The Centre for International Strategic Studies, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (CISS AJK), today held the closing ceremony of its Third Internship Batch at its premises in Muzaffarabad, marking the successful conclusion of an intensive learning and research programme aimed at equipping young minds with a deeper understanding of strategic, security and contemporary geopolitical issues.
Dr. Asma Shakir Khawaja, Executive Director, CISS AJK, delivered the opening remarks, congratulating the CISS AJK team on the successful completion of the Third Internship Programme. She appreciated the team’s dedication and efforts in organising and conducting the programme, emphasising the importance of institutional initiatives that provide young people with opportunities to engage with contemporary strategic and security issues. She highlighted that such programmes play a vital role in nurturing informed, critical and intellectually mature young minds, while bridging the gap between academic learning and practical understanding of national and international affairs. She underscored CISS AJK’s commitment to fostering the next generation of researchers and contributing to the development of a well-informed strategic community.
Her opening remarks were followed by the keynote address of Lt. Gen. Sarfaraz Sattar, HI(M) (Retd.), Advisor , National Command Authority (NCA).
In his keynote address, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Sarfaraz Sattar highlighted CISS AJK’s four-year journey and its major contributions to strengthening Pakistan’s strategic community through research, policy engagement and strategic dialogue. Addressing the interns, he underscored the importance of intellectual development and critical thinking, observing that young minds are particularly susceptible to external influences. He noted that the CISS AJK internship programme provides an opportunity for young people to engage with strategic realities, challenge assumptions and develop informed perspectives.
Emphasising the lasting impact of the learning experience, he remarked that what interns had learned during the programme would trigger inquisitiveness and encourage them to explore issues beyond conventional narratives. He urged them to carry this knowledge forward and continue developing their intellectual capabilities. He also appreciated CISS AJK’s strategic outreach initiatives at universities, highlighting their significance in promoting strategic literacy and engaging the younger generation in national and international security discourse. Discussing the evolving regional security environment, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Sattar highlighted the growing influence of ideological and political narratives in India.
