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Dr Zainab Akhter has a PhD from the Centre for International Politics, Organization, and Disarmament (CIPOD), School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. She also has an MPhil from the same university as well as a post graduate degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir. Zainab was earlier a Research Officer with the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS), and has also worked with the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) as a Research Associate and at India Institute as a researcher. She has interned with the Hindustan Times and has been awarded the Ladakh Women Writers Award for the year 2008 by Charkha, a Delhi-based NGO. She was selected for the India-Pakistan Legislative Fellowship 2017 by the US Government and was placed as the India Legislative Fellow at Hudson Institute, a think tank based in Washington DC.
Her areas of research interest are Soft Power, Cultural Diplomacy, India-Pakistan relations, CBMs, people-to-people diplomacy, Jammu and Kashmir (with special focus on Ladakh). She has extensively travelled in Pakistan and Baltistan. She is part of the Editorial Team for the Journal of International Association of Ladakh Studies, a member of the International Association of Ladakh Studies (IALS), Communities without Boundaries International, an international nongovernment organization that works to build peace and Women’s Regional Network, a network of women civil society leaders working together to advance women’s rights and regional peace in South Asia. She has presented papers in various national and international conferences and has published research papers and articles in journals, websites and newspapers on strategic issues related to Pakistan, India-Pakistan relations, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and Ladakh.
Her journal articles include: “India-Pakistan Relations: Efficacy of Culture,” Millennial Asia: An International Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 7, No. 2, 2016; “Indo-Pak Diplomacy: Modi’s Pakistan Policy,” Mainstream, Vol. 54, No. 9, 2016; “The Strategic Importance of the Siachen Glacier for India,” Indian Defence Review, February 2016.
She has also reviewed a book titled Conflict in Jammu & Kashmir: Impact on Polity, Society, and Economy, which was published in Book Review, Vol. 36, No. 9, 2012. Her latest publications are In Pakistan’s Tryst with Democracy Shadow of Military looms large, published in Daily O, 18 August 2018 and Pakistan and the Politics of CPEC: A Rethink on the Anvil, published in South Asian Voices (SAV), 21 October 2018.
India-Pakistan Cross-LoC Connectivity: Bridging the Gap between Ladakh and Baltistan by Invoking the ‘Balti Culture
Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Zainab Akhter contributed a chapter titled “India-Pakistan Cross-LoC Connectivity: Bridging the Gap between Ladakh and Baltistan by Invoking the ‘Balti Culture’”, has been published in the book, ‘Gilgit-Baltistan under Pakistan's Occupation’, edited by Ashish Shukla (KW Publisher, 2021).
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Imran Khan's Single National Curriculum: An Overdose of Religion?
Imran Khan’s overemphasis on further mainstreaming the religious education might result in increased conflict between his government and the opposition and also the civil society in Pakistan.
Imran Khan’s Rant on ‘Kashmir’ After Judicial Snub
Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Zainab Akhter’s commentary ‘Imran Khan’s Rant on ‘Kashmir’ After Judicial Snub’ has been published by All India Radio (AIR) World Service, an external services division of AIR, on March 25, 2021.
India-Pakistan Cross-cultural Connectivity: The Baltis of Ladakh & Baltistan
Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Zainab Akhter’s article, ‘India-Pakistan Cross-cultural Connectivity: The Baltis of Ladakh & Baltistan’, has been published in the Journal of Himalayan & Central Asian Studies, (Pages 51-65), Volume 24, Number 4, October-December 2020 Issue.
With the recent creation of Ladakh as a new Union Territory and the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, the Balti people of Ladakh and Baltistan are hopeful that things might change, writes Dr. Akhter.
India-Pakistan LoC Ceasefire Decision: A Thaw in Sight?
Even as the India-Pakistan ceasefire decision on the LoC is in effect, India has affirmed that there would not be any let-up in its counter-terrorism efforts.
Political Shenanigans Continue In Pakistan
Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Zainab Akhter’s commentary ‘Political Shenanigans Continue in Pakistan’ has been published in All India Radio (AIR) World Service, an External Services Division of AIR, on January 05, 2020.
Pakistan Towards A Political Stalemate
Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Zainab Akhter’s article ‘Pakistan Towards A Political Stalemate’ as been published by the All India Radio (AIR) World Service, an external services division of AIR, on November 24, 2020.
Pakistan is moving towards a political impasse. Corona cases in the country are also increasing. It remains to be seen how the military establishment reacts to break the stalemate. Would the Pak army break its vow not to interfere in the country’s politics? This possibility cannot be ruled out!, writes Dr. Akhter.
Peoples Democratic Movement & FATF: PTI Government In A Fix
Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Zainab Akhter's write up 'Peoples Democratic Movement & FATF: PTI Government In A Fix' has been published by the External Service Division, All India Radio (ESD-AIR), on October 24, 2020.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) government led by Imran Khan is in a tight spot, writes Dr Akhter.
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Imran Khan’s Illusive Dream Of Riyasat-E- Madina
Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Zainab Akhter’s commentary ‘Imran Khan’s Illusive Dream of Riyasat-E- Madina’ has been published by All India Radio (AIR) World Service, an external services division of AIR, on September 17, 2020.
Bajwa’s Saudi Visit: An Attempt To Mend The Fences
Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Zainab Akhter’s article ‘Bajwa’s Saudi Visit: An Attempt To Mend The Fences’ has been published by the All India Radio (AIR) World Service, an External Services Division of AIR, on August 22, 2020.
The recent bickering between Islamabad and Riyadh point to the fact that all is not well between the two nations. Thus, Bajwa’s visit was an attempt to salvage the deteriorating relationship.
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