Research Institutes

Last updated: 14 February 2011

This page lists research institutes that specialize on Pakistan.  We are continuously updating this list.  Please let us know of additional resources or corrections.

  • Carnegie Endowment for International Peace [South Asia program], Washington, DC, USA
    "Driven by instability in Pakistan and the war in Afghanistan, South Asia has become a key battleground in the US-led war on terrorism. Carnegie scholars offer analysis of Pakistan’s political transition, the daunting challenges facing Afghanistan, and India’s emergence as a rising power."
  • Center for Strategic and International Studies [South Asia program], Washington, DC, USA
    "The South Asia Program at CSIS undertakes projects focusing on geopolitics, strategic affairs, economics, and public health related to the region."
  • Council on Foreign Relations [Pakistan page], Washington, DC, USA
    "The Council on Foreign Relations is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher dedicated to being a resource for its members, government officials, business executives, journalists, educators and students, civic and religious leaders, and other interested citizens in order to help them better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing the United States and other countries."
  • Critical Threats [Pakistan Project], American Enterprise Institute, Washington, DC, USA
    "Critical Threats, a project of the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, aims to provide the American public and policy experts with detailed, objective tracking and analysis of the primary national security challenges faced by the United States in today’s world."
  • Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, India
    "The Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) is a non-partisan, autonomous body dedicated to objective research and policy relevant studies on all aspects of defence and security."
  • Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies // S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Singapore
    "The Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS) at Nanyang Technological University was established on 30 July 1996 by Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence. On 1 January 2007 IDSS was formally inaugurated to become the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. The School has acquired the reputation as a leading research and graduate teaching institution in strategic and international affairs in the Asia-Pacific region."
  • Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi, India
    "The Institute conducts independent research on conventional and non-conventional security issues in the region and shares its findings with policy makers and the public. The IPCS is dedicated to independent, non-partisan research and analysis."
  • Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad, Pakistan
    "IPS is an autonomous, not for profit, civil society organization, dedicated to promoting policy-oriented research. IPS provides a forum for informed discussion and dialogue on national and international issues. The contributions spanning over nearly about thirty years and the overall impact signifies the importance of pragmatic research on policy issues."
  • Institute of Regional Studies, Islamabad, Pakistan
    "The Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) is an independent, non-profit research centre devoted to the study of the region around Pakistan: South Asia, Southwest Asia (Iran, Afghanistan and the Gulf), China, Central Asia as well as the Indian Ocean region. It also studies and analyses policies of major power centers towards South Asia. The Institute was set up in March 1982. It is considered one of Pakistan's leading think tanks."
  • Institute of South Asian Studies, Singapore
    "The Institute of South Asian Studies was established in July 2004 as an autonomous research institute within the National University of Singapore (NUS). The Institute is dedicated to the study of contemporary South Asia. It aims to generate knowledge and insights about the region, and to disseminate them in a manner that is useful to policy-makers, the business community, academia and civil society."
  • Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad, Pakistan
    The Institute of Strategic Studies publishes research and policy papers and reports discussing strategic issues,such as foreign policy, regional security, and terrorism. The Institute also maintains a library and holds events throughout the year.
  • International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, Singapore
    "The International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) was the first centre to be established at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, Singapore. The Centre's objective is to develop a complete and comprehensive understanding of threats from politically motivated violence and terrorism, as well as to develop appropriate counter-measures against the same."
  • Islamabad Policy Research Institute, Islamabad, Pakistan
    "The Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) was founded in 1999 as an autonomous body to produce well-analysed inputs and ideas to formulate responses to meet such challenge. IPRI is a research institute dedicated to undertaking analyses and evaluations of important national and international politico-strategic issues and developments affecting Pakistan, South Asia, and the world affairs."
  • Jamestown Foundation Terrorism Monitor, Washington, DC, USA
    "Global Terrorism Analysis is produced by The Jamestown Foundation. Since September 11, 2003, Jamestown has been publishing Terrorism Monitor, a bi-weekly journal providing in-depth, objective analysis on al-Qaeda and the War on Terror. Jamestown has continually expanded on its coverage of terrorism and security issues, utilizing indigenous sources and with attention paid to frequently un-reported or under-reported topics."
  • National Bureau of Asian Research, Seattle, USA
    "NBR conducts advanced independent research on strategic, political, economic, globalization, health, and energy issues affecting U.S. relations with Asia. Drawing upon an extensive network of the world’s leading specialists and leveraging the latest technology, NBR bridges the academic, business, and policy arenas."
  • Pakistan Security Research Unit, Bradford University, United Kingdom
    "The Pakistan Security Research Unit serves as an independent portal and neutral platform for interdisciplinary research on all aspects of Pakistani security, dealing with Pakistan's impact on regional and global security, internal security issues within Pakistan, and the interplay of the two."
  • Pak Institute for Peace Studies, Islamabad, Pakistan
    "The Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) is an independent, not-for-profit non governmental research and advocacy think-tank. An initiative of leading Pakistani scholars, researchers and journalists, PIPS conducts wide-ranging research and analysis of political, social and religious conflicts that have a direct bearing on both national and international security."
  • Regional Centre for Strategic Studies, Sri Lanka
    "RCSS facilitates scholars and other professionals of South Asia to address, individually and collectively, problems and issues of topical interest for all countries of the region."
  • South Asia Terrorism Portal // Institute for Conflict Management, New Delhi, India
    "The Institute for Conflict Management is a non-Profit Society set up in 1997 in New Delhi, and is committed to the continuous evaluation and resolution of problems of internal security in South Asia. The Institute was set up on the initiative of, and is presently headed by, its President, Mr. K.P.S. Gill, IPS (Retd)."
  • South Asia Analysis Group, Noida, India
    "South Asia Analysis Group is a non profit non commercial think tank. The objective of the group is to advance strategic analysis and contribute to the expansion of knowledge of Indian and International security and promote public understanding. In so doing, the SAAG seeks to address the decision makers, strategic planners, academics and the media in South Asia and the world at large."
  • , Mumbai, India
    "Strategic Foresight Group (SFG) is a think tank that helps policy makers to anticipate and shape, the future in uncertain times. It produces fresh perspectives, by combining research with policy change and conflict-resolution initiatives. SFG brings out confidential and public research reports. Its in-depth scenarios in the context of the war in Iraq, instability in Central Asia, religious extremism in Pakistan and India’s economy has earned SFG, a reputation for correct projections."