CISS Team

In a long diplomatic career of thirty six years, from 1970 to 2006, which culminated in senior Ambassadorial positions, he also served at the United Nations, both in New York and Vienna, and in Washington D.C, London, Paris and Brussels. In the course of professional work he delivered lectures and speeches on various current affairs issues in seminars, conferences and symposia in national and international forum. He also participates and appears on TV and electronic media, both in Pakistan and abroad. After serving as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Austria and the IAEA, he was appointed Member (Chairman’s Advisory Council) in the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), and functioned as Adviser to the Chairman PAEC on International Affairs, with particular focus on IAEA matters.

Ambassador Naqvi is presently serving as the founding Executive Director of the Center. Established in October 2010, The Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) is an independent and autonomous think-tank for research and analysis of current regional and international strategic issues from a Pakistani perspective. It also aims to contribute to the national and international discourse, and thus create greater understanding between Pakistan and other countries.

Other Engagements:

Serving as Distinguished Visiting Fellow (DVF) in the National Defence University, Islamabad since August 2010.

Associated with other Pakistani Research Institutes since November 2009.

Appointed Expert on the Technical Committee of the Department of Defense and Strategic Studies (DSS) of the Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad in April 2009.

Dr. Bilal Zubair has worked as an Assistant Professor at the National Defence University Islamabad and Lecturer at the National University of Science and Technology. He holds a Ph.D. and M. Phil. in International Relations from Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad. Dr. Zubair is author of the book Chinese Soft Power and Public Diplomacy in the United States (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024) and contributed to several journal articles and book chapters focusing on soft power, diplomacy, and China’s role in international relations.

His research has been published in various academic journals, and he has presented at international conferences Dr. Zubair has also been an active reviewer and editorial board member. His professional interests include great power politics, and the role of communication in global diplomacy.

Dr. Muhammadi is Associate Director Research at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) Islamabad. He holds a Ph.D. in Politics & International Relations from the School of International Relations and Public Affairs (SIRPA), Shanghai International Studies University (SISU), Shanghai, PR China.

Before joining CISS, he served as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Politics and International Studies, Karakoram International University, Gilgit, Pakistan. He has also served more than six years with the District Administration Department Government of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

His research areas and interests include China-South Asia Relations, Belt & Road Initiative/CPEC, Non-Traditional Security, Foreign policy analysis, Pakistan’s Nuclear Program and Policy, Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technology, and Emerging Technologies.

His research articles have been published in international and national peer review journals. He also writes opinions/articles for various online platforms and dailies, including the National Interest, Daily Times, World Geostrategic Insights, Global Village Space (GVS), and Eurasia Review.

Dr Rahat Iqbal is Associate Director Research at the Center for International Strategic Studies, Islamabad. She has pursued her doctorate in the field of strategic studies from department of International Relations, University of Peshawar. Besides her doctorate she has also gained sufficient experience in project/program design, planning, research, monitoring and evaluation in both humanitarian, health, education and development scenarios. Apart from that she has excellent interpersonal, communication, motivational, conflict management and resolution skills with informed decision-making abilities. She has her interest in the areas of nuclear studies, arms control and disarmament, foreign policy, strategic studies, national security etc.

Ms Anum A. Khan is Associate Director Research at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) Islamabad. She has worked with Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division as an International Relations Analyst at the Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs Branch. She is currently enrolled in Ph. D program of Defence and Diplomatic Studies at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad and is a visiting Ph.D. scholar at the School of History, Politics and International Relations at the University of Leicester, UK. She holds an M.Phil Degree in Strategic and Nuclear Studies from National Defence University, Islamabad and BS (Hon’s) in Media and Communication Studies from International Islamic University, Islamabad. Her areas of interests include issues related to Deterrence and Strategic Stability, Non-Proliferation, Nuclear Export Control Cartels including Nuclear Suppliers Group, Arms Control and Disarmament.

Dr. Anum Riaz is the Associate Director Research at the Center for International Strategic Studies, Islamabad. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the Department of Political Science at Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. She also possesses M.Phil. and M.Sc. degrees from the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. Additionally, she has taught BS and Master’s students at the Department of Political Science at Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. Her areas of interest include strategic studies, international relations, international nuclear politics, the nuclear non-proliferation regime, arms control and disarmament, as well as traditional and non-traditional security issues.

Yasir Hussain is serving as Associate Director Research at CISS. He holds an M. Phil Degree in International Relations from School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad. Yasir is also a former South Asia Fellow at Stimson Center US, where he presented India and Pakistan’s cases for Nuclear Suppliers Group Membership. Prior to that, he has represented Pakistan in Turkey. He was offered Turkish President’s office of diplomacy fellowship. His research contributions have been published in leading national and international dailies including, The News, Express Tribune, China’s leading newspaper, Global Times and The Hill. His research areas include Nuclear Dynamics in South Asia and issues related to nuclear non-proliferation.

Mr. Ahsan holds an M. Phil degree from the School of Politics and International Relations at the Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad. His research interests are strategic studies, nuclear non-proliferation, modern warfare, and technology. His work has been published in many national and international newspapers, and magazines.

