Center for International Strategic Studies
Ms. Summaiya Malik is a Research Assistant at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS). She holds an MPhil degree in International Relations from National Defense University, Islamabad and has previously worked under ISSRA, NDU as a researcher. Her research interests are peaceful use of nuclear technology, Strategic stability in South Asia, Foreign and Defense Policy Affairs of Pakistan. She has published on various contemporary issues in CGSS Writer’s Column.
Ayesha Abbasi is working as a Senior Research Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad. Her fields of interest include geopolitics (with a special focus on U.S. foreign policy), international security, nuclear politics, nuclear strategy, arms control/disarmament, environmental security, and climate change. Previously, she has worked with Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division as an International Relations Analyst at the Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs Branch. She continues to contribute to national dailies on issues of her interest. Abbasi holds an M. Phil degree in Strategic and Nuclear Studies from National Defence University, and a Bachelors of Science degree in Environmental Science from Bahria University, Islamabad.
Ms. Maryyum Masood is a Research Officer at the Center. She holds a B.Sc. 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.
Syed Sadam Hussain Shah is working as a Research Assistant at CISS. His research focuses on International Cyber, Technology and Nuclear Policy issues. He has participated in a Track-2 dialogue on South Asian Strategic Stability in Istanbul. His research has been published in leading international journals and think tanks including the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, CSIS Washington D.C., and Anthology Series for Strategic Studies Canada. He has presented papers at the Shanghai University in China and Karadeniz Teknik University in Turkey. He is currently working as a review editor for the Journal of Politics and Sustainability. He graduated from National Defence University, Islamabad with an MSc in International Relations.
Mr. Samran Ali is a Research Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad. He has studied at the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. His areas of interest include nuclear arms control and non-proliferation, nuclear and strategic issues, emerging technologies, strategic capabilities, as well as conventional arms in South Asia. He has published in various issues of the CISS Insight journal. He has also written in national and international publications including South Asian Voices, The National Interest, The Express Tribune, CSCR Islamabad, Hilal, etc. He is also part of the CTBTO-CENESS Research Fellowship 2022.
Riaz Khokhar is a research officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad, Pakistan (2018-present). He was also an Asia Studies Visiting Fellow at the East-West Center in Washington in 2019. His research interests are geopolitics and strategy, foreign policy, nuclear politics, and strategic stability issues in South Asia. His analysis has appeared in peer-reviewed journals CISS Insight and the Asia Pacific Issues, and opinion platforms, including Atlantic Council’s South Asia Source, Stimson Center’s South Asian Voices, The National Interest, The Diplomat, Asia Pacific Bulletin, The News International, Newsweek Pakistan, and 9Dashline. He has also made speaking engagements at a public seminar in East-West Center in Washington and webinars of Stimson Center and Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs.
Ms. Afeera Firdous is a Associate Research Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) Islamabad. She holds an M. Phil degree in Strategic Studies from National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad. Her M. Phil thesis was on “Counter-terrorism in Cyberspace: Comparative Analysis of Pakistan and India”. Her research interests include counter-extremism, counter-terrorism, cyber and information warfare.
Sufian Ullah is currently working as a Senior Research Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS). He holds an M.Phil degree in Strategic & Nuclear Studies, from National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad. His areas of interest include the nuclear policies of various nuclear weapons States and the geo-politics in the Indian Ocean Region. His current work investigates the developing naval competition among regional States and also the emerging dynamics of sea-based nuclear deterrence in South Asia.
Maimuna Ashraf is working as a Research Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) Islamabad, Pakistan. She is a former Visiting Fellow at South Asian Voices (SAV), the Stimson Center in Washington D.C. Previously, she was associated with an Islamabad based think-tank, Strategic Vision Institute (SVI), Islamabad as Senior Research Associate. Ms. Ashraf has been participating in national as well as international certificate courses/trainings on areas of her research that includes nuclear nonproliferation, arms control, weapons of mass destruction and nuclear doctrines/postures with special reference to South Asia. She presented her research work at international workshops/seminars including Atlantic Council, Stimson Center and European Union Nonproliferation and Disarmament Consortium. She also has been a coordinator and contributor for various national conferences/seminars. She holds an M.Phil. in International Relations from Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. Her M.Phil. dissertation focused on Nuclear Disaster Management in Pakistan. Her writings have appeared in The National Interest, South Asian Voices, CISS Strategic Insight, International Policy Digest, The News International and various dailies on issues of her interest.
