Dr Shaheen Akhtar is a Professor of International Relations and Editor of the Journal of Contemporary Studies at the Faculty of Contemporary Studies, National Defence University (NDU), Pakistan. Her areas of specialisation include conflict resolution and peacebuilding in South Asia, the foreign policies of major powers, and non-traditional security issues such as energy, water, climate change, and gender in South Asia. She has authored several research papers on peacebuilding and the Jammu & Kashmir dispute. Dr Akhtar is also a member of the Kashmir Initiative Group (KIG), which seeks to bridge the gap between local communities and policymakers.