPakhtunkhwa #AsimMunir #PTI | @shawansen
Tilak Devasher retweeted
#RawReport | 'This issue of terrorism only came up around towards the end of september': @tilakdevasher1, Author & Ex-Member, NSAB
#Pakistan #KhyberPakhtunkhwa #AsimMunir #PTI | @shawansen
Tilak Devasher retweeted
#RawReport | 'So the army was successful in the Swath Valley': @tilakdevasher1, Author & Ex-Member, NSAB
#Pakistan #KhyberPakhtunkhwa #AsimMunir #PTI | @shawansen
Tilak Devasher retweeted
Will the creation of more provinces solve Pakistan’s problems? Field Marshal Asim Munir and Mohsin Naqvi, apparently think so.
But, as Tilak Devasher asks, “How is creating more provinces anyway connected to what is happening in Pakistan?”
With the TTP striking security installations and Baloch insurgents targeting railway lines and power plants, Devasher questions whether redrawing Pakistan’s political map is a distraction from its deepening security crisis.
“Is that a huge distraction operation, this creating of multiple provinces to break up the opposition, break up the provincial bedrock of Pakistan?”
His larger question is even more damning: “Is Pakistan then ungovernable or are its leaders incapable of governing Pakistan?”
Watch the full conversation on Chakra News: youtu.be/3U9y3qSnr04
#Pakistan #AsimMunir #PakistanPolitics #Geopolitics #ChakraNewz #khyberPakhtunkhwa @SandeepUnnithan @awasthi_bob @tilakdevasher1 @i_DeepakBhadana
Much talk in Pakistan about creating smaller provinces since the ‘system has collapsed’. Interestingly, Selig Harrison quotes Zia saying that he would ‘ideally like to breakup the existing provinces and replace them with 53 smaller provinces, erasing ethnic identities from the map of Pakistan altogether.’ I cite this in my Balochistan book. Clearly those close to Gen Asim Munir have been doing some reading!