Senior Professor of International Relations
Prof. Dr. Adam Saud
Principal, Bahria Humanities & Social Sciences School · Former Dean, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
Researching Political Islam, Central Asia, CPEC, regional connectivity, terrorism and foreign policy, and mentoring Pakistan's next generation of IR scholars.
About
For over two decades, Prof. Dr. Adam Saud has studied the forces that shape Muslim-majority societies: Political Islam, the geopolitics of Central Asia, regional connectivity and radicalization. He is a Senior Professor of International Relations at Bahria University, Islamabad, and has been Principal of the Bahria Humanities and Social Sciences School (BH3S) since June 2020. From June 2020 to March 2026 he was Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
He earned his Ph.D. in International Relations from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, with doctoral research on Political Islam in Central Asia, covering the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Hizb-ut-Tahrir and the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan. His work has been cited more than 260 times (h-index 9) and he has presented it in Pakistan, Turkey, Thailand, Tajikistan and India, most recently as the sole keynote speaker at the inaugural session of the 3rd ICMAC International Conference. He welcomes contact from policymakers, researchers and students.
Research Interests
Political Islam
Islamist movements in Central Asia and the path from militancy to moderation.
Central Asia
Security, foreign policy change, and the region's place in great-power competition.
CPEC & Connectivity
BRI, Gwadar, and linking South Asia with Central Asia.
Terrorism
Transnational groups, radicalization and counter-terrorism.
Foreign Policy
Pakistan's relations with China, Russia, the US and Afghanistan.
Global Order
US–China rivalry, the Indian Ocean and multipolarity.
Education & Career
Academic Positions
- 2022 – NowSenior Professor, Bahria University
- 2020 – NowPrincipal, BH3S, E-8 Campus
- 2020 – 2026Dean, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
- 2020 – 2022Professor, Bahria University
- 2018 – 2020Associate Professor, Bahria University
- 2013 – 2018Senior Assistant Professor, Bahria University
- 2010 – 2013Assistant Professor, Bahria University
- 2000 – 2010Lecturer, Government College Abbottabad
Education
- 2017Ph.D., International RelationsQuaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad
- 2008M.Phil., International RelationsQuaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad
- 2000M.A., Political ScienceUniversity of Peshawar
- 1997B.A., Political ScienceUniversity of Peshawar
Book
Clash of Exceptionalism in International Relations
Co-authored chapters, including “The Making of a Great Power” (with S. M. S. Zaidi) · Routledge, 2026
Also: co-author, “Introduction: Dynamics of World Order and System”, in China’s Globalisation and the New World Order (Palgrave Macmillan, 2025)
Learn MoreSelected Journal Articles
- Climate Disasters, Geopolitics, and Regional Resilience: The European Union's Role in Central Asia. Journal of European Studies, 2026
- The Emerging Multipolarity: Implications for Central Asian Republics. Central Asia, 2026
- Beyond an All-Weather Friendship: Charting a 'Shared Future for Mankind' in China-Pakistan Relations. Asian Journal of International Peace and Security, 2025
- Hydropolitics in Central Asia: The Role of Water Security in Shaping Regional Stability. Central Asia, 2025
- India's Fifth Generation Warfare against Pakistan and the Role of Indian Media in Shaping Public Perceptions of CPEC. Journal of Social Sciences Review, 2025
- Viability of Pak-Russia Military Cooperation. Central Asia, 2024
- Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan Border Skirmishes (2022) and Waning Russian Influence in Central Asia. Central Asia, 2023
- Disinformation and Propaganda Tactics: Impacts of Indian Information Warfare on Pakistan. Journal of Indian Studies, 2022
- Analysing the State of Digital Information Warfare Between India and Pakistan on Twittersphere. SAGE Open, 2021
- From Geo-Strategic Rivals to Probable Allies? A Constructivist Analysis of Pakistan–Russia Relations. Herald of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2021
- EAEU and BRI in Central Asia: Transformation from Land-locked to Land-linked Region? Central Asia, 2021
- President Trump's China Policy: An Offensive Realist Strategy. Journal of Peace, Development and Communication, 2020
- Changing Dynamics of Uzbekistan's Foreign Policy under Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Central Asia, 2018
- Death of Islam Karimov and Future of Political Islam in Central Asia: A Case Study of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Central Asia, 2015
Conferences & Talks
| Keynote Speaker | Inaugural session, 3rd ICMAC International Conference |
| Bridging Continents: Strategic Connectivity and Economic Integration between Central Asia, Russia, and Pakistan | The Evolving Russia–Pakistan Relationship in a Changing Global Order |
| Climate Disasters as Geopolitical Catalysts: EU Climate Governance in Central Asia | Transition to a Green Economy in Central Asia, Dushanbe, Tajikistan |
| From Divergence to Convergence of Interests: A Neo-Realist Approach to Pakistan–Russia Relations | 1st International Conference on Pakistan–Russia Relations, FUUAST, Karachi |
| Reimagining the Muslim World: The Strategic Promise of the D-8 in a Multipolar Future | Anadolu Symposium of International Studies, Ankara |
| India's Fifth-Generation Warfare against Pakistan and the Role of Indian Media on CPEC | ANPOR-APCA Annual Conference, Bangkok |
| Promoting Cultural Diversity and Decolonizing the Curriculum | Universities of the Future, Sonipat |
| Beyond an All-Weather Friendship | Pakistan China Community with Shared Future Conference, NUST |
| Ukraine War and the Waning Russian Influence in Central Asia | Central Asia in the Changing World, Karachi |
| Gwadar Port: A Focal Point of Conflicting Strategic Interests Between China and USA | 5th South Asian International Conference, Murree |
Contact
- [email protected]
- Phone
- +92-51-9260002 Ext. 1297
- Office
- Bahria University, E-8 Campus, Islamabad
- Online
- Google Scholar profile
For updates on research, publications and talks, follow Prof. Adam Saud on LinkedIn.
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