@2025 – All Right Reserved with CASS Lahore.
Azhar Zeeshan is a Research Assistant at CASS Lahore. His areas of interest include, Air Power dynamics in South Asia, National Security, Geopolitics, and Extremism. He holds an MPhil in History from Quaid-i-Azam University and a BS in International Relations from the University of Peshawar.
Education
Azhar Zeeshan holds an MPhil (with distinction) in History from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, and a BS (with distinction) in International Relations from the University of Peshawar.
Professional Experience
Azhar currently serves as a Research Assistant at the Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS), Lahore, where he conducts in-depth research on issues related to airpower, national security, and foreign affairs. In addition to his role at CASS, he has prior experience as a researcher in organisations such as South Asia Times and Pak Afghan Youth Forum, where he gained valuable skills related to research and analysis.
Areas of Interest / Expertise
His areas of interest include Airpower Dynamics in South Asia and Religious Extremism, with a particular emphasis on militant groups such as TTP and ISKP.
Academic Contributions
Azhar regularly contributes research papers, policy briefs, and opinion articles on a wide spectrum of international and strategic issues. His work has been published in HEC-recognised journals, including Global Political Review, and NUST Journal of International Peace & Stability.
Recent Publications
Research Papers
- Assessing Pakistan’s Soft Power: Challenges and Prospects, Working Paper, Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies, Lahore, Jan 2024
- Drones in Asymmetric Warfare: Lessons and Implications for Pakistan’s Counterterrorism Strategy, Working Paper, Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies, Lahore, May 2024
- The Internationalisation of Yuan: Implications for Pakistan’s Economy – Azhar Zeeshan & Nida Khattak, Group Research Paper, Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies Lahore, November 2024
Opinion Articles
- A Tale of Two Conflicts: Unmasking the Western Hypocrisy in Ukraine & Gaza, published in the South Asia Times, January 27, 2024
- The Politics of Boycott” published in The Nation, February 18, 2024
- Safeguarding Personal Data in the Digital Age: The Need for Robust Privacy Laws” in Pakistan, published in Strafasia, January 09, 2024
- Pakistan & Turkiye’s Aviation Industry”, published in The Nation, March 28, 2024
- Education: an Economic Catalyst, published in The Nation, March 16, 2024
- NACTA in the changing security landscape, published in Pakistan Today, April 21, 2024
- The Afghanistan Conundrum: Pakistan’s Challenge, China’s Role, published in South Asia Times, June 25, 2024
- Understanding propaganda in the age of automation and algorithms, published in Pakistan Today, July 30, 2024
- Strengthening Democracy in Pakistan, published in Pakistan Today, July 10, 2024,
- Defence Day 1965: A Tale of Moral Force, Unity, and Unwavering Patriotism, published in The Law Today Pakistan, September 6, 2024
- Environmentally Sustainable Aviation Future for Pakistan, published in Minute Mirror, December 5, 2024
- Wings of the future: China’s 6th-generation fighter aircraft, published in Pakistan Today, February 2, 2025
- Resetting Pakistan-Bangladesh Ties in the Post-Hasina’s Era, published in Stratheia, February 2, 2025
- The Alarming Use of Small Drones by TTP, published in Stratheia, March 2, 2025
- Su-57 vs. F-35: India’s Choice for Fifth-Generation Fighter Jet, published in Stratheia, March 23, 2025
- Militant Threats: Pakistan’s Struggle Against Polio, published in Stratheia, May 8, 2025
- The Politics of Bloodshed, published in Minute Mirror, May 26, 2025
- Yom-e-Takbeer: The Day Pakistan Became Indomitable, published in Islamabad Post, May 28, 2025
- China’s Jiu Tian Dilemma, published in Stratheia, July 12, 2025
- Modernising for Tomorrow!, published in Stratheia, August 17, 2025
- From “Flying Coffins” to Strategic Void, published in Stratheia, August 23, 2025
Book Reviews
- The Origins of Victory: How Disruptive Military Innovation Determines the Fates of Great Powers by Andrew F. Krepinevich, Jr, Book Review, April 29, 2024
- Qaum, Mulk, Sultanat: Citizenship and National Belonging in Pakistan by Ali Usman Qasmi, Book Review, March 07, 2025
- China’s World View: Demystifying China to Prevent Global Conflict by Prof. David Daokui Li, Book Review, March 17, 2025
The Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS) was established in July 2021 to inform policymakers and the public about issues related to aerospace and security from an independent, non-partisan and future-centric analytical lens.