Meet Our Team
The President
Amb. Dr. Raza Muhammad
Ambassador Dr. Major General Raza Muhammad (Retd) has held various prestigious command and staff assignments. He also served as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Production. After retirement, he was appointed Ambassador of Pakistan to Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles, and Comoros. He has been Executive Director Services in the Army welfare Trust and Advisor to President National Defence University Islamabad (NDU). He is now President IPRI.
He has served in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, attended Staff Course in Germany and Peacekeeping Course for the Decision-Makers in the USA. He has been on the faculty of premier military institutions such as Pakistan Military Academy Kakul, Command and Staff College Quetta, and NDU. Since 2018 he is teaching in the Faculty of Contemporary Studies at NDU. He is a regular participant in national/ international conferences and seminars as a speaker on CPEC, Kashmir, Afghanistan, Security, and Counter-Terrorism etc.
He has done MPhil in International Relations on “Post 2014 Afghanistan: Implications for Pakistan” and Ph.D. on “CPEC and its Impact on Societal Emancipation of Pakistan and Afghanistan” from the NDU.
Publications
Executive team
Brig. (R) Dr. Raashid Wali Janjua
Director (Research & Analysis)
Educations: Civil Engineering Degree from Military College of Engineering. Graduate from Command and Staff College Quetta and National Defence University Islamabad. Masters in Security and Defence Management from Royal Military College Kingston, Canada. He has a diversified civil engineering project management
Brigadier (R) Raashid Wali Janjua, SI(M) has a diversified civil engineering project management experience spanned over 32 years (September 1982 to August 2015). He has served in various command and instructional assignments including Pakistan Military Academy and Command & Staff college. He has held the command assignments of an Infantry Brigade, Headquarter Corps Engineers, Planning Cell COAS Secretariat, Military Training Directorate and Director Works and Chief Engineer Pakistan Navy. He has also served as Director Planning and Development of Fauji Group of Companies.
He has been a regular contributor to Op Ed pages of The News, The Nation, Daily Times and Pakistan observer writing on diverse subjects like security, energy, politics, development, human security, economy and international relations. His several articles have been published in professional magazines of armed forces and NDU. He has been an editor of Command and Staff College Quetta’s professional magazine “The Citadel”. He is also a Phd scholar at NUST.
Siddique Humayun
Director (Advocacy & Communication)
Mr. Siddique Humayun is an academic, policy analyst and writer. He has worked as Communications Specialist as well as permanent faculty at NUST, where he taught courses in the discipline of Journalism.
He is a published author and analyst, his work has appeared in various local and international publications, including but not limited to Dawn, the Frontier Post and Huffington Post. Mr. Humayun has presented his views on local and international broadcast channels. He has also taught Strategic and Political Communication to incoming civil servants of Pakistan.
Mr. Humayun holds an MSc in Government and Public Policy from the National Defense University and an MS in Journalism from Columbia University, where he was the Pulitzer-Moore Scholar.
Brig. (R) Naveed Ali
Coordinator (Administration & Finance)
Education: Holds M Phil in Governance and Public Policy from National Defence University, Islamabad with distinction. Graduated from Korean National Defense University Seoul, Artillery School Chittagong Bangladesh, Command and Staff College Quetta, Artillery School Nowshera and holds Masters in War Studies & Defence Management from National Defence University Islamabad.
Brigadier Naveed Ali, (Retired) has served in various command and instructional assignments during his 31 years’ service in Pakistan Army. He has held the command assignments of a Divisional Artillery Brigade and Artillery Regiment. He has also served as Director Finance of National Defence University Islamabad.
His research interest include security, Korean Peninsula and North East Asia.
Chairs
Dr. Aneel Salman
Chair Economic Security
Dr. Aneel Salman, is Chair Economic Security at Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) Islamabad, Pakistan, He is a dynamic academician, trainer and researcher who has a multidisciplinary background in Economics, Blue Economy, Ecofeminism, Institutional Governance and Climate Change. Internationally, he has been affiliated with the Rensselaer University-USA, Harvard University-USA, Cambridge University-UK and the University of Bern-Switzerland, amongst several others. In Pakistan, he is alumni of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), and the Punjab University-Lahore. He also serves as Board of Director for Maritime Study Forum, Islamabad. He is a visiting Professor at Institut Supérieur d’Economie et de Management Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis France, Tsinghua University, Beijing, Peoples Republic of China.
