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. Rahat Iqbal is Associate Director Research at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad. She holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of Peshawar and brings extensive experience in research, program design, and policy analysis. Her key interests include nuclear safety and security, peaceful uses of nuclear technology, arms control, and geopolitics.

Ms. Anum A. Khan is an Associate Director at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) Islamabad. She has worked with Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division at the Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs Branch for a decade up until July 2023. She is currently enrolled in Ph. D program of Defence and Strategic Studies at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad and is a former visiting Ph.D. scholar at the School of History, Politics and International Relations at the University of Leicester, UK. She is also project staff at European Research Council-funded ‘The Third Nuclear Age Project,’ is a United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs mentor and a former CTBTO Research fellow. Her areas of interests include the nexus of emerging and new technologies with deterrence and strategic stability, nuclear export controls, policy and doctrines, civil nuclear energy, non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Maryyum Masood is serving as Research Officer and Associate Editor at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad.

She is an MPhil scholar in the Department of Strategic Studies at the National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad. Previously, she completed a BS (Hons) in Defense and Diplomatic Studies from Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU), Rawalpindi. She frequently contributes to prominent national and international forums such as South China Morning Post (SCMP), The National Interest, Inkstick Media, Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE), The News, and Pakistan Politico, among others. Her latest research paper on India’s Acquisition of Strategic Non-nuclear Weapons in the Third Nuclear Age: Implications and Way Forward For Pakistan has been published in Margalla Papers, a biannual publication of the Institute for Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis, NDU, Islamabad. Her areas of interest include maritime security, emerging technologies, arms control and non-proliferation.

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.

Mobeen Jafar Mir is a Research Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad. His research focuses on U.S. foreign policy, particularly in the areas of strategy, technology, and arms control. He is currently pursuing an M.Phil. in International Relations at the School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. He can be found on Twitter @jafar_mobeen.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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CISS TEAM

Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi

Dr Bilal Zubair

Dr Rahat Iqbal

Ms Anum A. Khan

Dr Muhammadi

Mr Yasir Hussain

Cdr Iqbal Ali Mirza​

Mr Ahsan Ali Zahid

Mr Ahmed Khan

Ms Tooba Mansoor

Mr Muhammad Shakir

Ms Amna Saqib

Ms Maryyum Masood

Mr Murad Ali

Mr Mobeen Jafar Mir

Mr Fakhar Alam

Mr Abdul Moiz Khan

Mr Muhammad Ali Baig

Mr Syed Ali Abbas

Ms Shahwana Binte Sohail

Mr Malik Muhammad Kashif

Ms Nawal Nawaz

Ms Anam Murad Khan

Mr Muhammad kumail Mehdi

Ms Areesha Manzoor

Ms Zahra Sadiq

Mr Muhammad Saleem

Mr Shahid Wasim Malik

Ms Shamsa Kanwal

Mr Muhammad Arif

Mr Shujah Masood

CISS

Center for International Strategic Studies

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

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

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