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Maheen Shafeeq


Research Associate

Areas of Research:

India-Pakistan-US-China Relations, Indo-Pacific, International Security, Emerging Technologies, Future Warfare, Militarization of Social Media, Diplomacy, and Nuclear Security.

Maheen Shafeeq is a Research Associate at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI). She graduated with an MPhil degree in International Relations from the University of Sheffield, UK. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences with a major in International Relations from Bahria University Islamabad.

Previously, she worked as a Researcher at the Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS). In addition, she has experience of teaching at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Bahria University and the School of Politics and International Relations at Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad. She has also worked with the Ministry of Reforms and Development and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan.

Ms Maheen has published several journal articles, reports, opinion articles, working papers, conference papers and book reviews. She has completed her fellowship with Sandia National Labs USA and participated in numerous courses and workshops by highly prestigious institutions such as Kings College London, World Institute for Nuclear Security and Sandia National Labs. She is an active member of the International Association for Political Science Students IAPSS (Canada), World Institute for Nuclear Security WINS (Austria), Institute of Nuclear Materials Management INMM (Austria), and Chatham House (UK), to mention a few.

Her research area includes India-Pakistan-US-China Relations, Indo-Pacific, International Security, Emerging Technologies, Future Warfare, Militarization of Social Media, Diplomacy, and Nuclear Security.

She is also a professional photographer and has worked with football clubs in the UK, such as Manchester United, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday.

Issue Brief on “India-Russia Strategic Partnership Under U.S. Scrutiny: Analyzing U.S. Sanctions and Export...

Introduction On 30 October 2024, three significant U.S. government departments – the Department of State, Department of the Treasury, and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of...

Issue Brief on “Canada and U.S. Expose Indian Government’s Transnational Terrorism”

Introduction In a follow-up to ongoing investigations into the role of Indian government agents in the extraterritorial and extrajudicial killings, both the U.S. and Canada publicized...

Issue Brief on “A Thaw in India-China Relations Amidst Geopolitical Complexities and Implications for...

Introduction On October 21, 2024, the Indian Foreign Secretary and on October 22, 2024, the Spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that India and China...

Issue Brief on “Indian Defence Budget 2024-25: Indigenization Drive”

For the Fiscal Year 2024-2025, India has raised its Defence Budget by 4.55 per cent, allocating approximately $74.30 billion (INR 6.21 trillion) for military...

Issue Brief on “Indian Defence Budget FY 2024-25 – Operational Preparedness and Defence Modernization:...

Due to election season in India, the Union Budget was announced twice this year. Initially, an interim budget was presented on February 1, 2024,...

Issue Brief on “Modi 3.0: Indian Foreign Policy and Implications for Pakistan”

India, being the most populous country and so-called ‘largest democracy’ in terms of numbers, recently concluded its longest electoral exercise spanning over 46 days...

Issue Brief on “Understanding the Dynamics of 18th Lok Sabha Election Results”

Introduction The 18th Lok Sabha election results were announced on June 4, 2024, by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Spanning seven phases, India held...

Issue Brief on “Prospects and Challenges of Pakistan-India Trade “

Introduction The heavy burden of history and persistently strained relations between Pakistan and India have been a significant source of wedge in their economic...

Issue Brief on 18th Lok Sabha Election Manifestos 2024: Indian Foreign Policy and Pakistan

Introduction Ahead of the 18th Lok Sabha elections (commencing from April 19, 2024), the manifestos of India’s two major political parties are under scrutiny. The...

Issue Brief on “Operation Swift Retort Revisited”

On February 27, 2024, Pakistan commemorated the fifth anniversary of Operation Swift Retort in which the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) successfully downed Indian fighter...