Professor Salman’s work has been published in several international journals and books. He is the author of ‘Coastal Ecosystem and a People in Peril: The Story of Keti Bunder in Pakistan’ – a book that bridges the gap between research and grassroot applications viz-a-viz climate change in Pakistan. He has worked with the Federal government, private sector, defence, foreign and intelligence services as well as academia. He has been visiting faculty of Pakistan’s Foreign Service Academy, Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development, Intelligence Bureau Academy, Police College Sihala, National Defence University for the past several years. As father to a lively eleven-year-old daughter Mysha, he is hopeful about a world which is economically, socially and ecologically healthy, functional, resilient and equitable.
Maham Naweed
Chair International Law
Ms. Maham Naweed, is an international lawyer who completed her Bachelor of Laws from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and her Master of Laws from Yale Law School, USA. Previously, she was working as a Consultant(MP-III) at the International Dispute Unit of the Office of the Attorney-General for Pakistan. She has been a part of the team that has represented the Federal Government of Pakistan in historic international legal cases such as the Karkey arbitration, Reko Diq Arbitration, and national security issues with India. She has also worked at the Paris office of the international law firm, Shearman & Sterling LLP in the public international law and international arbitration group. She has taught as an Adjunct Professor at the Lahore University of Management Sciences and the Institute of Law. Her areas of interest and research expertise include public international law, particularly international human rights law, laws of conflict, and national security laws.
research team
Amb. Asif Durrani
Senior Research Fellow
Educations: M.Sc. (Chemistry) from University of Balochistan and MA (International Studies & Diplomacy) from School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London
Amb Asif Durrani joined Foreign Service in 1986, Served at Headquarters as Section Officer (1988-89 & 1994-95); Director (UN) and Director (Disarmament) (1997 & 2004-5); Director General (UN) (2011-12); and Additional Secretary (FA) President’s Secretariat (2012-13) Held various diplomatic assignments in Pakistan Missions in New Delhi (1990-94), Tehran (1998-2001), New York (2001-04), Kabul (2005-09), and London (2009-11); Ambassador of Pakistan to UAE (2014-16) and Permanent Representative at International Renewal Energy Agency (IRENA), Abu Dhabi; and Ambassador of Pakistan to Tehran & Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Tehran (2016-18) Retired in July 2018. Lectured in Columbia University, Hofstra College New York, IISS London, RUSI London, Chatham House London, National Defense College Kabul, National Defense University Tehran, National Defense University (NDU) Islamabad; National Management College (NMC) Lahore. Appears on National and International electronic media as analyst on regional issues; regular contributor to newspapers. Currently serving as Senior Research Fellow in Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), He is married with four children.
Amb Asif Durrani joined Foreign Service in 1986, Served at Headquarters as Section Officer (1988-89 & 1994-95); Director (UN) and Director (Disarmament) (1997 & 2004-5); Director General (UN) (2011-12); and Additional Secretary (FA) President’s Secretariat (2012-13) Held various diplomatic assignments in Pakistan Missions in New Delhi (1990-94), Tehran (1998-2001), New York (2001-04), Kabul (2005-09), and London (2009-11); Ambassador of Pakistan to UAE (2014-16) and Permanent Representative at International Renewal Energy Agency (IRENA), Abu Dhabi; and Ambassador of Pakistan to Tehran & Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Tehran (2016-18) Retired in July 2018. Lectured in Columbia University, Hofstra College New York, IISS London, RUSI London, Chatham House London, National Defense College Kabul, National Defense University Tehran, National Defense University (NDU) Islamabad; National Management College (NMC) Lahore. Appears on National and International electronic media as analyst on regional issues; regular contributor to newspapers. Currently serving as Senior Research Fellow in Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), He is married with four children.
Khalid Hussain
Research Fellow (RF)
Educations: PhD (in progress), International Relations-IR, School of Politics and International Relations (SPIR), Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad
MPhil, International Relations-IR, SPIR, QAU, Islamabad
MSc, Defence and Strategic Studies (DSS), QAU, Islamabad
Area of Research: International Relations & Lawfare (with particular emphasis on Foreign and Defence Policy of the United States of America (USA), Decision Making/Foreign Policy Models, Geopolitics, and Inter-state Relations (especially between Pakistan-US, US-India, India-China, and US-China).
Mr. Khalid Hussain has been working as Research Fellow (RF) at Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) since December 2016. Previously, he had joined IPRI as Assistant Research Officer (ARO) and was then promoted as Research Officer (RO). Before joining IPRI, he worked in different capacities, i.e. Media Analyst and Junior Analyst in the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Pakistan, which gave him practical insight in the research and analysis. Khalid has over a decade experience in “Research and Analysis”, “Coordination”, and “Strategic Messaging & Outreach”.
