DrZahid Ahmed

Dr Zahid Shahab Ahmed is a researcher focusing on peace and security in South
Asia and the Middle East.
His work examines the impacts of sectarianism and violent extremism on
domestic, regional and global peace and security. He is also engaged in
research and educational projects on countering violent extremism.
A Pakistani citizen, Dr Ahmed brings a much-needed citizen's perspective to
research on the country. He also brings rich grassroots level experience in
the development sector in Asia to his research.
He has worked on numerous research assignments with Die Deutsche Gesellschaft
fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Friedrich Ebert Foundation,
Commonwealth Foundation, United States Institute of Peace, Transparency
International, Global Integrity, and International Centre for Nonviolent
Conflict during a decade long engagement with the development sector.
Dr Ahmed has published and presented papers on a wide range of issues, such as
foreign policy, international organizations, Islam, peace and conflict,
regionalism, and regional security. His recent papers have looked at the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation, South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation, and Pakistan's relations with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India,
Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Dr Ahmed received his PhD in the area of Political and International Studies
from the University of New England (UNE) in Australia. He has an MA in Peace
Education from the United Nations mandated University for Peace (Costa Rica),
and an MA in Sociology from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad
(Pakistan).
During 2013-2015, he served as Assistant Professor at the Centre for
International Peace & Stability (CIPS), National University of Sciences and
Technology (NUST) in Islamabad. He has previously taught at University of New
England (Australia), Charles Sturt University (Australia), Iqra University
(Pakistan) and Allama Iqbal Open University (Pakistan).
In July 2018, he presented a paper at the 25th World Congress of Political
Science in Australia.
He has an excellent record of publications. He is the author of Regionalism
and Regional Security in South Asia: The Role of SAARC (Routledge, 2013). He
has published in prominent academic journals, including Democratization, Third
World Quarterly, Asian Studies Review, Journal of Contemporary China, Global
Policy, and Middle East Policy. He is regularly invited to write opinion
pieces and do media commentary.
In recognition of his research, Dr. Ahmed has received several prestigious
research awards/grants, such as Mahbub ul Haq Research Award (Regional Centre
for Strategic Studies, Sri Lanka); Conflict Transformation Award (WISCOMP,
India).