Maimuna Ashraf is a Ph.D. scholar at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, the Australian National University. She has been working in the field of strategic studies since 2015 and was associated with two Islamabad based think-tanks as a Senior Research Associate and a Research Officer. Her research focuses on South Asian nuclear issues, primarily India and Pakistan’s nuclear and missile capabilities, their conventional and nuclear military doctrines, force postures, and regional arms control and disarmament perspectives.

Ms. Ashraf was a Visiting Fellow to the South Asian Voices (SAV), Stimson Center, (USA) in 2018 and she has occasionally contributed to Stimson’s Strategic Learning Initiative. She has presented her work at national and international conferences/workshops including the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI-USA), European Union Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (EUNPD) Next Generation Workshop, Brussels, and Atlantic Council. She also participated in various national and international courses/trainings including the 57^th International School on Disarmament and Research on Conflict (ISODARCO) Italy, and the “Disarmament and Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Training Program” organized by the T.M.C. Asser Instituut and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Netherlands.

She holds an M.Phil. in International Relations from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan, and her dissertation focused on Pakistan’s Nuclear Disaster Management. She has published research articles and opinion pieces in national journals and on global platforms such as the Stimson Centre, The National Interest, Journal of Contemporary Studies and CISS Insight.