Syed Ali Zia Jaffery
@alizia1992.bsky.social
Deputy Director, Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research. Associate Editor, Pakistan Politico. Former VF, Stimson Center. Alum: Wilson Center and CNS. Bylines: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, National Interest, The Diplomat, Atlantic Council
It was great hosting Dr. Ahmad Khan in the @CSSPR_UOL Webinar Series. Our discussion was centered on his new book entitled "Sabre Rattling in Space: A South Asian Perspective." youtu.be/2xfjF42zWOY?...
CSSPR Webinar Series: Ali Zia in Conversation with Dr. Ahmad Khan
YouTube video by CSSPR
youtu.be
October 27, 2025 at 4:05 PM
It was great hosting Dr. Ahmad Khan in the @CSSPR_UOL Webinar Series. Our discussion was centered on his new book entitled "Sabre Rattling in Space: A South Asian Perspective." youtu.be/2xfjF42zWOY?...
csspr.uol.edu.pk
August 4, 2025 at 11:13 AM
My latest Substack on how the problem with defining terrorism has contributed to weakening India’s position on it.
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
India's Terrorism Mantra and the Definitional Problem
India’s old terrorism mantra against Pakistan is fast losing its sheen.
open.substack.com
August 3, 2025 at 1:41 AM
My latest Substack on how the problem with defining terrorism has contributed to weakening India’s position on it.
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
My latest Substrack sheds some light on the disadvantages of counterforce targeting.
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
Survivability, Counterforce Targeting, and Nuclear Use
I recently read Dr.
open.substack.com
July 28, 2025 at 11:47 PM
My latest Substrack sheds some light on the disadvantages of counterforce targeting.
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
Subscribe to my Substack, Elusive Stability, in which I share my takes on a bevy of strategic, security, and foreign policy issues. Launched last week, Elusive Stability has released 5 posts on some interesting topics.
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
Elusive Stability | Syed Ali Zia Jaffery | Substack
Elusive Stability is a platform dedicated to identifying, discussing, and critiquing the sources of strategic subversion, especially through Pakistan's vantage point. Come here to think deeply, questi...
open.substack.com
July 27, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Subscribe to my Substack, Elusive Stability, in which I share my takes on a bevy of strategic, security, and foreign policy issues. Launched last week, Elusive Stability has released 5 posts on some interesting topics.
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
Out Now! In the latest episode of InFocus With Ejaz Haider at @CSSPR_UOL , Ejaz Haider hosted @nktpnd.bsky.social to discuss the May crisis between India and Pakistan, which set a number of dangerous precedents and thresholds.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=il_G...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=il_G...
InFocus With Ejaz Haider EP71: Deterrence in the New Nuclear Age
YouTube video by CSSPR
www.youtube.com
July 25, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Out Now! In the latest episode of InFocus With Ejaz Haider at @CSSPR_UOL , Ejaz Haider hosted @nktpnd.bsky.social to discuss the May crisis between India and Pakistan, which set a number of dangerous precedents and thresholds.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=il_G...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=il_G...
While the Dovals, Shahs, and Singhs help Modi to unsuccessfully deny Pakistan's its agency, John F. Kennedy had the sage Bob McNamara by his side!
My latest Substack looks at how McNamara convinced Kennedy to empathize with the Soviet Union.
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
My latest Substack looks at how McNamara convinced Kennedy to empathize with the Soviet Union.
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
The Enemy Gets a Vote: Robert McNamara and the Cuban Missile Crisis
Over the past decade, the Narendra Modi-led Indian government has, both in peacetime and crises, tried to deny Pakistan's agency.
open.substack.com
July 24, 2025 at 8:48 PM
While the Dovals, Shahs, and Singhs help Modi to unsuccessfully deny Pakistan's its agency, John F. Kennedy had the sage Bob McNamara by his side!
My latest Substack looks at how McNamara convinced Kennedy to empathize with the Soviet Union.
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
My latest Substack looks at how McNamara convinced Kennedy to empathize with the Soviet Union.
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
My latest Substrack delves into the Third Nuclear Age.
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
Reflections on the Third Nuclear Age
Recently, I hosted Dr.
open.substack.com
July 22, 2025 at 3:45 AM
My latest Substrack delves into the Third Nuclear Age.
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
My latest Substack on why the onus is on Washington to win Tehran’s trust.
"An unwillingness on the part of the U.S. to win Iran's trust will be bad news. It will further subvert diplomacy, leaving Iran on its own and unaccountable."
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
"An unwillingness on the part of the U.S. to win Iran's trust will be bad news. It will further subvert diplomacy, leaving Iran on its own and unaccountable."