Muhammad Sarmad Zia is a Research Fellow at the Centre of International Strategic Studies (CISS). He is also the Assistant Editor of the Center’s Bi-annual Journal CISS Insight. He holds an M.Phil. Degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from Quaid-i-Azam University. His areas of interest include foreign and defence policies of global and regional powers, nuclear strategy and stability, arms control and nonproliferation policy. His MPhil thesis is titled ‘Russia’s Defence Policy: A case-study of Putin Era (1999-2016)’. He has previously interned at the Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs Directorate of Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division, worked at Dawn News as a trainee sub-editor and interned at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis (ISSRA) at the National Defence University (NDU). He writes opinion pieces in newspapers and runs an online blog on regional and international strategic issues. He can be reached at sarmad.ciss@gmail.com
Mr. Yasir Mehmood is Active Director (AD) Finance & Administration / H.R Coordinator at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) Islamabad, Pakistan, where he deals with administration matters, human resource and financial reports and responsible for audit, monitoring, upgrading and tax compliance. He has experience of different projects as research associate, an organizer of SME and Entrepreneurship, Participated as a presenter in Marketing Presentation Gala (MPG) and also organized 3rd National Universities of Modern Languages (NUML) job fair.
Mr. Mehmood holds Masters in Business Administration. His career appointment includes Soneri Bank Limited, as an Operation Officer, Askari Bank Limited as a Personal Financial Consultant. His areas of specialization are: Branch Banking, Commercial Banking, Credit Analysis, Risk Management, Employee Orientation, Operational Excellence, Organizational Charts management, Employee Relations, Development & Implementation of Accounts, Administration and HR Policies and Procedures. He is currently pursuing his M.Phil in Management Sciences.
Ms. Huma Rehman is currently working as an Associate Director at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) Islamabad, Pakistan, where she works on various aspects of Strategic security issues; International Security, Nuclear/Missile Proliferation, WMD Terrorism, Arms Control/Disarmament, Conflict management and Resolution. Among her academic degrees, she holds M.Phil degree in Defense and Strategic Studies from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. She has also completed her fellowship at Monterey Institute International Studies (MIIS) on Nuclear Non-Proliferation Studies, California-US. She also worked as a research fellow at Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque-New Mexico-US. She has received a certificate on Nuclear Safeguards Policy Middlebury Institute International Studies (MIIS) on Nuclear Non-Proliferation Studies, California-US. She has also taught Strategic Studies courses as a Visiting Lecturer in Islamabad University. Ms. Rehman has been part of internationally arranged track two programs between Pakistan and India. She contributes articles, and book reviews in ‘CISS Insight’ on South Asian and international strategic issues. She also writes in Newspapers and participates in Television Talk Shows.
Ms. Saima Aman Sial is working as a Senior Research Officer and expert in strategic issues at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad. She is also the associate editor of CISS Insight, a biannual journal of the Center. Aman is a former Nonproliferation Fellow the Center for Nonproliferation Studies Monterey California, Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Education Center, South Korea and Sandia National Laboratories, USA. She has an M.Phil in Strategic Studies from National Defence University. Her dissertation related to “Evolution of Pakistan’s Naval Strategic Thought: For an assured second strike Capability”. She has participated in several national as well as international certificate courses/trainings on nuclear science and technology, safety and security of radioactive sources, nonproliferation and arms control, Chemical weapons Convention (assistance and protection) and nuclear disarmament.
Previously, she served as a research coordinator and Senior Research Associate in Center for Pakistan and Gulf Studies and Strategic Technology Resources respectively. She has an experience of working with Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division as an Assistant Director – Research in its Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs Directorate for some years. She has conducted research on a variety of subjects including nuclear strategy, doctrines, safety and security, command and control systems, multilateral export controls, Indian Ocean geostrategy, arms control and nonproliferation policy with special reference to South Asia.
She is a frequent contributor in national and international conferences relating to strategic issues, including being a part of India-Pakistan Track II engagements. She also contributes in national dailies on South Asian deterrence, nonproliferation, export control and nuclear policy issues and has been adjunct faculty at Bahria University Islamabad.
