Syed Ali Zia Jaffery

researcher at the University of Lahore

Compiled from 1 recorded interview. Every statement below is drawn from the passage cited beside it.

Syed Ali Zia Jaffery is a research associate at the Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research at the University of Lahore and associate editor of Pakistan Politico. He was born in Quetta in 1992, studied at Forman Christian College and graduated in 2015. He has taught undergraduate courses on arms control, foreign policy and non-proliferation for four years.

Early life and background

Jaffery was born in Quetta in 1992. He comes from a military background. He says his father was a strict army officer. His father retired in 1993. [1]

Health and recovery

He contracted meningitis when he was four months old. He says the illness left him without his eyesight and his right hand. He had an eye operation in 1996 and began to see the world. He had two operations on his hand, in 2002 and 2008. [1]

He credits the Combined Military Hospital for his treatment. He says he did not put in enough effort in his own recovery. He also says he could not join the army. [1]

Education

He took his O levels at Lahore Grammar School and went on to study at Forman Christian College. He dropped economics because he was more interested in history and international relations. As a student he enjoyed debating and confronting guest speakers. During college he attended conferences, including trips to India. [1]

He graduated in 2015. He deliberately did not continue his studies after graduating. [1]

Career

His first job after graduating was as a grant writer at a German firm. He also worked for a time at Global Village Space in Lahore. He described Global Village Space as a good experience but wanted to work in academia. [1]

He had a strong interest in nuclear weapons. He says he knew that CSS was not his cup of tea, despite pressure from many people to pursue it. He was recruited by Dr. Rabia Akhtar, a nuclear scholar at the University of Lahore. He says he joined in January 2018 and has been in Lahore since. [1]

University of Lahore

Jaffery is a research associate at the Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research at the University of Lahore. He is associate editor of Pakistan Politico. Pakistan Politico was launched for a University of Lahore think tank. It was printed for two years before printing stopped during COVID. [1]

He has taught undergraduate courses on arms control, foreign policy and non-proliferation for four years. He says the university has 114 Afghan students. He has taught Afghan students for three years; the Higher Education Commission selected his university in 2019 to offer them a four-year degree programme. [1]

He says he has published widely, both academically and non-academically. He went for a fellowship at the Stimson Center. He has attended several international conferences, and his work is cited. He recently wrote an article arguing against resuming trade with India at this point. He hopes to begin a doctorate somewhere along the line, possibly next year or so, and plans to continue his current work before doing so. [1]

Views on international politics

He describes himself as a structural realist. He holds that there are no free lunches in global politics. He argues that the absence of war is not the same as peace. He says events have undermined the end-of-history thesis. He argues that the use of force has become a viable tool for extracting diplomatic concessions. [1]

He says the US named strategic competition from China and Russia as its number one threat, ahead of terrorism. He says Russia wants to reconnect with the East and build an Eastern economic union. He describes Ukraine as a victim of great power politics, and says Russia's aggression is illegal under international law. He also says no side holds the moral high ground. [1]

He describes globalisation as a double-edged phenomenon. He says it is a myth that a country can be isolated. He says foreign policy has been democratised. He says states cannot negotiate without war gaming. He sees climate change and environmental security as major threats. [1]

He says China's authoritarian style of rule is still producing results. He says there is nothing to celebrate after China rolled over a loan. He says Pakistan should use CPEC for its own reforms and industrialisation. He says Pakistan should not become anyone's appendage, and that a nation cannot survive on borrowed power. [1]

Views on Pakistan

He describes Pakistan as a smaller power that is still a power. He says Pakistan has the potential to become a geo-economic power because of its geographic position. He says an advantage remains an asset only as long as a country is strong. He says Pakistan is in an IMF limbo with many matters pending. [1]

He says political stability is the need of the hour. He says the ruling class has no appetite for the reforms needed. He cites the longest-running real estate amnesty scheme as an example of the status quo. He says Pakistan's policy thinking has a very limited horizon. He says Pakistan's mainstream narrative has been Western-driven since 1948. [1]

He describes the US as a very important country for Pakistan. He says Pakistan must have excellent relations with everyone. He says extremism that seeped in through Pakistan's own actions helped create the environment for terrorism. [1]

Views on India and Kashmir

He says a fanatic leadership in India is the biggest obstacle to India becoming a superpower. He says India has military force but not military power. He describes Praveen Sawhney's book Dragons at Our Doorstep as a very good book. He says an open and integrated South Asia would bring large advantages, and that trade in itself is a necessity. [1]

