Date and place of birth - Karachi ( Pakistan ) – July 1, 1956
Education - M.A. (International Relations),
University of Karachi 1980, with Distinction
B.A. University of Karachi, 1977, with Distinction
Journalism
Started career as a journalist while still at High School.
Numerous articles on national and international politics published by Pakistan's leading newspapers ‘Jang' (Urdu) and ‘Dawn' (English) while still a student.
Worked in Hong Kong as East Asian Correspondent for the London-based ‘ Arabia – the Islamic World Review' – 1980 to 1984. Wrote extensively on Muslims in China and East Asia and Islamic political movements in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution of 1979.
Pakistan and Afghanistan correspondent for ‘Far Eastern Economic Review' – 1984-1988. covered Pakistani politics, India-Pakistan relations and the war in Afghanistan. Frequently interviewed key international figures dealing with South Asia .
Contributed to Voice of America radio – 1984-86. Covering the war in Afghanistan, contributed to deep understanding of militant Jihadi groups.
Since 1988 – Contributes opeds and articles to several national and international publications. Articles have been published in ‘The Wall Street Journal', ‘The New York Times', ‘Boston Globe', ‘Financial Times, London', ‘International Herald Tribune', ‘South China Morning Port', ‘Indian Express', ‘The Hindu', ‘Toronto Globe and Mail', ‘The Ottawa Citizen', ‘Arab News', ‘The New Republic', ‘Gulf News' and 'Le Monde'.
Syndicated columnist for the ‘The Indian Express', ‘Gulf News', ‘Oman Tribune', ‘Daily Star' ( Bangladesh ) and the Pakistani newspaper ‘The Nation'.
Also appears regularly in television news shows on BBC, CNN, NBC, PBS, CBS and ABC, commenting on Pakistan, South Asian affairs, Afghanistan and Islamic politics and radicalism.
Government and Politics
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister, Punjab – 1988-1990. During this period, served as main opposition spokesman. Represented the Opposition at international forums, including in negotiations with the U.S. government. Got an opportunity to witness Pakistan 's transition from direct military rule to sharing of power between military and the civilians.
Organized the parliamentary election campaign in 1988 for the IJI alliance led by Mr. Nawaz Sharif.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi – 1990. Served during the First Gulf War and accompanied the Prime Minister during his Middle East visit following the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait .
Special Assistant and Principal Spokesman to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif – 1990-92. Represented the Prime Minister in talks with the U.S. government over imposition of sanctions in retaliation for Pakistan's nuclear program. Attended several international meetings, including the Commonwealth Summit at Harare , Zimbabwe . Accompanied the Prime Minister in official visits to Saudi Arabia, France , Britain, India and Bangladesh.
Pakistan 's Ambassador to Sri Lanka – 1992-93. Among the youngest people to serve as Pakistan's Ambassador abroad. Was closely involved in evolving the role of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Attended the SAARC summit in Dhaka, Bangladesh .
Worked in the parliamentary election campaign for the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) led by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto – 1993.
Spokesman to Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto with the rank of a Minister of State, and Federal Secretary for Information and Broadcasting -1993-95. Accompanied the Prime Minister in official visits to Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bosnia Herzegovina, Iran, Turkey, Britain, Japan, South Korea, Germany and Switzerland .
Also served as Chairman, House Building Finance Corporation (HBFC) – 1995-1996.
Teaching and Research and Analysis
Associate Professor for International Relations at Boston University – 2004 to present.
Co-Chair, Project on Islam and Democracy, Hudson Institute, Washington DC - 2004 to present.
Editor, ‘Current Trends in Islamist Ideology' (biennial journal) 2004 to present
Visiting Scholar at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington DC – 2002 to 2005
Professional Lecturer at School of Advanced International Studies Johns Hopkins University, Washington DC – 2003-2004
Member, South Asia Council, Association of Asian Studies 2007
Major Publications
Book, “Pakistan Between Mosque and Military' (Washington DC, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Lahore, Vanguard Books, 2005) – The book was reviewed positively in Foreign Affairs, International Affairs, Wall Street Journal, Arms Control Today, Commentary, Washington Monthly, Middle East Journal, Journal of Democracy and 30 other publications
Book Chapter, ‘ Pakistan' in ‘Countries at Crossroads ( New York , Freedom House, 2004)
America 's New Alliance with Pakistan : Avoiding the Traps of the Past (Policy brief, Carnegie Endowment, 2002)
The Gospel of Jihad (Foreign Policy, September-October 2002)
Islam's Medieval Outposts (Foreign Policy, November - December 2002)
The American Mongols (Foreign Policy, May-June 2003
Islam's Weakened Moderates in ‘ Iraq : From Victory to Success' (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2003)
Pakistan's endgame in Kashmir (India Review, July 2003)
India and Pakistan : Is Peace Real This Time?: A Conversation between Husain Haqqani and Ashley J. Tellis (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2004)
The Role of Islam in Pakistan's Future (Washington Quarterly, Winter 2004-05)
The Ideologies of South Asian Jihadi Groups (Current Trends in Islamist Ideology, April 2005)
The Ideologies of Indian Jihadi Groups (Current Trends in Islamist Ideology, March 2006)
Dysfunction of an Ideological State : Pakistan's Recurrent Crises in Historic Context,' (Research Group in International Security, University of Montreal/McGill University, Working Paper No. 20, October 2006
Weeding and Heretics: Sectarianism in Pakistan (Current Trends in Islamist Ideology, November 2006)
‘History repeats itself in Pakistan' (Journal of Democracy, October 2006)
Book chapter ‘ Pakistan', in ‘Countries at Crossroads' (NY, Freedom House, 2006)
Entry on ‘Pakistan', in encyclopedia of Politics and Religion, 2 nd Edition (Washington, CQ Press, 2007)
‘ Pakistan and the Islamists,' (Current History, April 2007)
The Ideologies of Afghan Islamist Groups (Current Trends in Islamist Ideology, June 2007)
More than 390 oped articles in newspapers and magazines since 2000
