Caption
A flag of the United Nations flies at the United Nations Offices in Geneva on August 14, 2025. (Getty Images)
Pakistan’s most prominent human rights advocate, Asma Jahangir, discussed the country’s tumultuous social and political history and the outlook for true democratic governance.
Democracy in Pakistan suffers from enduring constraints. The country’s military and religious extremists wield disproportionate influence. Religious minorities, both Muslim and non-Muslim, face systematic discrimination. Journalists and independent television channels exercise self-censorship, while enforced disappearances continue to be carried out with impunity by security forces, particularly in Balochistan. Meanwhile, the elected government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif faces serious challenges, including charges of corruption.
On May 18, Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Husain Haqqani, Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United States, joined Asma Jahangir, Pakistan’s leading human rights lawyer and activist, for an in-depth look at the current situation in Pakistan and prospects for change.
Related Events
23
March 2026
Virtual Event | Online Only
Zimbabwe’s Land Seizures and the Road to Resolution
Featured Speakers:
Joshua Meservey
Deon Therons
Allan “Rusty” Markham
John “JT” Tomaszewski
23
March 2026
Virtual Event | Online Only
Zimbabwe’s Land Seizures and the Road to Resolution
Join Senior Fellow Joshua Meservey as he hosts a panel of experts to discuss the history of land expropriation in Zimbabwe, the status of the land compensation agenda, and how policymakers can rectify an issue that bedevils US-Zimbabwe relations.
Featured Speakers:
Joshua Meservey
Deon Therons
Allan “Rusty” Markham
John “JT” Tomaszewski
24
March 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Operation Epic Fury: Strategy, State of Play, and Theories of Victory
Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
David Albright
Can Kasapoğlu
Rebeccah L. Heinrichs
Ray Takeyh
Nadav Samin
Ilan Berman
Zineb Riboua
H.E. Yechiel Leiter
Joel Scanlon
24
March 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Operation Epic Fury: Strategy, State of Play, and Theories of Victory
This conference convenes leading experts and policymakers to examine why the conflict began, assess the current state of play, and explore competing theories of victory.
Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
David Albright
Can Kasapoğlu
Rebeccah L. Heinrichs
Ray Takeyh
Nadav Samin
Ilan Berman
Zineb Riboua
H.E. Yechiel Leiter
Joel Scanlon
25
March 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Postponed | Updating US Trade Policy: A Discussion on the Strategic and Economic Importance of Central Asia with Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA)
Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
Congressman Jimmy Panetta
25
March 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Postponed | Updating US Trade Policy: A Discussion on the Strategic and Economic Importance of Central Asia with Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA)
Please Join Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Senior Fellow Michael Doran for a discussion on the region’s significance and why updating US trade policy is key to unlocking its potential in an era of renewed great power competition.
Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
Congressman Jimmy Panetta
26
March 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
China’s Economic Slowdown: Risks, Realities, and Strategic Implications
Featured Speakers:
Thomas J. Duesterberg
Leland Miller
Moderator:
Miles Yu
26
March 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
China’s Economic Slowdown: Risks, Realities, and Strategic Implications
Join Hudson Institute for a panel that will discuss Dr. Duesterberg’s new report on the Chinese economic model and how policymakers should consider its vulnerabilities when formulating strategy to counter Beijing’s practices.
Featured Speakers:
Thomas J. Duesterberg
Leland Miller
Moderator:
Miles Yu
Related Research
Caption
Luke Coffey and Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Olga Stefanishyna at Hudson Institute on February 23, 2026.
Caption
A police officer stands near the West Kowloon court where Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai’s national security trial took place on August 28, 2025. (Getty Images)
Caption
Retired Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa, Nigeria’s minister of defense, and Mr. Brian J. Ellis, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of war for African affairs, sign a defense cooperation roadmap in Abuja, Nigeria, on January 23, 2026. (US Army)
