ISLAMABAD: The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) and the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaboration in a virtual ceremony on Monday.
The ISSI side was led by its Director General, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, and the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore, represented by Director Dr. Iqbal Singh Sevea. The event marked the first MoU between the think tanks of Pakistan and Singapore, signaling the beginning of a new era of collaboration.
Joining Ambassador Sohail Mahmood and Dr. Iqbal Sevea in the MoU signing ceremony were Rukhsana Afzaal, the High Commissioner of Pakistan to Singapore; Muhammad Junaid, Director of the East Asia & Pacific Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan; Dr. Talat Shabbir, Director of the China Pakistan Study Centre at ISSI; the team from the India Study Centre at ISSI; and colleagues from ISAS.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood hailed the MoU as a significant step towards establishing a formal relationship between the two institutes. He expressed gratitude for the invaluable support provided by High Commissioner Rukhsana Afzaal throughout the process.
Emphasizing the comprehensive scope of the MoU, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood highlighted its focus on mutually agreed research agendas, exchanges, and dialogue covering regional, global, and strategic issues of common interest.
He also underscored the importance that Pakistan places on its relations with Singapore, both bilaterally and within the ASEAN framework, and described the signing of the MoU as a crucial step towards enhancing soft connectivity and people-to-people links between the two sides.
High Commissioner Rukhsana Afzaal expressed satisfaction at the conclusion of the MoU, citing ISAS as Singapore’s prominent think tank and an important connector between Pakistan and Singaporean researchers and academia.
She highlighted the High Commission’s efforts to facilitate connections between the research communities of both countries, mentioning seven joint webinars organized in collaboration with ISAS. The goal of these efforts, she stated, was to foster a better understanding of each other’s perspectives.
Dr. Iqbal Singh Sevea emphasized the significance of the MoU between ISAS and ISSI as a vital step towards mutual collaboration. He emphasized ISAS’s interdisciplinary approach to research, aimed at comprehensively understanding the complexities surrounding South Asian security dynamics. Dr. Sevea particularly noted Pakistan’s importance, especially in its role in the Indian Ocean region and Central Asia.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood extended congratulations to ISAS on their 20th anniversary and expressed the intention of both sides to closely consult on determining the next steps in this new partnership.