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
Time for Washington to Win Tehran’s Trust
Last month, Iran was brazenly attacked by two nuclear-armed countries in Israel and the U.S.
open.substack.com
July 21, 2025 at 6:40 AM
My latest Substack on why the onus is on Washington to win Tehran’s trust.
"An unwillingness on the part of the U.S. to win Iran's trust will be bad news. It will further subvert diplomacy, leaving Iran on its own and unaccountable."
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
"An unwillingness on the part of the U.S. to win Iran's trust will be bad news. It will further subvert diplomacy, leaving Iran on its own and unaccountable."
open.substack.com/pub/alizia19...
Reposted by Syed Ali Zia Jaffery
Just launched: Elusive Stability by @alizia1992.bsky.social. If you care about where South Asian nuclear and strategic debates are headed, this Substack will shape how we think about tomorrow’s crises today.
I am happy to launch my Substack, Elusive Stability. Subscribe, engage, and take the debate forward.
open.substack.com/pub/alizia1992…
open.substack.com/pub/alizia1992…
July 21, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Just launched: Elusive Stability by @alizia1992.bsky.social. If you care about where South Asian nuclear and strategic debates are headed, this Substack will shape how we think about tomorrow’s crises today.
I am happy to launch my Substack, Elusive Stability. Subscribe, engage, and take the debate forward.
open.substack.com/pub/alizia1992…
open.substack.com/pub/alizia1992…
July 20, 2025 at 10:45 PM
I am happy to launch my Substack, Elusive Stability. Subscribe, engage, and take the debate forward.
open.substack.com/pub/alizia1992…
open.substack.com/pub/alizia1992…
Enjoyed speaking with @ludovicacast.bsky.social on her excellent co-authored book, The Global Third Nuclear Age. youtu.be/i2QFk0atuIg?...
CSSPR Webinar Series: Ali Zia in Conversation with Dr. Ludovica Castelli
YouTube video by CSSPR
youtu.be
July 16, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Enjoyed speaking with @ludovicacast.bsky.social on her excellent co-authored book, The Global Third Nuclear Age. youtu.be/i2QFk0atuIg?...
In my latest article for Australian Outlook, I argue that the U.S. must win Iran's trust if it wants to reach a new nuclear agreement. It should renounce regime change while dropping its zero-enrichment demand. www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australi…
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australi…
July 11, 2025 at 8:58 AM
In my latest article for Australian Outlook, I argue that the U.S. must win Iran's trust if it wants to reach a new nuclear agreement. It should renounce regime change while dropping its zero-enrichment demand. www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australi…
In the next episode of the Centre for Security, Strategy and Policy Research (CSSPR) Webinar Series, I look forward to hosting Ludovica Castelli , PhD for a conversation on her excellent co-authored book, "The Global Third Nuclear Age. The book can be read here: lnkd.in/g-gdG25P
July 6, 2025 at 8:38 PM
In the next episode of the Centre for Security, Strategy and Policy Research (CSSPR) Webinar Series, I look forward to hosting Ludovica Castelli , PhD for a conversation on her excellent co-authored book, "The Global Third Nuclear Age. The book can be read here: lnkd.in/g-gdG25P
It is India's unsafeguarded facilities and fissile materials that the world must worry about. I discussed all this in my recent @CSSPR_UOL conversation with @mansoorahmed.bsky.social youtu.be/QxZ_vYvpLFA?...
CSSPR Webinar Series: Ali Zia in Conversation With Dr. Mansoor Ahmed
YouTube video by CSSPR
youtu.be
June 27, 2025 at 5:15 AM
It is India's unsafeguarded facilities and fissile materials that the world must worry about. I discussed all this in my recent @CSSPR_UOL conversation with @mansoorahmed.bsky.social youtu.be/QxZ_vYvpLFA?...
I hosted Dr. @mansoorahmed.bsky.social for a discussion on the recent Indo-Pak crisis, India"s evolving strategic posture, and conventional and nuclear deterrence dynamics. Given the situation in the Middle East, we also delved into Iran’s nuclear program.
youtu.be/QxZ_vYvpLFA?...
youtu.be/QxZ_vYvpLFA?...
CSSPR Webinar Series: Ali Zia in Conversation With Dr. Mansoor Ahmed
YouTube video by CSSPR
youtu.be
June 24, 2025 at 8:29 PM
I hosted Dr. @mansoorahmed.bsky.social for a discussion on the recent Indo-Pak crisis, India"s evolving strategic posture, and conventional and nuclear deterrence dynamics. Given the situation in the Middle East, we also delved into Iran’s nuclear program.
youtu.be/QxZ_vYvpLFA?...
youtu.be/QxZ_vYvpLFA?...
