Ambassador(R) Abdul Basit Holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations from QAU, Islamabad. He joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in October 1982. He has held various diplomatic assignments at Pakistan Missions abroad, such as in Moscow, New York, Sana'a, Geneva, and London. He served as Foreign Office Spokesperson during 2009-2012. He was Pakistan's Ambassador to Germany from 2012-2014 and High Commissioner to India from 2014-2017. Served as President of Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) from 2017-2018 as well as President of Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) from 2018-2022. Presently, hosts the TV talk show “Decipher with Abdul Basit” on ABN News. Author of the book entitled “ Hostility: A Diplomat’s Diary on Pakistan-India Relations”.

Mushahid Hussain Syed is the Chairman of Pakistan China Institute, former Minister for Information & Culture & Chairman of the Senate Defence & Foreign Affairs Committees, and former Editor of the daily The Muslim. He is a renowned politician, journalist, and distinguished scholarly figure, and he has contributed extensively to various newspapers and journals. He can be reached at mushahid.hussain@gmail.com and tweets @mushahid

Pravin Sawhney is editor of Force newsmagazine based in New Delhi, India. He is a prominent Indian security analyst who specialises in Indian security and foreign policy. He has a keen foresight on the emerging global order with special focus on Sino-US, Sino-India and India-Pakistan relations. He is author of many books including, Dragon on our doorstep and The last war.

Dr. Zafar Khan is currently the Executive Director of Balochistan Think Tank Network (BTTN), at BUITEMS. He is a Professor of International Relations, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering, and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), Quetta. He holds an MSC in International Politics from University of Glasgow, UK and PhD in Strategic Studies from University of Hull, Yorkshire, UK. He has also taught at the Department of Strategic Studies, National Defence University, Islamabad, Pakistan. His papers have appeared in various international peer-reviewed journals such as Cambridge Review of International Affairs, Comparative Strategy, Washington Quarterly, Journal of Contemporary China, Contemporary Security Policy, East Asia, and International Journal of Conflict Management. He has authored Pakistan’s Nuclear Policy: A Minimum Credible Deterrence (2015) and Nuclear Deterrence in South Asia: New Technologies and Challenges to Sustainable Peace (2020). Also, he is the author of the book entitled India’s Evolving Deterrent Force Posture: Temptation for Pre-emptive Strikes, Power Projection, and Escalation Dominance (London & New York: Palgrave McMillan, 2021).

The Author is a UK-based Journalist and Political Analyst. She Tweets @ShamaJunejo

Zafar Mehmood is Professor of Economics & HOD Research, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad. He holds a Phd in Economics from Columbia University, New York, USA.

Hassan Khan is a broadcast journalist, political and security analyst. His main focus is the Pak Afghan regions, issues related to security and religious extremism. He has contributed to leading newspapers and regularly appears on national & international broadcasts as experts on Afghanistan, terrorism and security landscape in the AfPak regions.

The writer is a Project Consultant, Senior Research Fellow, Defense & Foreign Affairs Analyst. She is also a Visiting Research Fellow at James Martin Center for Non-Proliferation Studies (CNS) - Middlebury Institute of International Studies, Washington DC. She can be reached at X @HumaRehman1

Dr Khurram Abbas is Director at the India Study Centre, Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad. He tweets @itskhurramabbas He can be reached at directorisc@issi.org.pk

Arshad Mehmood is a conflict zone journalist with extensive experience covering the US-led invasion of Afghanistan. Associated with a prestigious American news agency, The Media Line USA. He is a highly experienced journalist with a proven track record of covering inland and across-the-border terrorism and counter-terrorism narratives and incidents. (https://themedialine.org/) Most of his news stories published in The Media Line are also featured on JPost.com, a major media outlet in the Middle East. He can be reached via @RajaAajtv on social media.

Dr. Zukun Lyu is a research scholar in the Department of Political Science at the University of Siena. She has been to national and international conferences and written 21 research articles that have been published in international journals.

The author is a Moscow-based American political analyst specializing in the global systemic transition to multipolarity.

The author is a Pakistani journalist covering conflicts and diplomacy in the MENA region.

