Economist Podcasts (Another) all-out war: Afghanistan and Pakistan
58 snips
Mar 24, 2026 
Tom Sasse, South Asia bureau chief covering regional politics and security, unpacks the fast-rising Afghanistan-Pakistan clash, the TTP threat and whether the Iran war could cool tensions. Joshua Roberts, a markets correspondent, tracks how oil shocks can reignite inflation fears. Caitlin Talbot, a digital-culture reporter, explores why listening parties are reshaping album rollouts.
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Pakistan And Afghanistan Turn Old Ambiguity Into War
- Pakistan says Afghanistan shelters the Pakistani Taliban, turning a long-murky relationship into open conflict.
- Tom Sasse notes Pakistan once sheltered Taliban leaders while claiming to back America during the NATO mission.
A Hospital Strike Deepened A Lopsided War
- Pakistan has escalated from pressure to sustained bombing, while Afghanistan lacks the air power to stop it.
- A March 16 strike hit a Kabul drug rehabilitation facility, killing at least 143 people and deepening a refugee crisis.
The Iran War May Force Both Sides To Pause
- The Iran war could paradoxically restrain Afghanistan and Pakistan by raising the cost of further escalation for both.
- Afghanistan depends on Iran for food and building materials, while Pakistan is exposed to the Hormuz energy shock.