Syed Muhammad Ali is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad. Pakistan. He is widely published, interviewed and quoted on geopolitical, strategic, nuclear and security issues, both nationally and internationally. He is a frequent participant in various international Track-2 engagements and regular commentator at policy forums, thinks tank and universities on strategic and nuclear issues. Earlier, he has taught Dimensions of Modern Strategy, Foreign Policy Analysis and Comparative Politics at the National Defence University and served as a Course Coordinator and member of the NDU disciplinary committee. He designed and introduced over 30 new courses, which are currently being taught at M.Sc, M.Phil and PhD levels and also reviewed Higher Education Commission’s curriculum of International Relations. He also teaches at the Foreign Service Academy of Pakistan and has a rich and diverse international exposure of both government and multinational organizations. Earlier, he has served as a correspondent at the Voice of America at its Washington, D.C headquarters and Pakistan Television Ltd., Islamabad, respectively. He has also served as Controller at the Cross Media Ltd., a London-based Japanese media company and auditor/consultant at the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), world’s largest consultancy firm. His diverse portfolio at the PwC included some of the world’s leading energy giants like Shell, Schlumberger, OMV, Premier Oil, large telecom companies such as Ericsson, PTCL and private organizations such as Agha Khan Foundation and GIK Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology.
Dr. Mansoor Ahmed is a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) Islamabad, Pakistan. He is a former Stanton Junior Faculty Fellow (2015-16) and Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2016-18) with the Managing the Atom Project/International Security Program at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center. He was also an MTA Associate for 2018-2019.
Previously, he was a Visiting Research Scholar at the Cooperative Monitoring Center, Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M., USA in 2013.
He has also served as a Lecturer in the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies (DSS), Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad from 2011 to 2015, and as Visiting Faculty in the Department of Strategic and Nuclear Studies, National Defence University, Islamabad from 2009-2011.
Before joining the academia, he worked in the Pakistan Audit and Accounts Service from July 2003 to January 2011.
Dr. Ahmed holds a PhD in International Relations from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. His research interests include various aspects of Pakistani and Indian nuclear programs and policies; fissile materials, non-proliferation, arms control and strategic stability issues with special reference to South Asia. His research work has been published by the Belfer Center, the Stimson Center, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.
Mr. Zawar Haider Abidi is a former military officer. He has served in Pakistan Army for over 26 years on various assignments. He has also served in Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs Branch Strategic Plans Division, secretariat of the Pakistan National Command Authority from October 2001 to Nov 2012. He has been a visiting fellow at the Henry L. Stimson Center, Washington D.C, USA (2003), and a visiting fellow at the James Martin Center for Non-proliferation Studies, Monterey, California, USA. (2010).
He has been an expert consultant supporting United Nation Security Council (UNSC) 1540 Committee for a period of five years from November 2012 to Nov 2017 to monitor the implementation of UNSC resolution 1540 by the UN Member States.
While in Pakistan Army he has been on the faculty of number of training institutions. In Arms Control and Disarmament Branch SPD he has worked on issues related to non-proliferation, arms control, strategic trade management, research and outreach. He has been part of inter-agency groups responsible for, drafting Pakistan’s Export Control Act 2004, designing and establishment of Strategic Export Control Division of Pakistan, compilation of Pakistan’s National Control List and an inter-agency group developing the architecture for deployment of Radiological Portal Monitors on all land, air and sea border crossing for exercising effective border control. Zawar Haider Abidi has served as visiting faculty at the Defence and Strategic Studies Department at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad (2008). He has participated in number of international conferences, seminars and workshops on non-proliferation and strategic trade management.
Due to his stay at United States as an Expert Consultant supporting UNSC 1540 Committee he has a unique experience in implementation of WMD non-proliferation in general and UNSC resolution 1540 in particular, at the global level. He has participated in number of international conferences, seminars and workshops on non-proliferation and strategic trade management. He has an in-depth understanding and knowledge of implementing laws and regulations with regard to CWC, BWC, NPT and their means of delivery of twenty-three UN Member States of Asian Region including the SAARC Member States.
Dr. Syed Javaid Khurshid is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS). His special interest is in Nuclear Knowledge Management, Nuclear Energy, Climate Change, and Nuclear Techniques for achieving SDGs, Science, Nuclear, and BioDiplomacy. His expertise is in the Mitigation and Control of CBRN. He is Secretary National Member Organization, IIASA Laxenburg, Austria. He is Member Technical Committee of HEC-MoFA Internal Compliance Committee on Export Control Laws. Dr. Javaid is a Fellow of the Chemical & Nuclear Society of Pakistan and also served as President of Pakistan Nuclear Society from 2016-2018.