He is a Near East South Asia-NESA ALUMNUS from Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University (NDU), Washington, D.C., USA. He has extensively travelled and participated in roundtables/closed moots, conferences/seminars, workshops and dialogues/plenaries in the United Kingdom (UK), Italy, China, Turkey, Jordan, Oman and Morocco.
He has to his credit numerous published research papers, co-authored “Introduction” Book Chapters and book reviews. Khalid regularly contributes Op-eds/articles on current strategic issues in English dailies/online source of Pakistan/abroad.
Apart from research and analysis, he has a plenty of hands-on experience of editing/proof reading coupled with event coordination/management, i.e. holding national and international Seminar/Conferences/Dialogues/Workshops, conducting delegations, report writing, and preparing press releases. He had remained Assistant Editor of IPRI Journal (HEC recognized, refereed and internationally indexed Journal) and IPRI Fact-File. He remained Editor IPRI Web-site and IPRI Newsletter/Update, and also a Co-editor of IPRI Books.
He holds a certificate on “Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methodologies” in a workshop conducted by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Islamabad. Khalid is an avid reader.
MPhil, International Relations-IR, SPIR, QAU, Islamabad
MSc, Defence and Strategic Studies (DSS), QAU, Islamabad
Area of Research: International Relations & Lawfare (with particular emphasis on Foreign and Defence Policy of the United States of America (USA), Decision Making/Foreign Policy Models, Geopolitics, and Inter-state Relations (especially between Pakistan-US, US-India, India-China, and US-China).
Mr. Khalid Hussain has been working as Research Fellow (RF) at Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) since December 2016. Previously, he had joined IPRI as Assistant Research Officer (ARO) and was then promoted as Research Officer (RO). Before joining IPRI, he worked in different capacities, i.e. Media Analyst and Junior Analyst in the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Pakistan, which gave him practical insight in the research and analysis. Khalid has over a decade experience in “Research and Analysis”, “Coordination”, and “Strategic Messaging & Outreach”.
He is a Near East South Asia-NESA ALUMNUS from Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University (NDU), Washington, D.C., USA. He has extensively travelled and participated in roundtables/closed moots, conferences/seminars, workshops and dialogues/plenaries in the United Kingdom (UK), Italy, China, Turkey, Jordan, Oman and Morocco.
He has to his credit numerous published research papers, co-authored “Introduction” Book Chapters and book reviews. Khalid regularly contributes Op-eds/articles on current strategic issues in English dailies/online source of Pakistan/abroad.
Apart from research and analysis, he has a plenty of hands-on experience of editing/proof reading coupled with event coordination/management, i.e. holding national and international Seminar/Conferences/Dialogues/Workshops, conducting delegations, report writing, and preparing press releases. He had remained Assistant Editor of IPRI Journal (HEC recognized, refereed and internationally indexed Journal) and IPRI Fact-File. He remained Editor IPRI Web-site and IPRI Newsletter/Update, and also a Co-editor of IPRI Books.
He holds a certificate on “Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methodologies” in a workshop conducted by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Islamabad. Khalid is an avid reader.
Tanzeela Khalil
Research Fellow (RF)
Designation: Research Fellow
Tanzeela Khalil is a Research Fellow at Islamabad Policy Research Institute. She holds a M. Phil degree in Strategic and Nuclear Studies from the National Defense University (NDU), Pakistan. Prior to joining IPRI, she was serving as Assistant Director (Research) at the Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs (ACDA) Branch of Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division (SPD). Her publications include a research paper on Trends in India's Nuclear Force Modernization: Regional and Global Implications (2019), a co-authored paper on ‘Debating Potential Doctrinal Changes in India’s Nuclear Ambitions’ (2018), a co-authored paper on Great Power Competition and Global Strategic Stability (2020) and a paper on India-Pakistan Relations: A Case of Perpetual Instability (2020). Previously, she has been a Visiting Research Fellow at the South Asia Center of Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C and a fellow at the Research Society for International Law (RSIL), Pakistan. Her areas of expertise include nuclear deterrence, doctrines, command and control, arms control and disarmament, and regional and global missile developments. She has regularly delivered lectures at the Senior Officers’ Management course conducted by the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) and has been resource person at various seminars
Tanzeela Khalil is a Research Fellow at Islamabad Policy Research Institute. She holds a M. Phil degree in Strategic and Nuclear Studies from the National Defense University (NDU), Pakistan. Prior to joining IPRI, she was serving as Assistant Director (Research) at the Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs (ACDA) Branch of Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division (SPD). Her publications include a research paper on Trends in India's Nuclear Force Modernization: Regional and Global Implications (2019), a co-authored paper on ‘Debating Potential Doctrinal Changes in India’s Nuclear Ambitions’ (2018), a co-authored paper on Great Power Competition and Global Strategic Stability (2020) and a paper on India-Pakistan Relations: A Case of Perpetual Instability (2020). Previously, she has been a Visiting Research Fellow at the South Asia Center of Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C and a fellow at the Research Society for International Law (RSIL), Pakistan. Her areas of expertise include nuclear deterrence, doctrines, command and control, arms control and disarmament, and regional and global missile developments. She has regularly delivered lectures at the Senior Officers’ Management course conducted by the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) and has been resource person at various seminars
Muhammad Nawaz Khan
Research Associate (RA)
Educations: Msc in Defence and Strategic Studies from Department of Defence and Strategic Studies (DSS), Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad.
