In this compelling interview with Ishan Dhar, human rights and cultural activist Senge Sering argues that the upcoming, unconstitutional assembly elections in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan are unfolding amid deep political and economic unrest rooted in the region’s prolonged constitutional limbo, maintained, he suggests, to serve the Pakistani state’s extractive and strategic interests. He contends that CPEC has exacerbated local resentment by privileging external and military priorities over local rights, land, and livelihoods, while Islamabad’s reliance on coercion has further alienated the population, prompting many to look across the Line of Control toward India’s democratic model. China’s security concerns, Sering notes, have done little to temper Pakistan’s draconian approach, even as India may view the turmoil less as a routine electoral exercise and more as a strategic indicator of stress in Pakistani-occupied territory. In his assessment, these elections may offer the Pakistani state little more than a 'rubber stamp', failing to address the deeper crisis of identity, representation, and political legitimacy in Gilgit-Baltistan. Chapters 00:00 - 01:08 - Opening 01:09 - 07:13 - Unrest in Gilgit-Baltistan and the Question of Unconstitutional Assembly Elections 07:14 - 10:03 - Why is the caretaker government so unpopular in Gilgit-Baltistan? 10:04 - 14:36 - How do local people in Gilgit-Baltistan perceive India's democracy? 14:37 - 20:14 - CPEC: Promises vs Reality 20:15 - 23:30 - The Social and Economic Fallout of CPEC 23:31 - 26:42 - How has Islamabad been responding to the unrest? 26:43 - 27:59 - Has Islamabad fanned the flames further? 28:00 - 31:10 - Why were the local police protesting in Gilgit-Baltistan in 2025? 31:11 - 35:00 - Why China's security concerns have not curbed Pakistan's draconian approach in Gilgit-Baltistan 35:01 - 39:07 - What strategic notes should India take from the crisis in Gilgit-Baltistan? 39:08 - 39:33 - Closing #GilgitBaltistan #PakistanOccupiedGilgitBaltistan #PoGB #PakistanOccupiedKashmir #KashmirIssue #DisputedTerritory #CPEC #ChinaPakistanEconomicCorridor #ChinaPakistan #DebtTrapDiplomacy #StrategicCorridor #GeoEconomics

Dr Gautam Sen says the deal is politically beneficial and economically significant for India, especially for textile-heavy states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, as zero tariffs remove India’s disadvantage against countries like Bangladesh, while India’s scale and uniquely skilled textile products give it a strong edge in global markets. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIzhB6C8JHY

Dr Gautam Sen notes that the EU and India share a rare historical convergence of interests with no major conflicts, and together accounting for nearly 25% of global GDP, have long underperformed in trade despite their combined economic weight. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIzhB6C8JHY

Dr Gautam Sen believes that India’s strength lies in the sheer size of its labour force, arguing that low productivity rather than numbers is the real problem, since productivity, not population, ultimately determines living standards and per capita income. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIzhB6C8JHY

Dr Gautam Sen argues that the treaty effectively signals the declining relevance of the WTO, as a quarter of the global economy integrates into a single market, making such shifts inevitable despite new challenges like China using Europe as a trade platform, yet the potential gains are too significant to ignore. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIzhB6C8JHY

In this interview, Hindol Sengupta speaks with Dr Gautam Sen, political economist, on the shifting contours of global politics and economics. The conversation explores how strategic realities are reshaping Europe’s approach to India, with a focus on defence manufacturing, EV supply chains, and the broader India–EU–China dynamic. Dr Sen breaks down why India’s ability to deliver at scale across armaments, ammunition, drones, and emerging technologies matters at a time when Europe is rethinking its dependencies. The discussion also examines how the Russia–Ukraine war, Europe’s re-armament push, and geopolitical competition with China are forcing a more pragmatic recalibration in Europe’s posture toward India, moving beyond rhetoric to hard strategic interests. 📌 Topics covered include: - India–EU strategic convergence - Defence manufacturing and scale - EV supply chains and China’s role - Europe’s rearmament initiative -Geopolitics, values, and strategic realism 👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more conversations on geopolitics, political economy, and global affairs. Chapters - 0:00-1:00 Opening 1:06-10:42The India–EU trade deal could be India’s defence breakout moment 11:40-14:03 India’s defence capacity meets Europe’s political reality 14:48-25:46 Why India is central to the EU’s re-armament strategy 26:23-27:59 Why Europe’s moral posturing toward India is fading 28:00-28:30 Closing #indiaeu #geopolitics #politicaleconomy #china #russiaukrainewar #foreignpolicy #internationalrelations #globaleconomy #indiaeutrade

Come Carpentier explains that despite being banned, repressed, and violently targeted since the mid-20th century, the Muslim Brotherhood survived, expanded, briefly came to power after Egypt’s 2011 revolution, and has only been defeated through military coups—reflecting its deep grassroots appeal rooted in popular discontent with pro-Western regimes. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqC3OR8Iy8o

Come Carpentier argues that Jamaat does not take principled positions, instead acting opportunistically in what it sees as the interests of Bangladesh and the Muslim Ummah, aligning with Pakistan, being pragmatic toward China, and remaining unpredictable in its future actions. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqC3OR8Iy8o