Dr. Javaid is an approved Ph.D. supervisor of the Higher Education Commission (HEC). He is a member of Editorial/Advisory Board of the Journal of Center for International Strategic Studies, Journal of Bioterrorism & Biodefence, Journal of Security & Strategic Analyses and Global Affairs Magazine. He is also an Associate Editor of the Journal of JPMS, USA. He has 73 publications in international/national journals, 12 international proceedings, 02 National Guidelines, 15 research reports, 25 articles, 66 presentations. He is listed as Productive Scientists of Pakistan with an Impact Factor of 196 and Google Scholar Citation of 220. He has been a visiting faculty at several Pakistani Universities.
Dr. Javaid worked for Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) for 40 years in different capacities as Consultant/Advisor/Director General/Director of Planning, Development & Projects Coordination, Director Biosciences. As Director Biosciences from 1999-2006 he has developed 9 cancer hospitals. He is an expert on Project Planning, Preparation, Management, Monitoring & Evaluation. He was Project Director of Development and Monitoring cell at P&D. He was Director at Large of Planning Management Institute, PA USA (Islamabad Chapter).
He was a member of the Inter-ministerial committee of Biological Weapon Control MoFA, Government of Pakistan. Presented Pakistan as a technical expert to UN meetings on Biological Weapon Convention (BWC) and a State Party representative to UN on BWC meetings & helped in making the legislation on dual-use products.
He worked as an Executive Secretary of prestigious Abdus Salam International Nathiagali Summer College from 2006-2016 and Founder Member of Friends of ICTP. He helped disseminate knowledge & motivate research teams by arranging College every year on Cutting Edge Technologies with the support of Abdus Salaam International Centre of Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy, US-National Science Foundation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Centre of European Nuclear Research (CERN).
Brigadier (Retired) Dr. Naeem Salik is a Ph.D. in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Western Australia. He holds a Master’s in International Politics and Strategic Studies from the University of Wales, UK and a Master’s in History from the Punjab University. He has been a visiting fellow at the Stimson Centre, Stanford University, Brookings Institution and School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.
He has served in the Pakistan Army in a variety of assignments for 33 years including a fairly long tenure as Director Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs at the Strategic Plans Division. He has taught post-graduate courses at the Department of Defence & Strategic Studies at the Quaid-i-Azam University from 1994 to 2005. He also taught Masters and M Phil courses at the Strategic & Nuclear Studies Department at National Defence University, Islamabad.
He has attended numerous international conferences and track-2 initiatives and has published over 30 research articles and book chapters on strategic and security issues. His book ‘Genesis of South Asian Nuclear Deterrence’ was published by the Oxford University Press in 2009. His second book on “Learning to Live with The Bomb – Pakistan 1998-2016” came out in 2017 and is a valuable addition to the subject. He is working as a Senior Research Fellow at CISS, Islamabad.
Iftikhar Uddin Hasan is the Editor of biannual journal of the center CISS Insight. He is also the Research Coordinator at the center. Apart from his editorial responsibilities, he also supervises and guides researchers to ensure that work done by the research team meet the necessary requirements.
He has an experience of working as the Editor of Pakistan Army Journal and Pakistan Defence Review, published by Pakistan Army for over three years. Hasan has a long teaching experience in Pakistan’s military institutions spread over several decades. He also has to his credit the establishment and management of a school system for low-paid industrial workers in the KPK.
Ms. Sabeen Malik is a Research Assistant at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS). She holds an M. Phil degree in International Relations from National Defence University, Islamabad. Her research interests include Pakistan’s Foreign Policy Affairs, Geopolitics in Indian Ocean, Non-traditional Security, and Climate Change. Her M. Phil’s dissertation was on “Climate Change Policy Responses: A Comparative Analysis of India and Pakistan”. She also contributes opinion articles in prominent newspapers and magazines.
Mr. Saadain Gardezi is a Research Intern at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS). He is a student of Bachelors in Strategic Studies at National Defence University, Islamabad. His research interests include Traditional and Non-Traditional Security Paradigms and the strategic implications of the rise of China and Russia in Eurasian and the Global World Order.
Mr Baig holds a Masters degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. He has research experience at Pak-Afghan Youth Forum (PAYF), Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR), Islamabad and Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Rawalpindi. His experiences are related to domestic and international security, foreign policy, fifth-generation warfare and global human rights practices.