Area of Research: Strategic Studies (with particular emphasis on security issues of South Asia, Middle East, Central Asia (SAMECA) along with P-5 countries of UNSC and Afghanistan)
Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Khan has been working as Research Associate (RA) at Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) since February 2015. Previously, he had joined IPRI as Assistant Research Associate (ARA) in 2009. Before joining IPRI, he worked in Police Department. He got Training of Trainers (TOT) for Master Trainers Programme Co-sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Royal Norwegian Embassy conducted at Administrative Staff College, Lahore, in 2006. He also participated in the Gansu International Fellowship Programme (September-October 2014) sponsored by Gansu Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, China. Nawaz has over a decade experience in “Research and Analysis”, “Coordination”, and “Strategic Messaging & Outreach”.
He is a Near East South Asia-NESA ALUMNUS from Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University (NDU), Washington, D.C., USA. He has extensively travelled and participated in roundtables/closed moots, conferences/seminars, workshops and dialogues/plenaries in the Germany (UK), China, Jordan, and Thailand.
Numerous published research papers, co-authored “Introduction” Book Chapters along with separate Book Chapters and book reviews are on his credit. Nawaz regularly contributes Op-eds/articles on current strategic issues in English dailies/online source of Pakistan/abroad. He writes articles for University of Nottingham’s Asia Research Institute.
Apart from research and analysis, he has a plenty of hands-on experience of editing/proof reading coupled with event coordination/management, i.e. holding national and international Seminar/Conferences/Dialogues/Workshops, conducting delegations, report writing, and preparing press releases. He was Assistant Editor of IPRI Fact-File more than three years.
He can be reached at:
muhammad.nawaz@ipripak.org
Area of Research: Strategic Studies (with particular emphasis on security issues of South Asia, Middle East, Central Asia (SAMECA) along with P-5 countries of UNSC and Afghanistan)
Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Khan has been working as Research Associate (RA) at Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) since February 2015. Previously, he had joined IPRI as Assistant Research Associate (ARA) in 2009. Before joining IPRI, he worked in Police Department. He got Training of Trainers (TOT) for Master Trainers Programme Co-sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Royal Norwegian Embassy conducted at Administrative Staff College, Lahore, in 2006. He also participated in the Gansu International Fellowship Programme (September-October 2014) sponsored by Gansu Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, China. Nawaz has over a decade experience in “Research and Analysis”, “Coordination”, and “Strategic Messaging & Outreach”.
He is a Near East South Asia-NESA ALUMNUS from Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University (NDU), Washington, D.C., USA. He has extensively travelled and participated in roundtables/closed moots, conferences/seminars, workshops and dialogues/plenaries in the Germany (UK), China, Jordan, and Thailand.
Numerous published research papers, co-authored “Introduction” Book Chapters along with separate Book Chapters and book reviews are on his credit. Nawaz regularly contributes Op-eds/articles on current strategic issues in English dailies/online source of Pakistan/abroad. He writes articles for University of Nottingham’s Asia Research Institute.
Apart from research and analysis, he has a plenty of hands-on experience of editing/proof reading coupled with event coordination/management, i.e. holding national and international Seminar/Conferences/Dialogues/Workshops, conducting delegations, report writing, and preparing press releases. He was Assistant Editor of IPRI Fact-File more than three years.
He can be reached at:
muhammad.nawaz@ipripak.org
Amna Ejaz Rafi
Research Associate (RA)
Ms. Amna Ejaz Rafi is a graduate of Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU), Rawalpindi Pakistan and Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad Pakistan. Her MPhil thesis was on “Sino-India Competition in Asia Pacific: Balancing and Rebalancing Strategies”.
Ms. Rafi has participated in the prestigious National Media Workshop-6 organised by the National Defence University in Pakistan; and the 10th Gansu International Fellowship Programme held at Lanzhou, China.