He says Pakistan did not retaliate for the 2016 surgical strikes. He says India mistook Pakistan's restraint for weakness. He says Pakistan lays claim to Kashmir as part of its territory. He says Kashmir sits at the centre of the India-Pakistan antagonism. He says Kashmiris are a third stakeholder that cannot be ignored. [1]

He says talks between Rajiv Gandhi and Benazir Bhutto were scuttled by the Indian Army. He recommends reading Dr. Rabia's The Blind Eye. [1]

Timeline

1992
Born in Quetta.[1]
1993
His father retired.[1]
1996
Had an eye operation and began to see the world.[1]
2002
Had the first of two operations on his hand.[1]
2008
Had the second of two operations on his hand.[1]
2015
Graduated.[1]
2018
Joined in January and has been based in Lahore since.[1]
2019
The Higher Education Commission selected his university to offer a four-year degree programme to Afghan students.[1]

Appearances

DateTitleWhere
2022-07-18 Why Pakistan won't just buy gas from Russia Thought Behind Things

Frequently asked questions

Who is Syed Ali Zia Jaffery?

Syed Ali Zia Jaffery is a research associate at the Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research at the University of Lahore. He is also associate editor of Pakistan Politico. He was born in Quetta in 1992.[1]

What does Syed Ali Zia Jaffery do?

Syed Ali Zia Jaffery is a research associate at the Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research at the University of Lahore and associate editor of Pakistan Politico. He has taught undergraduate courses on arms control, foreign policy and non-proliferation for four years.[1]

Where did Syed Ali Zia Jaffery study?

Syed Ali Zia Jaffery took his O levels at Lahore Grammar School and went on to study at Forman Christian College. He dropped economics because he was more interested in history and international relations. He graduated in 2015.[1]

Where is Syed Ali Zia Jaffery from?

Syed Ali Zia Jaffery was born in Quetta in 1992. He comes from a military background. He says he joined in January 2018 and has been in Lahore since.[1]

What is Syed Ali Zia Jaffery's role at Pakistan Politico?

Syed Ali Zia Jaffery is associate editor of Pakistan Politico. Pakistan Politico was launched for a University of Lahore think tank. It was printed for two years before printing stopped during COVID.[1]

What are Syed Ali Zia Jaffery's views on international politics?

Syed Ali Zia Jaffery describes himself as a structural realist. He holds that there are no free lunches in global politics. He argues that the use of force has become a viable tool for extracting diplomatic concessions.[1]

Did Syed Ali Zia Jaffery hold a fellowship?

Syed Ali Zia Jaffery went for a fellowship at the Stimson Center. He has also attended several international conferences, and his work is cited.[1]

