The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) and Riphah International University have formalised a collaborative partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding signed at ISSI by Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Director General ISSI, and Professor Dr. Anis Ahmad, Vice Chancellor Riphah University. The ceremony included the presence of Professor Dr. Rashid Aftab and Dr. Neelum Nigar along with other senior faculty and policy practitioners.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood highlighted the shared vision between the two organisations and underscored the potential for joint work in research and human resource development. He said academic rigour and policy formulation must complement each other, and stressed the importance of engaging youth in conversations about domestic and international challenges so they can contribute to national opportunities and solutions.
The areas identified for collaboration reflect contemporary priorities: public policy, climate change and water security, the evolving dynamics in South Asia, the impact of Hindutva on the regional environment, global Islamophobia and a spectrum of non-traditional security issues. These themes will guide joint research, training programmes and dialogue under the partnership.
Professor Dr. Anis Ahmad emphasised that institutions should adopt strategic, long-term thinking and prioritise the ‘decolonisation’ of academic thought to align policy and development approaches. He outlined plans for collaborative projects in research, training, publications and academic exchanges that leverage the strengths of both organisations.
Officials noted that the MoU also advances ISSI’s outreach under its NextGen programme, creating a bridge between students, faculty and policy practitioners. The ISSI Riphah collaboration is intended to foster sustained interaction through joint research, human resource development and academic exchanges to cultivate informed policy discourse across Pakistan.