Ms. Rafi attended the Counter Terrorism Intelligence Training Programme (CTITP), held in Melbourne, conducted by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australia.
Ms. Rafi’s area of interest is Asia Pacific and Pakistan-China Relations.
She can be reached at:
amna.rafi@ipripak.org
Ms. Rafi has participated in the prestigious National Media Workshop-6 organised by the National Defence University in Pakistan; and the 10th Gansu International Fellowship Programme held at Lanzhou, China.
Ms. Rafi attended the Counter Terrorism Intelligence Training Programme (CTITP), held in Melbourne, conducted by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australia.
Ms. Rafi’s area of interest is Asia Pacific and Pakistan-China Relations.
She can be reached at:
amna.rafi@ipripak.org
Gulshan Rafiq
Research Associate (RA)
Gulshan Rafiq holds a PhD from the School of International Relations and Public Affairs (SIRPA) at Fudan University, Shanghai. She has been a Non-Proliferation Fellow at the Center for Non-Proliferation Studies in Monterey, California, and at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico, USA. Additionally, she served as an International Relations Analyst at the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. Her research interests include contemporary international affairs, Chinese and US mediation efforts and their impacts on regional stability and development in South Asia, and nuclear non-proliferation.
She can be reached at:
Maryum Tamoor
Asst. Research Associate (ARA)
Education: MPhil in International Relations, School of Politics, and International Relations (SPIR), Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad. Bachelors (Hons) in International Relations from SPIR, QAU, Islamabad.
Area of Research: Governance and Public Policy (Comparative Politics, Foreign Policy, Politics and Political Culture of India, and Pakistan, Kashmir Conflict).
Ms. Maryum Tamoor has been working as Assistant Research Associate (ARA) at Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI). She has a vast experience in different capacities. Previously, she has worked as a Teacher Assistant at SPIR, QAU, Islamabad. She has served as a visiting faculty at various institutes in Poonch, Azad Kashmir. She has also worked as a volunteer and a member for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Azad Kashmir. Maryum regularly contributes Op-eds/articles on current political and strategic issues in English dailies/online source of Pakistan/abroad.
She can be reached at:
maryum.tamoor@ipripak.org
Area of Research: Governance and Public Policy (Comparative Politics, Foreign Policy, Politics and Political Culture of India, and Pakistan, Kashmir Conflict).
Ms. Maryum Tamoor has been working as Assistant Research Associate (ARA) at Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI). She has a vast experience in different capacities. Previously, she has worked as a Teacher Assistant at SPIR, QAU, Islamabad. She has served as a visiting faculty at various institutes in Poonch, Azad Kashmir. She has also worked as a volunteer and a member for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Azad Kashmir. Maryum regularly contributes Op-eds/articles on current political and strategic issues in English dailies/online source of Pakistan/abroad.
She can be reached at:
maryum.tamoor@ipripak.org
Shiraz Shaikh
Asst. Research Associate (ARA)
Education: M.Phil. in International Relations, Department of International Relations, National Defence University Pakistan.
Area of Research: Strategic Studies (International Relations, Counterterrorism, Insurgency, Extremism, and Geopolitics).
Mr. Shiraz Shaikh is a graduate of International Relations from the National Defence University (NDU) and has previously worked as a Deputy Editor at Hilal Publications, ISPR. He has a keen interest in terrorism, traditional and non-traditional approaches to security, extremism, far-right and Islamic movements, and alliance politics. Areas of his ongoing research include the rise of terrorism and development in ex-FATA.
Contact:
Tel: +92-336-3047075
Email: shiraz.shaikh@ipripak.org
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shiraz-shaikh-86653aa3
Twitter: https://twitter.com/s_2772
Area of Research: Strategic Studies (International Relations, Counterterrorism, Insurgency, Extremism, and Geopolitics).
Mr. Shiraz Shaikh is a graduate of International Relations from the National Defence University (NDU) and has previously worked as a Deputy Editor at Hilal Publications, ISPR. He has a keen interest in terrorism, traditional and non-traditional approaches to security, extremism, far-right and Islamic movements, and alliance politics. Areas of his ongoing research include the rise of terrorism and development in ex-FATA.
Contact:
Tel: +92-336-3047075
Email: shiraz.shaikh@ipripak.org
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shiraz-shaikh-86653aa3
Twitter: https://twitter.com/s_2772
Faizan Riaz
Asst. Research Associate (ARA)
Faizan Riaz is an Assistant Research Associate (ARA) at IPRI, currently pursuing his MPhil in International Relations at the department of School of Politics and International Relations (SPIR), Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad. He holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from Government College University (GCU), Lahore. Faizan’s academic interests include domestic politics, ethno-nationalism, and South Asian politics, and international security studies. He has written various research papers, and has the privilege of presenting them at esteemed international conferences. With his analytical Op-Eds and blogs, he contributes regularly to national print and online media sources, offering useful insights to political issues and current affairs.
