Pakistan has spent much of its modern history caught between powerful neighbours, competing foreign powers and an enormously influential military establishment. In this episode of The More Freedom Foundation Podcast, Rob Morris and Ruairi take a deep dive into how Pakistan got here — and why the country remains so politically fragile.

The conversation goes all the way back to British India and Partition, examining how Pakistan inherited a difficult frontier, complicated borders and deep tensions with India and Afghanistan. Rob and Ruairi then explore the rise of military rule, Pakistan's long relationship with the United States, the influence of Saudi Arabia, the Soviet-Afghan War and the radicalisation that followed.

They also look at Pakistan's more recent history: the rise and fall of Imran Khan, his confrontation with the military establishment, his relationship with the United States, China and Russia, and the controversy surrounding his imprisonment and political movement.

Beyond domestic politics, the episode considers Pakistan's increasingly important role in a changing region — from its relationship with China and Iran to the possibility of being drawn into the conflict in Yemen and the wider Middle East.

And there are some surprising developments too, including Pakistan's extraordinary solar boom, which has seen millions of people turn to rooftop solar as the country's traditional energy system struggles.

Is Pakistan doomed by the circumstances of its creation, or does it still have the resources and people to build something very different?

Rob and Ruairi discuss Pakistan's past, present and uncertain future.

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