Host: Nusrat Mirza, Chairman Rabita Forum International
Question: When and where did you get your early and higher education?
I got my primary and secondary education in Sindh. The schools and colleges I attended include Government Primary School Dadu, Jamia Millia Malir Karachi and Cadet College Petaro. In 1975, I was selected for Pakistan Air Force in flying branch and joined 71st GD (P) Course in Pakistan Air Force College Sarghoda. I completed four-year ground training program there and received my BSc degree from University of Punjab. I did Master’s in International Public Policy from the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University, USA, in 1997-1998.
Question: When did you join Pakistan Foreign Service? Share a brief introduction of your services at various posts and places.
I joined Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1985 after passing the CSS competitive exam. I retired from government service in 2019. During my diplomatic career of 34 years, I served at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on various positions including as Director General and Additional Secretary. I held various diplomatic assignments in Pakistan Missions abroad including in Russia, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Geneva, Myanmar and Cuba. I was Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from May 2015 to March 2016. I served as Ambassador of Pakistan to Myanmar from 2008 to 2012, Ambassador to Cuba from 2012 to 2014 and Ambassador to the Russian Federation from 2016 to 2019.
Question: Would you like to share for our readers some important or interesting events that occurred during your service of 34 years?
I was posted to Embassy of Pakistan Moscow for my first diplomatic assignment in 1988. Interestingly, when I arrived there, it was capital of the Soviet Union. When I left Moscow in 1993, it had become the capital of Russia.
During my five-year stay in Moscow from 1988 to 1993, I witnessed many historical events including coup against the last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in August 1991 and disintegration of the Soviet Union which marked the end of the Cold War. After Gorbachev resigned on 25 December 1991, I saw the Soviet flag on Kremlin coming down and Russian flag hoisted in its place.
During my Ambassadorial assignment in Moscow from 2016 to 2019, most prominently, I met Russian President Vladimir Putin, when I presented my credentials to him on 20 April 2016.
Besides, I also had the opportunity to participate in several meetings of the Moscow Format of Consultations on Afghanistan, which was Russian initiative launched in December 2016 to help the peace process in Afghanistan. My efforts were helpful in bringing Pakistan and Russia closer.
During my posting in Ukraine from 1999 to 2002, I had the honor of meeting Pope John Paul II.
During my Ambassadorial assignment in Myanmar from 2008 to 2012, I had the opportunity to meet their popular political leader Aung San Suu Kyi several times. I had the honor to organize the visit of President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari to Myanmar in January 2012. He had come there to present Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medal of Democracy to Aung San Suu Kyi.
During my Ambassadorial assignment to Cuba, about 950 Pakistani students were studying medicine there. Let me expand on this. We had severe earthquake in northern part of Pakistan in 2005. In order to help the people of Pakistan, Cuban leader Fidel Castro sent a large medical contingent comprising 2400 doctors and paramedical personnel. They established 32 field hospitals in the earthquake affected areas and subsequently donated these to Pakistan. Fidel Castro then awarded 1000 fully funded scholarships for Pakistani students from the earthquake affected areas to study medicine in Cuba. When I arrived in Cuba in May 2012, about 950 students were studying there.
Let me share something interesting here for your readers about the greatness of people of Cuba. Soon after my arrival in Havana, I came to know that, at any given time, about 50,000 international students were studying free of cost in Cuba. I salute the people of Cuba for this service to humanity.
Question: When did CISSS come into being and what was the vision behind its establishment? What are the Aims and Objectives of the CISSS?
CISSS: Concept, Rationale and Objectives
The Center for International Strategic Studies Sindh (CISSS) was established in Karachi on 1 July 2021 as a Think Tank to interact with key opinion makers from various walks of life and young scholars in Sindh with a view to developing a better understanding of Pakistan’s position on important regional and global issues. These include: (i) South Asian Strategic Stability; (ii) Peaceful uses of Nuclear and Space Technologies; (iii) Artificial Intelligence; (iv) Arms Control and Disarmament; (v) Multilateral Organizations; (vi) Regional and Global Security Alliances; (vii) Global Power Contestation; (viii) Hybrid and 5th Generation Warfare; and (ix) Climate Change. CISSS is providing opportunities to young scholars in Sindh through research and analysis, internship and fellowship programs.