Iqra Hasnat
Asst. Research Associate (ARA)
Education: MPhil in International Relations from SPIR, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad
BA(Hons.) in Political Science from Government College University (GCU), Lahore
Area of Research: Pakistan's political culture, Domestic and foreign policy issues, Geostrategic competition between great powers, Regional and global security.
She is a regular contributor of op-ed/articles on current political and security issues.
She works as Assistant Research Associate at IPRI.
She can be reached at:
iqra.hasnat@ipripak.org
Ali Hamza
Asst. Research Associate (ARA)
Education: BS in Political Science from Quaid-I-Azam University
MPhil in IR from Quaid-I-Azam University (enrolled)
Research Interests: Politics of Climate Change, Internal political dynamics of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Foreign Policy. Currently working on Middle East.
Has worked as a Research Officer at Centre for International Strategic Studies AJK previously.
Has been a regular op-ed contributor for national and international newspapers.
Can be reached at: ali.hamza@ipri.org
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ali-hamza-68656423b
Nageen Ashraf
Asst. Research Associate (ARA)
Nageen Ashraf is an accomplished researcher with her MPhil in International Relations from the School of Politics and International Relations (SPIR), Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, and a BS (Hons) in Defense and Diplomatic Studies from Fatima Jinnah Women University. Ms. Ashraf has an impressive portfolio of research, with her work featured in HEC-recognized journals and presented at prestigious national and international conferences. Her research interests span critical areas such as security studies- particularly cybersecurity- and geopolitics. In addition to her academic achievements, Ms. Ashraf is a prolific writer, contributing thought-provoking op-eds on current affairs to leading digital media platforms.
She can be reached at nageen.ashraf@ipripak.org
Noureen Akhtar
Non-Resident Researcher
Education: PhD in International Relations (In progress), School of Politics, and International Relations (SPIR), Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad.
MPhil in International Relations from National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad.
MSc in Defence and Strategic Studies (DSS), Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad.
Area of Research: Hybrid warfare (AI, Cyber warfare and Cyber politics), Governance and Public Policy (Comparative Politics, Foreign Policy and Political Cultures in South Asia and Middle East).
Ms. Noureen Akhtar is presently working in Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) as Non-Resident Researcher. She has a vast experience in Research and Academia. She has also served as a Policy Consultant at Strategic Policy Planning Cell (SPPC), National Security Division (NSD), Prime Minister Office (PMO) and as Research Officer at Institute for Strategic Studies, Research & Analysis (ISSRA), NDU. She is a regular contributor of Op-eds/articles on current political, security and strategic issues in English print/online source of Pakistan and abroad.
She can be reached at:
noureenakhtar_dss@live.com
MPhil in International Relations from National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad.
MSc in Defence and Strategic Studies (DSS), Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad.
Area of Research: Hybrid warfare (AI, Cyber warfare and Cyber politics), Governance and Public Policy (Comparative Politics, Foreign Policy and Political Cultures in South Asia and Middle East).
Ms. Noureen Akhtar is presently working in Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) as Non-Resident Researcher. She has a vast experience in Research and Academia. She has also served as a Policy Consultant at Strategic Policy Planning Cell (SPPC), National Security Division (NSD), Prime Minister Office (PMO) and as Research Officer at Institute for Strategic Studies, Research & Analysis (ISSRA), NDU. She is a regular contributor of Op-eds/articles on current political, security and strategic issues in English print/online source of Pakistan and abroad.
She can be reached at:
noureenakhtar_dss@live.com
Taimur Shamil
Non Resident Senior Research Fellow
Mr. Taimur Shamil is a renowned academic and PhD scholar of International Relations with a focus on foreign policy analysis and national security. Mr. Shamil has lectured widely on Pakistan’s foreign policy and national security at prestigious civil and military institutions like Pakistan Navy War College Lahore, National Defence University Islamabad, NUST, Quaid-e-Azam University and various other think tanks and institutions.
Mr. Shamil has a wide experience in regional and international Track-II diplomacy. His area of research focuses on US foreign policy, South Asia security issues, Afghanistan and Iran.
