PRESS RELEASE
Visit of 40 BA students of IR Department from the Air University
April 13, 2022
The Arms Control & Disarmament Centre (ACDC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a visit by BA students of the IR Department from the Air University on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. The students were accompanied by Dr Afsah Kazi, Assistant Professor IR Department and the coordinator, Ms Kanza Safdar.
Malik Qasim Mustafa, Director ACDC, gave a comprehensive presentation on the overall working of the Institute that has produced three books in the last year, organised 190 events and published 111 issue briefs. Ms Aamna Rafiq, Research Fellow, ACDC gave a briefing on the workings of the Centre. She apprised them of the vision and functions of the centre. The ACDC was established on October 30, 2019, as a part of the ISSI. The vision of ACDC is to contribute focused research and quality policy input through in-depth analysis and dialogue on issues of arms control, disarmament, nuclear safety and security, nuclear deterrence, emerging technologies and challenges to peace and strategic stability.
Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Director General ISSI had an interactive session with the students. There was an open and frank exchange of views regarding increased superpower competition, emerging technologies and their impact on international security, Islamophobia, Xenophobia, deteriorating global arms control regime and increased Indian cooperation with the US. Ambassador Chaudhry also highlighted the major security challenges faced by Pakistan like the increasing Hindu extremism in India, the post-US withdrawal situation in Afghanistan, the humanitarian crisis in Kashmir, the balancing act in the face of China-US competition and Saudi-Iran rivalry, and non-traditional security threats. However, he emphasised that Pakistan needs to work on overcoming its weaknesses including achieving political stability, achieving economic progress and improving the country’s image abroad. At the same time, he stressed that Pakistan need to build upon its strengths.