He has multiple publications on various issues such as Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, arms control and disarmament, Indian military modernization, emerging technologies and their impact on conventional and nuclear deterrence.
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 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.
Syed Ali Abbas is Research Assistant at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) Islamabad, Pakistan. He is also the Co-Founding Editor of Global Defense Insight, an online defense media forum. Previously, Syed worked as associate editor at Indus News Network. His area of interests are Middle East Politics, Foreign Policy, and Nuclear Politics. He writes on various platforms in areas of his interests.
Mr. Fakhar Alam is working as a 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.
Saliha Mehboob is working with Center for International Security Studies (CISS). She holds an MPhil degree from the department of School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. Her MPhil thesis is hinged on ‘Environmental Politics, Regimes and Global Governance’. Previously, she was engaged with diverse research undertakings being a part of Senate Secretariat and academia. Apart from other domains of International Relations, she is keen to dive head-first into research ventures along the lines of Nuclear and Strategic Stability, Emerging Technologies, Nuclear Regimes and Cartels, Non-Traditional Security Threats, Economics of Defence.
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.
Murad Ali is currently working as research officer at center for international strategic studies (CISS) Islamabad. He did Mphil in international relations from the University of Peshawar and MSC in international Relations from National Defense University Islamabad. Before joining CISS, he also served as lecturer in the department of peace and conflict studies at University of Swabi where he is also credited to launch International Relations as a seperate discipline under the umbrella of the department of peace and conflict Studies. His research work focuses on the areas of strategic stability, nuclear studies, foreign policy, arms control and disarmament and international security.
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.
Dr. Muhammadi is an Associate Director 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 currently working as an Associate Director in Center for International Strategic Studies. 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.
Muhammad Shakir is working as a 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 Rizwan is a Research Intern at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS). She is a student of Bachelors in Strategic Studies at National Defence University, Islamabad. Her research interests include the Global Non-Proliferation Regime & US-China geopolitics with special focus on their implications on South Asia.
Mr. Yasir Hussain is working as a Research Fellow at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS). He is former South Asia Fellow at Stimson Center Washington DC. He was also a Youth Ambassador to Turkey. He holds an M.Phil. degree in International Relations from Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad. His areas of interest include, Arms Control and Disarmament, Maritime Nuclear Dynamics, and Nuclear Nonproliferation. His articles have been published by leading national and international dailies.
Ms. Tooba Mansoor is working as a 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.
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 working as a Research Fellow at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS). 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.
Ms. Tooba Ghaffar is an Assistant Researcher at the Center. She holds a B.A.(Hons) in International Relations. Her primary interest area is Indo-Pak security relations with a special focus on the nuclear deterrence. Her undergrad research involved exploring nuclear deterrence with the lens of stability-instability paradox. She frequently writes on her subject for prominent newspapers.
Mr. Sajid Aziz is working as a Research Officer at CISS. He holds a Master’s degree in Defense and Strategic Studies (DSS) from Quaid-I-Azam University. His Master’s seminar paper was “Oslo Accords: Prelude to a Durable Peace or Palestinian Capitulation?” His areas of interest include the politics of Middle East, security, strategic and foreign policy issues.
Dr. Farooque Ahmed Leghari is presently serving as a Visiting Research Fellow at Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS). He has recently finished his PhD in Strategic and Security Studies on “The role of nuclear deterrence in Pakistan’s strategic policy towards India” from School of History, Politics and Strategy, National University of Malaysia. He is presently serving as a lecturer at Department of International Relations at University of Sindh, Jamshoro, since April, 2010. Before joining the university, he had worked with Dawn News and SAMAA TV. He has various publications in international and Pakistani research journals to his credit. He frequently appears on electronic media and shares his analysis on international issues.
Ms. Amna Saqib is a 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.
In a long diplomatic career of thirty six years, from 1970 to 2006, which culminated in senior Ambassadorial positions, 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 many institutions. He has also participated in discussions on various national and international issues and questions on TV and electronic media, both in Pakistan and abroad. After serving as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Austria and the IAEA, 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.
Current Work
Ambassador Naqvi is presently serving as the founding Executive Director of the Center. Established in October 2010 the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) as an independent and autonomous think-tank for research and analysis of current regional and international strategic issues from a Pakistani perspective, 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.
Appointed Examiner of the Federal Public Service Commission for International Relations in June 2008.
