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Overcoming extremism in Pakistan

A Pakistani flag flies on a mast in front of paramilitary Frontier Corps soldiers.

Madiha Afzal, nonresident fellow in the Global Economy and Development program at Brookings, discusses her new book, “Pakistan Under Siege: Extremism, Society, and the State,” with the director of the Brookings Institution Press, Bill Finan. Afzal explains Pakistanis’ own views on terrorist groups, jihad, and America, the relationship between Islam and the Pakistani state, and how the country could redefine its sense of nationalism without what she calls “the crutch of religion.”

Also in this episode, Bill Frey discusses the demographics of millennials, now America’s the largest generation, and what implications their diversity could have on the country.

Related content:

Pakistan Under Siege

Redefining Pakistan

The future of U.S.-Pakistani Relations

Why the Trump administration’s policy on Pakistan is likely to fail

Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo with assistance from Mark Hoelscher, and to producers Brennan Hoban and Chris McKenna. Additional support comes from Jessica Pavone, Eric Abalahin, Rebecca Viser, our intern Steven Lee, and from David Nassar.

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The Brookings Cafeteria is a part of the Brookings Podcast Network.