The Institute of War and Peace Studies -IWPS

17/07/2025

🎙️ NEW Episode: Power, Paranoia and Proxy Wars: Michael Kugelman Maps the Strategic Storms of South Asia

South Asia is caught in a whirlwind of rising tensions, geopolitical rivalries, and fragile alliances. From the latest clash between India and Pakistan, to China’s growing influence, and Afghanistan’s ongoing instability under Taliban rule—what’s driving this regional volatility, and what might come next?

In this episode of Geopulse, host Tamim Asey is joined by Michael Kugelman, former Director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, to navigate the strategic currents shaping the subcontinent. Kugelman dives deep into Modi’s nationalism, Pakistan’s military-led governance, China’s strategic ambitions, regional repercussions of the Iran–Israel conflict, and the worrying rise of authoritarianism across South Asia.

🎧 Listen Now:

Podcast Episode · Geopulse: Guns - Gadgets - Genes - Germs · 17/07/2025 · 59m

28/06/2025

New Podcast Episode – Talibanology 🎧

In this episode, delighted and honored to be joined by Professor William Maley, Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University and one of the world’s foremost experts on Afghan politics and diplomacy.

We dive deep into:

▪️ How the Taliban’s second Emirate compares to the first
▪️ The rise of a surveillance-driven police state
▪️ Social engineering under Taliban rule
▪️ The collapse of the Afghan Republic
▪️ How regional actors are adapting to the new reality

Professor Maley, author of The Afghanistan Wars and What is a Refugee?, brings decades of insight to this urgent and timely conversation.

Must listen.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ltwTjhxVzjkcfNdz9JJV2?si=tvnThmMxQ3Klpu9EyJVPdg

Talibanology: Power, People and Policies · Episode

12/06/2025

🎙️ Talibanology – Episode 2
The Cloak and Kalashnikov Diplomacy

Tamim Asey sits down with Dr. Jennifer Murtazashvili to unpack the Taliban’s foreign policy:

– Grand strategy or reactive improvisation?
– Who’s in control—Kandahar, Kabul technocrats or the Haqqanis?

From Central Asia to Washington, we explore:

– The Taliban’s regional manoeuvring
– Qatar & UN as Western conduits
– U.S. policy shifts
– Diaspora leadership
And the big question: Can the Taliban reform—or are they just waiting us out?

Must listen.

Podcast Episode · Talibanology: Power, People and Policies · 12/06/2025 · 1h

08/06/2025

🎙️ طالبانولوژی | قسمت اول

اولین قسمت پادکست طالبانولوژی را با داکتر حسن عباس آغاز می‌کنیم—او یکی از برجسته‌ترین پژوهشگران طالبان‌می‌باشد.

در‌این قسمت نخست این پادکست داکتر عباس از کشمکش‌های درون امارت، خطر بالای قتل هیبت الله، روابط پاکستان و منطقه با طالبان، روابط طالبان با القاعده و آینده امارت می گوید. این گفتگوی جالب ‌ عمیق در باره حکومتداری، امنیت، روابط خارجی و مدیریت اقتصادی امارت را از دست ندهید.

آیا امارت از درون در حال فروپاشی است؟ شایعات ترور، جنگ قدرت و افسانهٔ حکومت‌داری طالبان—داکتر حسن عباس‌به‌ همه این موضوعات می پردازد.

Podcast Episode · Talibanology: Power, People and Policies · 08/06/2025 · 55m

08/06/2025

🎙️ Talibanology | Episode 1
We kick off with none other than Dr. Hassan Abbas—renowned scholar of the Taliban and South Asian security.

From power struggles in Kandahar to the future of the Emirate—don’t miss this deep dive into Taliban rule, reform and resistance.

Is the Emirate cracking from within? Assassination rumours, power feuds and the myth of Taliban governance—Dr. Hassan Abbas breaks it down.

Podcast Episode · Talibanology: Power, People and Policies · 08/06/2025 · 55m

22/05/2025

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For more information - please go to:

Intelligence Fusion Lab (IFL)
www.intelligencefusionlab.org

Digital Defense Initiative (DDI)
www.ddisheild.org

The Institute of War and Peace Studies (IWPS)
www.iwps.org.uk

Here is to new beginnings!🚀🤲🏻

19/05/2025

Our Season 1 Trailer is here. Tune in!

Podcast · Tamim Asey · A podcast that deconstructs internal power dyamics and policy shifts within the Taliban Emirate. A deep dive into the power, people and policies of the Emirate.

17/05/2025

Tune into our first episode and teaser next week. 👇