President Trump is not the only one who has bypassed the Congress while employing force. According to a Congressional Research Service report, from 1789 until 2020, approximately 10% of U.S. military engagements abroad were subjected to congressional approval or
authorization.
authorization.
June 23, 2025 at 12:17 AM
President Trump is not the only one who has bypassed the Congress while employing force. According to a Congressional Research Service report, from 1789 until 2020, approximately 10% of U.S. military engagements abroad were subjected to congressional approval or
authorization.
authorization.
What to make of the IAEA's response to Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities? How compliant has Iran been with the NPT? Ejaz Haider hosted Dr. Tariq Rauf.
youtu.be/vt5lojoSGls?...
youtu.be/vt5lojoSGls?...
InFocus With Ejaz Haider EP69: Will Trump Enter the War?
YouTube video by CSSPR
youtu.be
June 20, 2025 at 4:32 PM
What to make of the IAEA's response to Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities? How compliant has Iran been with the NPT? Ejaz Haider hosted Dr. Tariq Rauf.
youtu.be/vt5lojoSGls?...
youtu.be/vt5lojoSGls?...
Fighting, at the end of the day, is a tactical action in service of politico-strategic objectives. Israel is unlikely to achieve any of its overarching ones.
June 14, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Fighting, at the end of the day, is a tactical action in service of politico-strategic objectives. Israel is unlikely to achieve any of its overarching ones.
Israel has established complete air superiority over Iran, and that is quite telling. Iran was far too reliant on its indirect, proxy-centered strategy. Since the Axis has fallen, Iran has been in doldrums.
June 13, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Israel has established complete air superiority over Iran, and that is quite telling. Iran was far too reliant on its indirect, proxy-centered strategy. Since the Axis has fallen, Iran has been in doldrums.
There is enough evidence to suggest that nuclear weapons are considered critical to regime survival. The ongoing Israeli operation and statements from U.S. officials are likely to be construed as an existential threat.
June 13, 2025 at 3:50 PM
There is enough evidence to suggest that nuclear weapons are considered critical to regime survival. The ongoing Israeli operation and statements from U.S. officials are likely to be construed as an existential threat.
This is an excellent piece by @rabsaa.bsky.social for TheWire.in ,explaining how nuclear weapons continue to play a stabilizing role in South Asia. She rightly argues that the next crisis will start from a higher baseline. Worth your while.
thewire.in/security/sou...
thewire.in/security/sou...
Fast Wars, Steady Thresholds: Why South Asia’s Nuclear Restraint Persists in a Compressed Battlespace
Applying Herman Kahn’s escalation ladder to the May 2025 events between India and Pakistan demonstrates that the conflict largely occupied the middle rungs. But the question remains: is the threshold ...
thewire.in
June 13, 2025 at 2:27 PM
This is an excellent piece by @rabsaa.bsky.social for TheWire.in ,explaining how nuclear weapons continue to play a stabilizing role in South Asia. She rightly argues that the next crisis will start from a higher baseline. Worth your while.
thewire.in/security/sou...
thewire.in/security/sou...
A nuclear non-NPT state has attacked a non-nuclear NPT state, but not many will talk about this while discussing the challenges that the NPT-based NPR faces.
June 13, 2025 at 1:12 AM
A nuclear non-NPT state has attacked a non-nuclear NPT state, but not many will talk about this while discussing the challenges that the NPT-based NPR faces.
Israel has launched airstrikes on Iranian targets. If the objective is to stop Iran from going nuclear, this approach defies military and strategic logic.
June 13, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Israel has launched airstrikes on Iranian targets. If the objective is to stop Iran from going nuclear, this approach defies military and strategic logic.
Yesterday, I heard Yalda Hakim wrongly accuse Pakistan of bringing the Taliban back into power. This claim is bogus. In a 2021 The National Interest article ,I explained why Pakistan cannot be blamed for the capitulation of the Ghani government.
nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/do...
nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/do...
Don’t Blame Pakistan for the Taliban’s Takeover of Kabul
In a recent interview to The Washington Post, Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf vehemently argued that Pakistan should not be blamed for the swift takeover of Kabul by the Afghan Taliba...
nationalinterest.org
June 12, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Yesterday, I heard Yalda Hakim wrongly accuse Pakistan of bringing the Taliban back into power. This claim is bogus. In a 2021 The National Interest article ,I explained why Pakistan cannot be blamed for the capitulation of the Ghani government.
nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/do...
nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/do...