Mr. Hasan Ehtisham is Research Fellow at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) Islamabad. He holds an M. Phil degree in Strategic Studies from QAU. His analytical research work contributes to the topics of geopolitics, terrorism, conflict resolution, military strategies, Pakistan’s nuclear strategy, non-proliferation regime, arms control, and disarmament.

Muhammad Shakir is Research Fellow at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS). He holds M.Sc. degree in Strategic & Nuclear Studies, from the National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad. His areas of interests include Arms Control & Disarmament, Nonproliferation of WMDs, and Nuclear Discourse in South Asia.

Ms. Tooba Mansoor is Research Fellow at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS). She holds M.Phil Degree in International Relations from Quaid–e–Azam University Islamabad. Her areas of interest are Arms Control & Disarmament, Nonproliferation and Counter Proliferation.

Ms Amna Saqib is Research Officer at the Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad. She holds an M.Phil degree in International Relations from National Defense University (NDU), Islamabad. She has worked as Visiting Faculty member at SPIR, QAU Islamabad, and NDU, Islamabad and she has also been an intern at Arms Control Disarmament Affairs, Directorate of Pakistan’s Strategic Plan Division. Her area of interests include Foreign Policies of Major Powers, International Security, Global Nuclear Politics and Nuclear Strategies. She contributes articles to the National dailies on issues of her interest.

Ms Maryyum Masood is Research Officer at the Center. She holds a BS degree in Defense and Diplomatic Studies from Fatima Jinnah Women University. Her seminar paper was titled “Geopolitics of South China Sea.” Her research interests are nuclear policy and development in South Asia. She regularly publishes on contemporary issues in prominent newspapers and magazines.

Abdul Moiz Khan works with CISS as Research Officer. He previously worked as Research and Teaching Assistant at School of Politics and IR, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. He has Bachelors in Political Science from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. He also wrote research articles for BASIC, UK based think tank. His research interests include Emerging Technologies, Strategic Stability, Military Modernization, Strategic Doctrine and South Asia.

Murad Ali is Research Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) Islamabad. He received his M.Phil in international relations from the University of Peshawar and M.S. in international relations from the National Defence University Islamabad. Prior to joining CISS, he worked as a lecturer in the University of Swabi’s department of peace and conflict studies, where he is credited for establishing international relations as a distinct field of study under the purview of the department of peace and conflict studies. His research work focuses on international security, strategic stability, nuclear studies, foreign policy, and weapons control and disarmament.

Mr. Baig is a Research Officer. He holds a degree of Master of Philosophy from Defence and Strategic Studies (DSS) department, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. His experiences are related to military modernization, domestic and international security, and fifth-generation warfare.

He has multiple publications of research papers and opinion articles. His various issues focus on emerging technologies and their impact on conventional and nuclear deterrence, arms control and disarmament, Indian military modernization, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Mobeen Jafar Mir is Research Officer at the Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad, Pakistan (2022-Present). He holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations from National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad. Prior to joining CISS, he served as Research Assistant at Islamabad Policy Institute (IPI). His research areas include Pakistan’s foreign policy, defence, emerging non-traditional security threats and human rights. He regularly writes for national and international newspapers.

Mr. Fakhar Alam is Research Officer at the Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad. He holds a bachelor’s (BS) degree in Strategic and Nuclear Studies from National Defence University, Islamabad. Before joining CISS, he has been an intern at the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad. His research interests are Arms control and Disarmament, Non-Proliferation Regime, South Asian Strategic Stability and Revolution in Military Affairs.

Syed Ali Abbas is a Research Officer/Communication Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad. Previously, he served as an associate editor at Indus News Network. His areas of interest include Middle East politics, military modernization, foreign policy, and nuclear politics. He has contributed to various platforms, including The National Interest, South Asian Voices, and others.

Browse Categories

Subscribe to Updates

CISS TEAM

Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi

Dr Bilal Zubair

Research Team

Dr Muhammadi

Dr Rahat Iqbal

Ms Anum A. Khan

Dr Anum Riaz

Mr Yasir Hussain

Mr Ahsan Ali Zahid

Mr Hassan Ehtisham

Mr Muhammad Shakir

Mr Ahmed Khan

Ms Tooba Mansoor

Ms Amna Saqib

Ms Maryyum Masood

Mr Abdul Moiz Khan

Mr Murad Ali

Mr Muhammad Ali Baig

Mr Mobeen Jafar Mir

Mr Fakhar Alam

Mr Syed Ali Abbas

Ms Shahwana Binte Sohail

Mr Muhammad Umar

Mr Malik Muhammad Kashif

Ms Anam Murad Khan

Ms Zamzam Channa

Mr Haseeb Riaz

Mr Hamza Zaman

Ms Nawal Nawaz

Ms Zahra Sadiq

ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM

Cdr Iqbal Ali Mirza

Mr Muhammad Saleem

Mr Shahid Wasim Malik

Mr Muhammad Arif

Ms Shamsa Kanwal

Mr Shujah Masood

CISS

Center for International Strategic Studies

Center for International Strategic Studies, 43-Orchard Boulevard, Chak Shehzad, Islamabad, Pakistan

Tel: +92-51-8315410-423 Fax: +92-51-6132518

Center for International Strategic Studies. All Rights Reserved.