Samina Ahmed

Project Director, South Asia
Islamabad, Pakistan

Crisis Group role:

Samina Ahmed oversees Crisis Group's work in Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nepal. Together with our analysts throughout the region, she prepares reports on the political, social, economic and military factors that increase the risks of extremism, internal conflict and war, and she makes policy recommendations to overcome these threats. In general, her team focuses on political, security and stability issues in South Asia, including problems of authoritarianism; Islamic extremism, domestic and regional terrorism; educational, judicial, and security sector reform; international involvement and intervention in the region, including US relations with authoritarian states; and domestic insurgencies and the risk of inter-state conflict. She also frequently briefs representatives of foreign ministries and international organisations, and is regularly involved in advocacy efforts internationally.

Areas of expertise:

• South Asian affairs  
• Democratic transitions in authoritarian states
• Ethnic and religious conflict
• Nuclear proliferation

Professional background:

• Research Fellow, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University (1999-2001)
• Senior Research Analyst, Institute of Regional Studies (1990-1997)
• Doctor of philosophy in Political Science, Australian National University (1990)

Languages: 

• Urdu (native)
• English (fluent)

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