Ms. Saima Aman Sial slass - BNU

Saima Aman Sial is a strategic analyst, nuclear policy expert, and educator serving as Adjunct Faculty at the Seeta Majeed School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (SLASS), Beaconhouse National University (BNU), Lahore. With extensive expertise spanning government institutions, policy think tanks, and academia, her specialization lies in South Asian strategic stability, nuclear nonproliferation, arms control, naval nuclear triad development, and emerging technologies in regional security.

Saima is pursuing her PhD in International Relations at the University of the Punjab. She earned her M.Phil. in Strategic Studies from National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad, where her thesis examined Pakistan's naval strategic thought and sea-based nuclear deterrence. She is a double Gold Medalist, holding Master’s degrees in Defence and Diplomatic Studies (Fatima Jinnah Women University) and English Language & Applied Linguistics (University of Peshawar).

Her professional trajectory includes serving as Assistant Director Research at the Strategic Plans Division (SPD) and Senior Research Officer and Associate Editor at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS). A fellow of the Stimson Center (USA), James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (USA), and KAIST (South Korea), she regularly speaks at global defense forums, including Carnegie, SIPRI, and IISS London, and frequently appears on media platforms for strategic analysis.

• PhD Scholar in International Relations – Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan (In Progress)
• M.Phil. in Strategic Studies – National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad, Pakistan (2016)
  • Thesis: Historical evolution of Pakistan’s naval strategic thought and development of the nuclear triad in South Asia
• M.A. in Defence and Diplomatic Studies (Gold Medalist) – Fatima Jinnah Women University, Islamabad, Pakistan (2008)
  • Thesis: Fissile material cut-off treaty debates and ramifications for Pakistan’s nuclear program
• M.A. in English Language and Applied Linguistics (Gold Medalist) – University of Peshawar, Pakistan (2004)
• B.A. in English Literature and Social Work – University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan (2002)

• Fellow, United Nations Youth Leaders Fund (YLF) Mentorship Program (2025)
• Boot Camper – Wilson Center & University of Roma Tre Boot Camp on Nuclear History, Allumiere, Italy (2018)
• South Asian Voices Visiting Fellow – Henry L. Stimson Center, Washington D.C., USA (2017)
• Nonproliferation Fellow – Nuclear Nonproliferation Education and Research Centre (NEREC), KAIST, South Korea (2016)
• Nonproliferation Fellow – Cooperative Monitoring Center (CMC), Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico, USA (2013)
• Visiting Nonproliferation Fellow – James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), Monterey, California, USA (2013)
• Fellowship on International Law – Research Society on International Law (RSIL), Lahore, Pakistan (2009)
• Certificate in CTBT Public Policy and Science – CTBTO, Vienna International Centre, Austria (2014)
• Certificate in Nuclear Disarmament – Vienna Centre for Disarmament and Nuclear Non-Proliferation (VCDNP), Austria (2012)

Academic Appointments

• Adjunct Faculty, Seeta Majeed School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (SLASS), Beaconhouse National University (BNU), Lahore
• Adjunct Faculty, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Central Punjab (UCP), Lahore (Sep 2022–Present)
  • Courses Taught: Nuclear Policy, Nonproliferation, Arms Control & Disarmament, Defense & Strategic Studies, International Security.
• Adjunct Faculty, Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Management and Technology (UMT), Lahore (Sep 2024–Jan 2025)
• Adjunct Faculty, Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad (Sep 2020–May 2022)
• Adjunct Faculty, Department of International Law, Bahria University, Islamabad (Sep 2016–2017)

Policy, Strategic & Research Roles

• Senior Research Associate, Center for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS), Lahore (May 2023–Aug 2023)
• Senior Research Officer & Associate Editor (CISS Insight), Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad (2016–2021)
• Research Coordinator, Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies (CPGS), Islamabad (Jan 2015–Sep 2015)
• Senior Research Associate, Strategic Technology Resources (STR) – Arms Control & Disarmament Centre (May 2012–Jan 2013)
• Assistant Director Research, Arms Control & Disarmament Affairs (ACDA) Directorate, Strategic Plans Division (SPD), Pakistan (Feb 2009–Feb 2012)

Edited Books & Monograph Chapters

• Sial, S. A. (Ed.). (2020). Pulwama-Balakot Crisis and Operation Swift Retort. Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad.
• Sial, S. A. (2017). Pakistan and the IAEA. In N. A. Salik (Ed.), Nuclear Pakistan: Seeking Security and Stability. University of Lahore.

Journal Articles & Research Reports

1. Sial, S. A. (2020). Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Implications for South Asian Strategic Stability. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
2. Sial, S. A. (2018). Pakistan’s Nuclear Decision Making Process: Those Seventeen Days. CISS Insight (Special Issue).
3. Sial, S. A. (2017). South Asian Arms Control in Perspective of US-Soviet Experience. CISS Insight, 5(3), 37–72.
4. Sial, S. A. (2016). Global Strategic Foresight 2017. CISS Insight, 4(4), 19–32.

Selected Strategic Commentary & Policy Articles

• Sial, S. A. (2025). The ‘New Normal’ That Wasn’t: India’s Failed Experiment in Coercion. Stratheia.
• Sial, S. A. (2023). Mapping India’s Project Akhand Bharat. Pakistan Politico.
• Sial, S. A. (2020). Lessons Learnt from Balakot Strikes: The View from Islamabad. South Asian Voices.
• Sial, S. A. (2018). Exploring Pakistan’s Quest for a Sea-Based Nuclear Deterrent. Pakistan Politico.
• Sial, S. A. (2017). Nirbhay Undermines Deterrence Stability in South Asia. South Asian Voices.
• Sial, S. A. (2016). Four Questions on India’s Nuclear Suppliers Group Bid. The Diplomat.

International Speaker & Conference Presentations

• Book Talk Speaker (Sep 2025): Strategic Reckoning: Perspectives on Deterrence and Escalation Post-Pahalgam, Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research (CSSPR), Nishat Hotel, Lahore.
• Paper Presenter (Aug 2025): Nuclear Risk and Escalation Dynamics in May-2025 Crisis, Strategic Vision Institute (SVI), Islamabad.
• Speaker (Feb 2020): Prospects for Arms Control and Confidence Building in South Asia, IISS-CISS Joint Workshop, IISS, London, UK.
• Panelist (May 2019): Impact of AI and Machine Learning on Nuclear Risk and Strategic Stability, SIPRI Final Conference, Carnegie Corporation, New York, USA.
• Speaker (Mar 2019): Nuclear Crises in South Asia, Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference, Washington D.C., USA.
• Presenter (Feb 2019): Artificial Intelligence and Implication on South Asian Nuclear Strategy, SIPRI Conference, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
• Presenter (Mar 2017): Nuclearization of Indian Ocean: Implications for Crisis Stability, Stimson Center, Washington D.C., USA.
• Speaker (Sep 2016): Assessing Pakistan's Nuclear Security, Joint Atlantic Council & CISS Conference, Islamabad.

• Gold Medalist: M.A. Defence and Diplomatic Studies, Fatima Jinnah Women University (2008).
• Gold Medalist: M.A. English Language and Applied Linguistics, University of Peshawar (2004).
• International Fellowships: Awarded competitive visiting research fellowships by Stimson Center (USA), CNS Monterey (USA), KAIST (South Korea), and Sandia National Laboratories (USA).

• Email: saimasial@gmail.com