Question: What is the structure of CISSS?
CISSS seeks guidance from an Advisory Board comprising prominent personalities including former ministers, diplomats, heads of educational institutions, businessmen, media personalities and senior retired officers of the armed forces of Pakistan. The existing composition of the CISSS Advisory Board is as follows:
I am heading CISSS as Executive Director. I have with me a team of twenty researchers which includes two Directors Research, two Associate Directors Research, twelve Research Officers and four Research Assistants.
Question: What are the Achievements of CISSS so far?
In order to achieve its goal of becoming a leading think tank of Pakistan, CISSS has organized several activities since its inception. These include conferences, seminars, webinars, book launch, guest lectures, workshops on peaceful uses of nuclear technology, internship programs and organizing visit of university students to Karachi Nuclear Power Plants.
CISSS researchers have written a number of research papers and op-eds which have been published in national and international print media and HEC recognized journals of various institutions. Outreach is an important part of CISSS activities. CISSS researchers have done outreach to more than 40 universities, institutes and government offices based in Sindh. Details are available on CISSS Website https://cisss.org.pk.
CISSS has organized several joint conferences with prominent universities of Sindh including: (i) DHA Suffa University on Ukraine Crisis in March 2022; (ii) Sindh University Jamshoro on Strategic and Economic Dimensions of Pakistan-China Relations Amid Deepening Global Geopolitical Divide in December 2022; (iii) Hamdard University on Nuclear and Space Technologies for Sustainable Development in March 2023; and (iv) Karachi University on Traditional and Non-Traditional Security Imperatives for Pakistan in March 2023. President of Pakistan was the Chief Guest at this Conference.
In February 2024, CISSS, DHA Suffa University and Millennium Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship (MiTE) came together to organize a Seminar to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day. It was the first of its kind event organized in a trilateral framework. The Speakers included: (i) Dr Huma Baqai, Rector MiTE; (ii) Ambassador Qazi M. Khalilullah (R), Executive Director CISSS; (iii) Dr Rizwan Zeb, Professor of International Relations & Strategic Studies, Air War College Institute Karachi; and (iv) Professor Dr Ahmed Saeed Minhas, Pro Vice Chancellor DHA Suffa University.
Last year, CISSS organized a Workshop on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technology at University of Sindh Jamshoro and also organized visit of their 30-member delegation to K2 and K3 nuclear power plants. As a result of our efforts, University of Sindh has decided to include a subject on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technology in their Bachelor’s degree program.
CISSS has also organized book launch events: (i) In collaboration with DHA Suffa University, CISSS organized book launch of Dr Huma Baqai’s book “Collected Works on Foreign Affairs and Security Policy” on 12 September 2023; and (ii) In collaboration with the Institute of Business Management Karachi, CISSS organized book launch of Ambassador Zamir Akram’s book “The Security Imperative: Pakistan’s Nuclear Deterrence and Diplomacy” on 8 November 2023.
Question: What are your plans for the future?
We are planning book launch of Ambassador Zamir Akram’s book at University of Sindh Jamshoro and Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur. We also plan to visit universities in Shikarpur and Sukkur as part of our outreach activities. The first issue of our journal titled Global Strategic Pulse will be published this month. We are planning to write a book on Regional Connectivity and Development.
Question: How do you evaluate cooperation between CISSS and Rabita Forum International?
We highly value our cooperation with RFI. We are grateful for the close attention you as Chairman RFI pay to CISSS. CISSS and RFI signed MoU on joint cooperation in May 2022. I am glad to say that it was the first MoU CISSS signed with any organization in Sindh.
We value RFI’s monthly magazines Interaction and Zaviah-e-Nigah. These magazines are helpful to our researchers in understanding global and regional developments. We are also regularly receiving RFI YouTube bulletins which are being prepared by RFI in several local languages of Sindh and Balochistan. RFI is always forthcoming in providing coverage to events hosted by CISSS.
Thank You.