He is a member of the Association for Asian Studies (Ann Arbor), of The author is a member of the Association of Extra-European Studies (Pisa) and of the Italian Society of International History (Padua). His current research interests include the foreign policy of the People's Republic of China and Western imperialism in China of the last Qing.

Kestér Kenn Klomegâh has a deep understanding of contemporary geopolitical dynamics and a keen interest in analyzing the trends in foreign relations and their impact on developments across Africa. As a self-taught research writer for nearly two decades, he specializes in Africa and Eurasia as well as regional organizations. Most of his well-resourced articles have been reprinted in several reputable foreign media outlets.

The author is a retired diplomat with over 37 years of distinguished service in the Foreign Service of Pakistan. During her career, she held key positions, including Ambassador to China, the European Union, Ireland. She also served as Deputy Head of Mission to China and Denmark. With expertise in various areas, she held significant roles at the Foreign Office, including Additional Foreign Secretary for America's and Director General Policy Planning. In addition to her diplomatic career, she is actively engaged as Vice Chair of the Council on Global Policy and a member of the Board of Directors of First Women Bank. She serves as an advisor to the China Study Center at ISSI and Kestral International. Furthermore, she is a prolific writer, contributing regularly to esteemed magazines and newspapers. As an accomplished author, she has published several books, including "Magnificent Pakistan" and "Pakistan-China-All Weather Friendship." Her dedication and expertise continue to impact the field of international relations. She tweets @AmbNaghmanaHash.

The writer is a former foreign secretary who also served as Pakistan's ambassador to the United States. Currently, he is associated with Sanober Institute Islamabad as its chairman.

Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan has served Pakistan as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Defense, Commerce and Energy. He can be contacted at @kdastgirkhan on X. The views expressed in the writings are his personal.

The writer is Honourary Research Fellow at National Institute of Maritime Affairs, Islamabad and can be reached via faisel68.fs@gmail.com

The author is a former PAF Officer. He was posted as Air and Naval Attaché in Riyadh, KSA, during the first Gulf War in 1991. He took up journalism as a career after retirement after obtaining Masters and M Phil degrees in Mass Communication and Broadcast Journalism from the USA. He has authored 12 books on current affairs and hosted a program “Defence and Diplomacy” for over a decade. He has been an analyst, columnist, and lecturer internationally for over two decades.

Dr. Rabia Akhtar Director Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research (CSSPR) University of Lahore, Pakistan

Dr. Muhammad Nadeem Mirza is a distinguished faculty member at the School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. Serving as Director and Associate Professor. He is the co-author of the book Introducing International Relations: Concepts, Theories and Practices, alongside Farhan Hanif Siddiqi, published by Oxford University Press.

The Author is an independent geopolitics and security analyst. He writes on national security, military affairs, and economic diplomacy.

The writer is the founder and director of Iqbal Forum, Tehran.

Saleem Samad is an award-winning independent journalist based in Bangladesh. A media rights defender with the Reporters Without Borders (@RSF_inter). Recipient of Ashoka Fellowship and Hellman-Hammett Award. He could be reached at saleemsamad@hotmail.com; Twitter (X): @saleemsamad

Ph.D. completed at Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa (SSSUP)

Dr. Alexander N. Kostyuk is a distinguished academic and expert in corporate governance, currently serving as the Director of the Virtus Global Center for Corporate Governance. He holds the position of Editor-in-Chief at the "Corporate Ownership and Control" journal, a leading publication in the field. Dr. Kostyuk's extensive academic involvement includes membership in prestigious organizations such as the European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI) and the Association Académique Internationale de Gouvernance (AAIG). His professional and academic contributions can be further explored through his profiles on ECGI, AAIG, LinkedIn, and ResearchGate.

Lecturer and Linguist Specialising in Chinese and East Asian Affairs. PhD in Politics from the University of Surrey

Researcher at the University of Pisa, Italy.

Former Minister -Afghanistan, with a keen interest in politics, economics, connectivity, and transit trade.