His analysis on regional and global politics appear regularly on national and international TV Channels and newspapers like Al-Jazeera, Dawn, Express Tribune and various other media outlets.
communication team
Shamsa Nawaz
Editor
Ms Shamsa Nawaz has authored two books, including India’s Nuclear Weapons Programme? and Pakistan’s Futuristic Peace Paradigm. She has also co-authored a book on Kashmir: January, 2020; Its Geo sociological Imperative. She served as a Senior Research Associate/ Editor at Strategic Vision Institute, Islamabad (2019-2020) and Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (2013-2019), before joining IPRI. She has been a regular contributor to both national and international journals/ magazines. Her area of expertise is nuclear politics in South Asia, Kashmir and Contemporary Europe.
M Sultan Khattak
Library Officer
Education: M.Phil in Library and Information Science (In progress), Department of Library & Information Science (DLIS), University of Peshawar (UOP), Peshawar.
Master’s in Library & Information Science from Khushal Khan Khattak University Karak (KKKUK), Karak. BS (Hons) in Computer Science from Kohat University of Science & Technolgy (KUST), Kohat.
Area of Research: Digital Marketing of Library (Digital Media, Social Media, Electronic Media, Social Networking Sites) & Information Communication Technologies in Library (Internet, web 2.0/3.0, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security).
Professional Experience: Mr. Muhammad Sultan Khattak is presently working in Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) as Librarian. He has a vast experience in different capacities. He served as a Librarian at Ministry of Law & Justice, Islamabad (December 2021 – January 2023), Officer IN charge Library at Pakistan Cadet College, Murree (September 2020 – October 2021) and Librarian at Professional College of Medical Sciences, Karak, (August 2019 – July 2020), before joining IPRI. His areas of expertise are Library Software’s like (KOHA, SLIMS, Calibre, EndNote, & SPSS), Automation and Digitization of Library & Manual Operations of library.
He has also worked as a Social Media Volunteer and a Rapporteur with Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Islamabad (November 2021 – December 2022).
He also attended 50+ National and Internationals Webinars, Seminars and Conferences on different topics in the field of Library and Information Science.
He can be reached at:
mskhattak@ipripak.org & mskhattak88@uop.edu.pk
Master’s in Library & Information Science from Khushal Khan Khattak University Karak (KKKUK), Karak. BS (Hons) in Computer Science from Kohat University of Science & Technolgy (KUST), Kohat.
Area of Research: Digital Marketing of Library (Digital Media, Social Media, Electronic Media, Social Networking Sites) & Information Communication Technologies in Library (Internet, web 2.0/3.0, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security).
Professional Experience: Mr. Muhammad Sultan Khattak is presently working in Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) as Librarian. He has a vast experience in different capacities. He served as a Librarian at Ministry of Law & Justice, Islamabad (December 2021 – January 2023), Officer IN charge Library at Pakistan Cadet College, Murree (September 2020 – October 2021) and Librarian at Professional College of Medical Sciences, Karak, (August 2019 – July 2020), before joining IPRI. His areas of expertise are Library Software’s like (KOHA, SLIMS, Calibre, EndNote, & SPSS), Automation and Digitization of Library & Manual Operations of library.
He has also worked as a Social Media Volunteer and a Rapporteur with Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Islamabad (November 2021 – December 2022).
He also attended 50+ National and Internationals Webinars, Seminars and Conferences on different topics in the field of Library and Information Science.
He can be reached at:
mskhattak@ipripak.org & mskhattak88@uop.edu.pk
Javairyah Aatif
Digital Media Specialist
Area of interest: Russia-China relations; Eurasian geopolitics; Far East.
Educations:
Bachelors in Social Sciences, major International Relations from SZABIST Islamabad
Volunteering at London Politica as Social Media Associate and as a Moderator at the Geopolitics Club; Independent Researcher.
She is responsible for managing all our social media platforms, and for building networks and partnerships. She also frequently contributes her writings to various online magazines. She has previously worked as a Research Associate and a News writer.
She tweets at @JavairyahAatif
Educations:
Bachelors in Social Sciences, major International Relations from SZABIST Islamabad
Volunteering at London Politica as Social Media Associate and as a Moderator at the Geopolitics Club; Independent Researcher.
She is responsible for managing all our social media platforms, and for building networks and partnerships. She also frequently contributes her writings to various online magazines. She has previously worked as a Research Associate and a News writer.
She tweets at @JavairyahAatif
Hassan Zaib
Assistant Web & Network Administrator
Mr. Hassan Zaib is currently serving as Assistant Web Administrator at IPRI. He holds a Bachelors degree in Computer Science from Barani Institute of Information Technology (Arid University), Rawalpindi. Before joining IPRI, he has served in Gourmet as Network Support Officer in 2017 and later joined Skyscrapers Pvt Ltd as IT Executive. Mr. Hassan brings with him six years of experience of web development, networking, computer maintenance and skills he learned from his previous employment. His areas of expertise are Software development and Information Technology.
