What is Azm-e-Istehkam? | TTP No-Go Areas in KPK | Chinese Pressure | Iftikhar Firdous | Ep 203

There has been a lot of confusion about the recently-announced Azm-e-Istehkam effort, which was initially dubbed as an operation but later revised to be a vision by the Sharif-led government. To talk about what the state is trying to do and to better understand the growing security crisis across Pakistan, Uzair invited Iftikhar Firdous to the podcast. Iftikhar is founder and editor of The Khorasan Diary, an organization that closely follows security issues in the region.
We talked about the role of China and the Afghan Taliban in the ongoing crisis, the regional dynamics at play, and why the political division across Pakistan is exacerbating the crisis.
If you want to stay on top of these topics, follow Iftikhar at @IftikharFirdous. You should also follow The Khorasan Diary at @khorasandiary and subscribe to their YoutTube channel at / thekhorasandiary
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
2:20 What is Azm-e-Istehkam?
14:40 Militancy and illicit economy
26:20 No-go areas and growing insecurity
40:10 Chinese demands from Pakistan
46:02 Relationship with Afghan Taliban
53:10 Regional security dynamics at play

[@majwad]

Brillant session Uzair and Iftikhar. Thank you for providing so much in-depth analysis and enlightenmnet. The truth is horiffic that it sends the chills down my spine. We as a nation have not learned anything from our past mistakes. People who have migrated in the past 5-7 years, either have no idea or have been extremely lucky/informed to have gone out of Pakistan. It is the s**t hitting the fan and spearding all over and no one is realising because we have now gotten so used to or made numb about it that we have lost sense. Sad sad state of affairs.

[@naveedakhtar8747]

Whata wonderful podcast.... Thanks Uzair and hats off to Iftikhar. 👏👏👏

[@TajNawabKhattak-hs4dp]

Very informative and in-depth analysis, Highly appreciated.

[@ghazanhussain2070]

Iftikhar is really a gem......wish we had a more knowledgeable people like him in Pakistan

[@hassanmasood8355]

Excellent analysis by Iftikhar!

[@Roshanazam-o4v]

Uzair keep asking about favorite books of them,,that was really Interesting to know books via your podcast and you forget to keep that

[@haiderkhagga]

I've been following iftikhar firdus on X since the early 2010s, and today is the first time I've seen him on video. Literate and cultured, just like his tweets. Overall, it was a nice informative discussion.

[@tempuser109]

Disintegration is the only way

[@ViewsGoogler]

And develop like Bangladesh after getting rid of Punjabi lootera Army

[@ghazanhussain2070]

Lanat ho pathano par

[@Ariehthelionlalkin]

Great question by Uzair and I want to add patrol or diesel and weapons are coming to Pakistan via border and who controls Borders? Just acknowledging will not change anything.

[@nowie4007]

Excellent podcast ❤❤

[@PrashantSingh-my1be]

Very informative discussion 👏

[@musakhalid8311]

Loved every minute of it.

[@qazifarjadulhaq8800]

Thank you for informing us on this critical topic. Iftikhar is a very measured speaker.

[@hajra5690]

Great podcast! thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@faautobahna9416]

Excellent.

[@yetanotheropinion.843]

In India we had soviet styled "Five Year Plans" plans (thankfully no more). You folks have one national level counter terror ops per army chief.

[@rumi-boss]

came here after watching muzamil's dill ki baat, you got a sub

[@ViewsGoogler]

Will Saudi Arabia invest 100 Billions of dollars just to implement Brelvi sharia by TLP?

[@muddi900]

LOL. Wahabis supporting TLP.

[@ViewsGoogler]

@@muddi900 thats what i am wondering as to why Asim Munir expecting from Saudia

[@qumermumtaz816]

@Uzair sb and Iftikhar sb things are so alarming as per your discussion and ultimate sufferer will be common man. Similarly political divide is also at peak. My question is do our forces and leaders are also aware about this and taking some measures?

[@yetoha-fv7qs]

Anyone who believes in extremism in religion and act on it must be behind bars

[@greenorange5408]

What this Army doing with Balooch ..? What this army doing with politicians…??? No chance unless Army changes .

[@vedantsharma4709]

As Ajit Doval Once said- If you know the tricks ,we know the tricks better than you.

[@buglife4568]

Whole world knows about your tricks😂

[@DataCrusade1999]

Bhakt spotted

[@saliafzal]

Nobody: Uzair Younas: Pakistani diaspora, maeshiyat, look at India.

[@ahmedfawad1954]

Major Iftikhar is a bit well informed about the entire plan 😂.

[@WasimKhan-kk6qu]

There is a political group in Pakistan who has made it their life's purpose to oppose anything that involves the military. First they supported everything the army did, now after their leader is behind bars, they oppose everything.

[@sanjithkmemon8525]

Nobody speaks of the copper that's getting out of wazir areas

[@MuhammadArslan-bw5ow]

Thank God I am living on the eastern border 😅

[@naveedakhtar8747]

Problem ye hy ke!! Snacks in the backyard r back home 2 roast chickens😮😮😮

[@NaatHijazi-mv1qb]

Uzair sb just send dollors from USA, don't argue, v r playing operation, operation with western world countries, it's best earning policy

[@NaatHijazi-mv1qb]

W r Operationistan

[@sarimbajwa7607]

Yrrr , ab kia hoga ?😭😭

[@Skywimz]

Did u listen to CIA Analyst Sarah Adams Talking about India, taliban and Pakistan ?

[@rakadus]

Why do we need to understand about ourselves through a westerners lens?

[@Skywimz]

@@rakadus Because we take money from them

[@aanakrukavi]

Getting this much of info is not possible without ISI's aashirwaad. Ifthi is ISI's new face after Wajahat Saeed Khan's ouster.

[@ruznbaloch2300]

Iftikhar ne tho fully مثبت reporting ky he ignored army’s involvement in genocide of Pashtun’s and Baloch’s . Before the operation by army they will create a soft image for army and show it like Army ke nojawan tho mazloom hai we have no another option 😂 When the army do operations against people they called it azm e istehkam for Pakistan when the people show resistance against army’s genocide policies they called it terrorism.now you will face your hypocrisy and people will resist in every platforms against this colonialism of Pakistan and China.

[@ghazanhussain2070]

Balochistan azad ho bhi gaya tu Pukhtuno ke qabzay mai hi rahayga

[@aanakrukavi]

One more smoke screen from Army to hide its Plotistan 😂. All this is to extract minerals from FATA. Mandokhail has huge Copper reserve.

[@pslinmypocket3320]

KP nahi Iftikhar bhai Khyber PukhtunkhwA

[@ghazanhussain2070]

Lanat ho pathano par

[@ghazanhussain2070]

KP mai sirf pathan nahi rehtay

[@samibabar9543]

stupid comment

[@magraphics8958]

Gandus of ISI

[@ghazanhussain2070]

I wish all pathans were like Iftikhar Firdous

[@malikawais3589]

Uzair tumhy ya bnd kr Dana chaey bat ni krni ati tojhy