The writer is Pakistan's former Special Representative for Afghanistan, who served as the country's ambassador to Iran and UAE. Currently, he is working as a Senior Research Fellow in Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI). He is the author of the book Turmoil: Events in Afghanistan, South Asia, Middle East, Ukraine, and Pakistan.

The author is a Former Ambassador of Pakistan to Kuwait. twitter: @SajjadDiplomat

Pakistan’s former ambassador to China.

Renowned political and military analyst. Holds a PhD degree in International Relations/ Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.

Dmitry Medvedev has also been the President and the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. He is currently the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.

Ambassador Major General (Retired) Tariq Rashid Khan has dedicated over four decades to serving the Government of Pakistan, amassing extensive experience in administration, management, defense and security, and defense production industries at both national and international levels. His distinguished career encompasses a range of command, staff, instructional, and diplomatic assignments within Pakistan and abroad.

A graduate of the Command and Staff College Quetta, Inter Services Defence College in Paris, and the National Defence University Islamabad, Ambassador Khan also served on the faculty of the National Defence University as a Directing Staff member in the War Wing and as Chief Instructor of the Allied Officer War Course. Notably, he conducted an Operational Strategy Course for senior Saudi officers at the Command and Staff College in Riyadh and was instrumental in laying the foundation for their National Defence College.

Throughout his career, Ambassador Khan represented Pakistan at various international forums, leading delegations to countries including the USA, UK, Canada, the Netherlands, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Sudan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, China, and South Korea. He also served on secondment in the Saudi Arabian Army and held the esteemed position of Pakistan's Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, where he made significant contributions to enhancing bilateral cooperation across multiple domains.

Ambassador Khan holds an M.Sc. in Defence Studies, a diploma in the French language, and a Merit Certificate in Defence Management, Organizational Efficiency, and Cost Effectiveness from Cranfield University in the UK. In recognition of his meritorious services, the Government of Pakistan awarded him the prestigious Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military).

Nayeema Ahmad Mahjoor is a renowned senior journalist and acclaimed author. Ex Editor (BBC Urdu service) Penguin author of Lost in Terror, ex-chairperson of Jk Women Commission, and currently a columnist at independent Urdu and Countercurrents.org.

The Author is a Professor of International Relations and presently working as a Member Board of Directors, at the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS) Colombo-Sri Lanka. He has served as Dean Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Wah, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, and Director of School of Politics and International Relations (SPIR), Quaid-i-Azam University. He has over 30 years of teaching, research, and administrative experience. He Tweets @Sheeshgar1

The author is a Professor of Defense and Strategic Studies, and an expert on Security and Terrorism. Currently, serving Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad.

Dr Muhammad Munir is a renowned scholar who has 26 years of experience in research, academic management, and teaching at various leading Think Tanks and Universities. He holds a PhD degree from the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies (DSS), Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.

Saima William serves as the Program Lead for Climate Action at the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) in Pakistan, a position she has held since January 2023. Her expertise lies in climate action, with a focus on mitigation and adaptation strategies in areas such as solid waste management, climate resilience, renewable energy, and climate policy reforms. With a master’s degree in psychology and over 15 years of experience in the development sector, Saima has participated in numerous international trainings on UN advocacy, disaster response, and sustainable development. She places a strong emphasis on capacity building, particularly working with local governments to enhance climate resilience. Her diverse portfolio includes writing articles, blogs, investigative pieces, proposals, and training materials on issues like advocacy, gender, minority rights, and climate adaptation. Saima is deeply committed to social and environmental justice, with a focus on empowering marginalized communities through policy advocacy, strategic initiatives, and capacity building.

Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar is a practicing Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan. He has served in many important quasi-judicial positions including Chairman, Customs, Excise & Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal, Pakistan, and Senior Advisor Federal Ombudsman, Pakistan. He can be reached at his email hafizahsaan47@gmail.com

The author is a known TV journalist and anchorperson with 27 years of Print and Electronic Media experience. He has played an essential role in establishing TV news channels in Pakistan. He hosts a prime-time political talk show, “BAYANIAH,” on NEWSONE TV. He tweets @waheed_h35

The author 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, Harvard University, Cambridge University, and the University of Bern-Switzerland, amongst several others. He also serves as the 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.