References

  1. Why Pakistan won't just buy gas from Russia . Thought Behind Things , 2022-07-18.
Show the source passages (82 statements)
  1. He was born in Quetta in 1992. So main 1992 mein Quetta mein paida hua.
  2. He comes from a military background. I am from a military background.
  3. He says his father was a strict army officer. he was a very strict army officer
  4. His father retired in 1993. Although my father retired in 93
  5. He contracted meningitis when he was four months old. Char mahine ka tha toh mujhe ho gaya meningitis.
  6. He says the illness left him without his eyesight and his right hand. I lost my eyesight, I lost my right hand and my leg was almost, you know, twisted.
  7. He had an eye operation in 1996 and began to see the world. So main cha 1996 mein mere aankhon ka operation hua toh maine duniya dekhna shuru kar diya.
  8. He had two operations on his hand, in 2002 and 2008. haath ke do operations hue, ek 2002 mein hua, ek 2008 mein hua
  9. He credits the Combined Military Hospital for his treatment. thanks to uh the Combined Military Hospital
  10. He says he did not put in enough effort in his own recovery. Agar main effort karta toh it could have been much better.
  11. He says he could not join the army. main fauj mein toh ja nahi sakta
  12. He took his O levels at Lahore Grammar School. maine O levels Lahore se hi kiya, Lahore Grammar School se.
  13. He went on to study at Forman Christian College. Uske baad maine Forman Christian College mein uh padhna shuru kiya.
  14. He dropped economics because he was more interested in history and international relations. maine economics ko chhod diya, maine kaha nahi ho sakta aur because mujhe history ka shauk tha, IR ka shauk tha
  15. As a student he enjoyed debating and confronting guest speakers. shauk tha ke ji koi bhi guest speaker aa raha hai usse maine debate karni hai, confront karna hai
  16. During college he attended conferences, including trips to India. during FC bhi main conferences pe gaya, India gaya do teen baar in jaghon pe
  17. He graduated in 2015. But 2015 mein jab maine graduate kiya hai
  18. He deliberately did not continue his studies after graduating. Aur maine deliberately apni padhai nahi ki iske baad.
  19. His first job after graduating was as a grant writer at a German firm. I got my first job as a grant writer in uh in one of the German uh firms
  20. He worked for a time at Global Village Space in Lahore. maine thode arsay ke liye Global Village Space join kiya, I worked from Lahore.
  21. He described Global Village Space as a good experience but wanted to work in academia. That was a good experience but I wanted to be in the academia.
  22. He had a strong interest in nuclear weapons. mera interest nuclear weapons mein bahut zyada tha
  23. He says he knew that CSS was not his cup of tea, despite pressure from many people to pursue it. I knew that CSS is not my cup of tea.
  24. He was recruited by Dr. Rabia Akhtar, a nuclear scholar at the University of Lahore. I came across uh Dr. Rabia Akhtar uh she was at the University of Lahore. Uh one of the leading nuclear scholars in South Asia and bahut kaam hai unka. So maine uh unhone mujhe jab bulaya aur unhone mujhe kaha I want to hire you.
  25. He says he joined in January 2018 and has been in Lahore since. Aur maine January 2018 mein join kiya aur uske baad se main Lahore mein hoon.
  26. He is associate editor of Pakistan Politico. Usmein I am the associate editor
  27. Pakistan Politico was launched for a University of Lahore think tank. University of Lahore mein think tank ke liye Pakistan Politico hum logon ne launch kiya.
  28. Pakistan Politico was printed for two years before printing stopped during COVID. woh humne dhai saal humne usko print kiya, phir COVID ki wajah se printing band ho gayi
  29. He has taught undergraduate courses on arms control, foreign policy and non-proliferation for four years. arms control pe, foreign policy pe, non-proliferation regime pe chaar saal se
  30. He says the university has 114 Afghan students. Afghan students hamare university mein 114 Afghan students hain.
  31. He has taught Afghan students for three years; the Higher Education Commission selected his university in 2019 to offer them a four-year degree programme. HEC uh ne hamari university ko select kiya tha to impart four year a four year degree program to Afghan students in 2019. Right. So woh teen saal se woh bhi unko bhi padha rahe hain.
  32. He says he has published widely, both academically and non-academically. mera kaam maine publish bahut kiya hai, academically bhi, non-academically bhi
  33. He went for a fellowship at the Stimson Center. I went for a fellowship at the Stimson Center
  34. He has attended several international conferences, and his work is cited. Ek uh aur kaafi international conferences attend bhi ki hain, uh kaam bhi cite hota hai.
  35. He is a research associate at the Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research at the University of Lahore. also as a research associate at the Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research at the University of Lahore.
  36. He hopes to begin a doctorate somewhere along the line, possibly next year or so. I look forward to doing my doctorate somewhere along the line next year or so.
  37. He plans to continue his current work and then do a doctorate. I'll continue those stuff and I'll then go uh do my doctorate.
  38. He describes himself as a structural realist. Structural realist, I am a structural realist
  39. He holds that there are no free lunches in global politics. there are no free lunches in global politics
  40. He argues that the absence of war is not the same as peace. the absence of war is not akin to peace
  41. He says events have undermined the end-of-history thesis. end of history has been tarnished, it has been taken to the cleaners by by events
  42. He argues that the use of force has become a viable tool for extracting diplomatic concessions. the use of force is now becoming a very viable tool
