The SVI Team

Dr. Cheema is the former Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Meritorious Professor & Chairman, Department of Defence & Strategic Studies (DSS), Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad – Pakistan (2005 – 2008). He also served as Professor / Head of Department of Strategic and Nuclear Studies, Faculty of Contemporary Studies, National Defence University, Islamabad, Pakistan (Feb 2011 – Feb 2012). He was previously Professor and Chairman DSS, QAU (1993 1998).

Dr. Cheema holds a PhD from Department of War Studies, King’s College London (1987-91). He also holds an Advanced Diploma in Peace and Conflict Research from University of Uppsala, Sweden (1994), Masters in International Relations from Quaid-i-Azam University (1978), Islamabad, and Masters in Political Science from Punjab University, Lahore (1971).
Dr. Cheema held four (4) post-doctoral awards: A, (Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, Sweden; B, (Fulbright Fellowship at School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Washington D.C., (1995-96); C, (Commonwealth Fellowship at King’s College London (1999-2000); and D, (Quaid-i-Azam / Visiting Fellowship at St. Antony’s College, Oxford University (Jan 2001 – Dec 2004). At the end of last fellowship, he was honoured as Senior Associate Member of St. Antony’s College. His main academic discipline has been Strategic Studies and International Affairs, while focusing on areas of specialization such as: South Asian Security (Traditional and Non-Traditional), regional nuclear proliferation and Arms Control, and Deterrence and Strategic stability.

Dr. Cheema has 35 Years of postgraduate research and teaching experience: 25 years at QAU and 10 years cumulatively at Georgetown University, King’s college London, Antony’s College, Oxford University and 1 year at NDU. The QAU experience also includes 10 years of academic administration such as Dean, Social Sciences, Chairperson DSS, President Research and Publications Cell and In-charge Student Affairs, concurrently with teaching and research.

Dr. Cheema authored a book titled: Indian Nuclear deterrence: Its Evolution, Development and Implications for South Asian Security (Karachi – Oxford, OUP, 2010), pp. 609 and edited another titled: Shifting Dynamics and Emerging Power Equilibrium in South and Central Asia around post – 2014 (Islamabad, SVI, 2014). He has published 35 research papers / book chapters most of which are on South Asia. DR. Cheema participated in 75 international seminars / conferences and presented papers in many of those.

Dr. Cheema has supervised 3 PhD, 16 M. Phil and 20 M.Sc. students on diverse topics, who successfully obtained degrees. He was member HEC’s (Higher Education Commission) Committee of Social Sciences and Humanities in Pakistan, Head of HEC Sub-Committee on the Disciplines of International Relations and Strategic Studies for recommending syllabi and quality Journals. He remained Chairperson Board of Faculty of Social Sciences and Board of Studies of Defence & Strategic Studies. The countries he has visited include: U.K., United States, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, India, Iran, Nepal, Sri Lanka, U.A.E., Oman, Bahrain, and South Korea and Turkey.

Ms. S. Sadia Kazmi is a Director Academics, Policy & Program at the Strategic Vision Institute. She is also pursuing her PhD research work in the Department of Strategic Studies at National Defence University, Islamabad. She holds an MS degree in Political Science from University of Auckland, New Zealand and an Mphil in Defence and Strategic Studies from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. She has also served as a Lecturer in the Department of Diplomatic Studies at Fatima Jinnah Women University,

Rawalpindi; Department of Politics and International Relations at International Islamic University, Islamabad; and in the Department of Mass Communication at National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad. Ms. Sadia has also been conducting regular workshops with SDPI and Foreign Services Academy as a Resource Person in the areas of Peace, Conflict Analysis, Conflict Resolution and Conflict transformation, organized for foreign diplomats, local and community leaders and the youth. She joined the SVI on August 1, 2015 and works in the area of National/Regional and International Security.

Ms Ahyousha Khan is a senior research associate at Strategic Vision Institute. She holds an M.Phil degree in Defense and Strategic Studies from QAU. She has done her BS in Defense and Diplomatic Studies from Fatima Jinnah Women University. She contributes regularly in national and international media forums. Her area of research is Nuclear Deterrence, arms control, non-proliferation, strategic stability and emerging new technologies.

Zafar Iqbal Yousafzai is the author of “The Troubled Triangle: US-Pakistan Relations under the Taliban’s Shadow” forthcoming from Routledge (London and New York). He holds masters in Political Science from the University of Peshawar and MPhil from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. He regularly contributes articles and interviews to various national and international newspapers and magazines on his area of interests: South Asia, Central Asia, Iran, and great powers involvement in the region.

