ISLAMABAD: The Arms Control and Disarmament Centre (ACDC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a visit by BA students of the International Relation Department from the Air University on Wednesday.

The students were accompanied by Dr Afsah Kazi, Assistant Professor IR Department and the coordinator Kanza Safdar.

ISSI Director General former ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry had an interactive session with the students. There was an exchange of views on increased superpower competition, emerging technologies and their impact on international security, Islamophobia, Xenophobia, deteriorating global arms control regime and increased Indian cooperation with the US.

Ambassador Chaudhry also highlighted the major security challenges faced by Pakistan like the increasing Hindu extremism in India, the post-US withdrawal situation in Afghanistan, the humanitarian crisis in Kashmir, the balancing act in the face of China-US competition, Saudi-Iran rivalry and non-traditional security threats.

However, he emphasised that Pakistan needed to work on overcoming its weaknesses including achieving political stability, achieving economic progress and improving the country’s image abroad. At the same time, he stressed that Pakistan need to build upon its strengths.

Earlier, ACDC Director Malik Qasim Mustafa gave a comprehensive presentation on the overall working of the institute that had produced three books in the last year, organised 190 events and published 111 issue briefs.

Aamna Rafiq, research fellow, ACDC, gave a briefing on the workings of the centre.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2022