  43. He says the US named strategic competition from China and Russia as its number one threat, ahead of terrorism. Usmein USA ne kaha ke ji hamara number one threat jo do threats hain humein zyada terrorism se bhi zyada aur baaki se bhi zyada woh hain strategic competitions from China and Russia.
  44. He says Russia wants to reconnect with the East and build an Eastern economic union. Russia wants to reconnect with the East, Eastern economic union woh banana cha raha hai.
  45. He describes Ukraine as a victim of great power politics. Ukraine is a victim of great power politics
  46. He says Russia's aggression is illegal under international law. international law ke according toh jo Russia ki aggression hai, that is illegal.
  47. He says no side holds the moral high ground. Moral high ground toh nahi hai, kisi ke paas bhi nahi hai.
  48. He describes globalisation as a double-edged phenomenon. globalization ek bahut double-faced aur double-edged phenomenon phenomenon hai.
  49. He says it is a myth that a country can be isolated. This is a misnomer. It is a myth, aap kisi ko isolate nahi kar sakte.
  50. He describes Pakistan as a smaller power that is still a power. We are a weaker power, we are a smaller power rather, but we are a power.
  51. He says Pakistan has the potential to become a geo-economic power because of its geographic position. We are a geo-economic, we have the potential to become a geo-economic power because we are geo-strategically well-positioned.
  52. He says an advantage remains an asset only as long as a country is strong. lekin woh asset tab tak hai jab tak aap strong hain
  53. He says Pakistan is in an IMF limbo with many matters pending. IMF limbo mein hai, kaafi cheezein latki hui hain abhi
  54. He says political stability is the need of the hour. Political stability is the need of the hour.
  55. He says the ruling class has no appetite for the reforms needed. there is no appetite for in the in the ruling class to take those uh reforms
  56. He cites the longest-running real estate amnesty scheme as an example of the status quo. you had the longest running real estate amnesty scheme again was a status quo
  57. He says foreign policy has been democratised. It has democratized foreign policy.
  58. He says a fanatic leadership in India is the biggest obstacle to India becoming a superpower. India ki jo superpower banne mein jo sabse badi rukawat hai woh hai ek fanatic leadership jo India mein aa gayi hai
  59. He says India has military force but not military power. India ke paas nuclear weapons hain, India ek military force hai, power nahi hai.
  60. He describes Praveen Sawhney's book Dragons at Our Doorstep as a very good book. Woh ek Praveen Sawhney ne ek badi achi book likhi thi, Dragons at our doorstep.
  61. He says an open and integrated South Asia would bring large advantages. the perks and the advantages of of an open South Asia and integrated South Asia are enormous
  62. He says trade in itself is a necessity. trade in and of itself is a necessity
  63. He recently wrote an article arguing against resuming trade with India at this point. Maine abhi recently RSI ke liye article likha hai and I argued against the resumption of trade with India at this point.
  64. He says Pakistan did not retaliate for the 2016 surgical strikes. Humne puri jab 2016 mein surgical strikes hue humne reply nahi kiya, retaliate nahi kiya
  65. He says India mistook Pakistan's restraint for weakness. Lekin India mistook our restraint as a weakness.
  66. He says Pakistan lays claim to Kashmir as part of its territory. Kashmir ko hum we lay claim to Kashmir. So woh hamari territory ka hissa hai.
  67. He says Kashmir sits at the centre of the India-Pakistan antagonism. Yeh Kashmir is is at the left, right and center of the entire antagonism that we have
  68. He says Kashmiris are a third stakeholder that cannot be ignored. Teesra stakeholder Kashmiris hain. Hmm. Kya woh maante hain is baat ko? Nahi. To we cannot ignore them.
  69. He says talks between Rajiv Gandhi and Benazir Bhutto were scuttled by the Indian Army. Rajiv Gandhi aur Benazir Bhutto negotiate kar rahe the to the talks were scuttled by the Indian Army.
  70. He says states cannot negotiate without war gaming. War gaming ke baghair aap negotiations nahi kar sakte, aap baat nahi kar sakte
  71. He says Pakistan's policy thinking has a very limited horizon. Hamari jo thinking hai uska jo horizon hai woh bahut limited hai
  72. He sees climate change and environmental security as major threats. Climate change bahut bada threat hai, environmental security bahut bada threat hai.
  73. He says Pakistan's mainstream narrative has been Western-driven since 1948. hamara jo mainstream narrative hai because woh 1948 se Western driven hai
  74. He says China's authoritarian style of rule is still producing results. we've seen China uh with a very different style of uh ruling with a very sort of authoritarian style of ruling and still generating results
  75. He says extremism that seeped in through Pakistan's own actions helped create the environment for terrorism. it was the the extremism that had seeped in through our own actions that also essentially enabled the environment that had led to the terrorism in Pakistan
  76. He describes the US as a very important country for Pakistan. America is a very, very important country for Pakistan.
  77. He says Pakistan must have excellent relations with everyone. We must have excellent relations with everyone.
  78. He recommends reading Dr. Rabia's The Blind Eye. I would urge you to read Dr. Rabia's The Blind Eye.
  79. He says Pakistan should use CPEC for its own reforms and industrialisation. Aap CPEC ko use karein, apne reforms karne ke liye, apni industrialization karne ke liye
  80. He says Pakistan should not become anyone's appendage. Aapko kisi ki kisi ka appendage nahi banna.
  81. He says a nation cannot survive on borrowed power. Power wohi hai jo you can't survive on borrowed power
  82. He says there is nothing to celebrate after China rolled over a loan. woh unhone roll over kar diya hai China ne. There's nothing to celebrate here.