Experience:

Khawaja Dawood Tariq is a Senior Research Fellow at the Strategic Vision Institute. His research focuses on nuclear nonproliferation, strategic stability in South Asia, arms control and disarmament, great power politics, asymmetrical warfare, national security, counterinsurgency, political violence, and identity politics. He is a commentator and contributor for a number of media outlets. Before joining SVI he served as a Development Fellow at the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives. In addition to his policy and research work, he taught International Relations and International Politics at the Metropolitan International University College. He holds a BSc (Hons) in International Relations from London School of Economics and an M. Phil in Strategic Studies from National Defence University.

Area of Research: Great Power Politics and South Asian Security, Nuclear Security, Arms Control and Disarmament

Qualification: M.Phil. (International Relations) from National Defence University, Islamabad

Experience: 01 year: Worked as a Lecturer Department of International Relations and Peace & Conflict Studies at Muslim Youth University (MYU) Islamabad.

1.5 years: Worked as a Research Fellow at South Asian Strategic Stability Institute (SAASI) Islamabad.

Publications: He handles SVI’s Nuclear Security, Nuclear Non-proliferation, Nuclear Deterrence, Arms Control and Disarmament section with reference to South Asia. He frequently writes on issues related to nuclear security, nuclear deterrence in South Asia, nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament at various international newspapers, magazines and blogs. Recently he has written a research paper titled ‘Revising Nuclear Deterrence in South Asia: Post-Pulwama’. He is also working on the SVI book, titled ‘Nuclear Deterrence and Strategic Stability in South Asia’ as an associate editor.

Qualification: M.Phil in strategic Studies from National Defense University, Islamabad

Ms. Amber A. Abid is a Research Associate at Strategic Vision Institute Islamabad. She holds an M.Phil degree in Strategic Studies from National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad. Her M.Phil dissertation was related to the Evolution of Pakistan Nuclear Doctrine. Her research interests include nuclear politics, nuclear deterrence, proliferation and non-proliferation regimes, and changing nuclear strategies in south Asia

Area of Research: Nuclear,security and domestic and regional politics of South Asia.

Qualification: MSc International Relations from National defense University

Experience: Previously worked with NIPS(National Institute of Population Studies) in two projects, PDHS(Pakistan Demographic and Health survey) 2017-2018 and PMMS( Pakistan Maternal Mortality Survey) 2018-2019.

Mr. Ross Masood Husain was born in Pune, India. Educated at Karachi, Oxford and London, he is currently a Consultant in International Affairs and International Law, with specialization in the fields of Air and Space Laws.

Mr. Husain joined Civil Services of Pakistan (CSP) in 1951, and has put in over 50 years of service / practice in the fields of Public Administration, International Law, Diplomacy and Strategic Policy Planning, including senior assignments with the Government of Pakistan and various International Organizations. He is Founder/Director/Governor/Adviser/Professor of the Boards and Faculties of several Governmental/Non-governmental organizations, Civil and Military Institutions, Universities, Area study centers, Foundations, and Research Institutions at home and abroad. He founded the Institute of Strategic Studies in 1973 and served as its first Director General from 1973-1976, and again in 1989-1990. He is Resident Representative for South Asia of the Institute for the Study of Indo-Pakistan Relations, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.

Mr. Husain has travelled extensively around the world and can read/write/speak fluently in Urdu, Hindi, English, Spanish and all the regional languages of Pakistan. He has also written extensively on a variety of issues, and has numerous publications to his credit.

He holds a masters in war studies from National Defence University, Pakistan, as well as a masters in Defence Administration from Cranfield University, UK. Lt Gen (R) Syed Muhammad Owais is a member of the board of governors of Strategic Vision Institute. Gen Owais gained commission in Pakistan army in 1974 in Army Air Defence. During his forty years in the army, he held various important command, staff and instructional assignments. In addition to military engagements, he also served as the deputy chief of staff to the President of Pakistan where he was involved in strategic policy matters pertaining to defence and foreign affairs. He recently retired as a three-star general.

Qualification:MS in Finance from Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi

Experience: Department Coordinator at Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi

Qualification: BS Software Engineering from NUML Islamabad.

Certifications:

• CCNA R&S (Training)
• CCNA Security (Training)
• Web Development

Experience: Having 4 years of experience in several domains of IT, ranging from Network Administration to System Administration and from Virtualization to Web Application Development.

International Publications: “Security and privacy techniques and their solutions in Big Data”

Qualification: Master degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) from University of Sargodha (UOS), Sargodha.

Experience: Previously, he has worked as an Internee at COMSATS University Islamabad.

Qualification: Master Degree in Commerce, ICMAP One Year Post Graduate in Accounting.

He holds more than 8 years’ experience of managing accounts, finance, audit and procurement and providing general administrative and logistic support in various NGOs funded by the International donors.