- Phone:051 9211346 ext 124
- Email:hassan.zaib@ipripak.org
Economic Security
Sheraz Ahmad Choudhary
Research Associate
Sheraz Ahmad Choudhary is a Research Associate- Economic Security at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) in Islamabad, Pakistan, He is a dynamic academician and researcher who has a multidisciplinary background in Development Economics, macroeconomics, microeconomics, carbon taxation, and Climate Change. Internationally, Sheraz Ahmad has garnered experience as a policy analyst with OVO Energy, a prominent energy company based in the United Kingdom. In Pakistan, he is an alumnus of the Pakistan Institution of Development Economics and the University of Wah, Wah Cantt. He has received a "Gold medal" for his outstanding performance in economics during his bachelor's studies. His current areas of research focus on Climate Security, Degrowth, and the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) framework. His published research work includes topics such as carbon taxation, the impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on tourism and terrorism, corruption, economic growth, and income inequality in Pakistan, the influence of transportation infrastructure on Pakistan's economic growth, the effects of the Agriculture Sector Development on Economic Growth, and the application of blockchain technology to combat tax evasion.
Narmeen Fayyaz Leghari
Non-Resident Researcher
Narmeen Fayyaz is a Non-Resident Researcher at IPRI. Her research areas primarily focus on political economy, economic security, climate finance, and macroeconomics. Narmeen has completed her Master’s in Political Economy from the University of York, UK, and her Bachelor’s in Economics and Management from the University of London. Previously, Narmeen has taught Politics of International Economic Relations and Political Economy at Quaid-I-Azam University and has worked on various research studies with UNWOMEN, Deakin University, and other notable think tanks. She is keen on exploring how global economic events impact economic security and policymaking of the developing world, in particular Pakistan.
International Law
Iqra Bano Sohail
Research Associate
Ms. Iqra Bano Sohail completed her LLB (Hons) from the University of London in 2021 and was awarded achievement awards for being one of the highest performing students around the globe in the subjects of criminal and contract law. With her experience in the International Law think tank industry, she has worked on various projects such as developing Pakistan’s First National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights and reviewing the Counter Terrorism and Anti Money Laundering Regime of Pakistan. Currently she is working as a Research Associate for International Law at IPRI with her areas of interests being International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights Law, Cyber Laws and Water Laws.
Hajra Hashmi
Research Associate
Ms Hajra Hashmi completed her LLM in Public International Law from Utrecht University and her LLB in Public International Law at the Hague University in the Netherlands. Her areas of focus were international humanitarian law and counter terrorism. She went on to work with a team of scholars and legal practitioners to provide research-based support to teams presenting before the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court. Currently she is working as a Research Associate for International Law at IPRI with her areas of interests being International Humanitarian Law, Counter Terrorism Legislation, Artificial Intelligence in Weaponry and Laws of Occupation.
Khadija Almus Khanum
Research Associate
Ms. Khadija Almus Khanum holds an LLB (Hons) in Shariah & Law from the International Islamic University, Islamabad. She previously worked at the International Disputes Unit of the Office of the Attorney General for Pakistan, where she played a key role in preparing Pakistan's written submissions on climate change obligations before the International Court of Justice and contributed to significant international arbitration disputes. Ms. Khanum has also worked with the Ministry of Human Rights’ Family Protection and Rehabilitation Centre for Women (FPRCW), where she helped draft policy recommendations aimed at strengthening legal protections for women and ensuring compliance with international standards. She is currently a Research Associate in International Law at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), with research interests in Water Law, Climate Change and Environmental Law, Artificial Intelligence Law, and Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Zohair Waheed
Non-Resident Research Fellow
Mr. Zohair Waheed, is an International Law Consultant at the International Disputes Unit, Office of Attorney General for Pakistan. He was the lead negotiator for the Government of Pakistan in negotiations with third countries regarding Bilateral Investment Treaties (BIT's) and Treaties with Investment Provisions (TIP's). He was also part of the team from the Government of Pakistan that successfully negotiated an out of court settlement with Barrick Gold and Antofagasta PLC to settle the ICSID Award of USD 6.25 billion. He represented Pakistan in various investment arbitration cases such as Al-Tuwairqi Steel Mills, Al-Ittefaq Steel Mills v. Pakistan and Ticaret ve Sanayi A.Ş v. Pakistan. He completed his BA in Economics from the University of Toronto, his BA-LLB from University College London and his LL.M in International Investment Law from University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.