Welcome to The Durand Dispatch!
At The Durand Dispatch, we seek to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world policy by delivering sharp, timely analyses on security dynamics, political violence, and militancy across South and Central Asia, with a special focus on the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.
The Durand Dispatch represents a new model for democratizing expertise on South and Central Asia security affairs. Founded by Dr. Amira Jadoon,a leading counterterrorism and international security expert, we’re committed to bringing fresh, diverse perspectives to regional security analysis through our network of student volunteers and local researchers.
Our mission is to cut through the noise, focusing on what matters most. Through careful curation of academic literature, policy papers, militant communications, and on-the-ground reporting, we distill complex regional developments into clear, accessible analysis.
We produce a range of analytical outputs designed to provide a layered understanding of militancy, insurgency, and security dynamics across the Afghanistan–Pakistan region:
Strategic Messaging is our flagship series of regular intelligence briefings and analytical articles focused on propaganda, narratives, and information operations by militant and non-state actors. It examines how groups shape legitimacy, construct recruitment narratives, and operate across evolving media ecosystems. Through in-depth analysis of organisations such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban, Islamic State, Al-Qaeda, Baloch militant groups and others, we deliver specialised, intelligence-driven insights –published as monthly analytical briefs, short articles, and long-form analysis.
Perspectives is our core article series covering timely developments across security, militancy, and regional relations. Each article analyzes emerging threats, counterrorism dynamics, regional relations, internal governance, and civil unrest, situating events within broader strategic and policy context.
We also host Feature Articles, providing focused, standalone deep dives into pertinent regional security dynamics authored by international and local experts, and emerging voices from the academic and policy community. Our Infographics complement our outputs by translating complex developments into clear, accessible visuals.
Our Team
Amira Jadoon, Ph.D.
Founding Editor
Amira Jadoon is a political scientist and tenured professor at Clemson University, whose research explores the multifaceted consequences of international security tools and counterterrorism strategies, examining their interlinkages with political violence, extremism, and the strategic dissemination of disinformation. From 2017-2022, she led the South/Central Asia portfolio at the Combating Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, where she regularly briefed U.S military and intelligence personnel, policymakers and international partners (among them the 75th Rangers Regiment, U.S. Special Forces, National Intelligence Council, the UN, and others).
Jadoon is the founder of The Durand Dispatch and a recognized leading expert on the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), which she has studied since its origins. She is the co-author of three books, The Islamic State in Afghanistan and Pakistan: Strategic Rivalries and Alliances (Lynne Rienner, 2023); Killing Americans (Oxford University PRess, 2026) and Dangerous by Design: The Islamic State’s Affiliates in Comparative Perspective (Columbia University Press, forthcoming) – and has over 70 publications, including peer-reviewed articles, research reports, book chapters and policy essays.
Jadoon is a 2026 Harry Frank Guggenheim Distinguished Scholar, and was named as as one of 50 honorees in the U.S. National Security & Foreign Affairs Leadership List in 2022, by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Jadoon regularly briefs and engages with elements at all levels of the United States Government, as well as with international organizations and policymakers. She is fluent in Urdu, Hindko, and Punjabi and holds a Ph.D. in Political Science (State University of New York, Albany) and an MSc in Economic Development (London School of Economics). Prior to beginning her career in academia and research, Dr. Jadoon worked as a consultant for Deloitte London (U.K.) between 2006-2011.
Joey Moran
Managing Editor
Joey Moran is a researcher specialising in militancy, insurgency, and international security relations. His work combines open-source intelligence, qualitative analysis, and data-driven methods to examine political violence, militant behaviour, and evolving regional security dynamics. He holds an MSc in Organised Crime, Terrorism and Security from the University of Essex.
Saif Tahir
Lead Researcher (Strategic Messaging)
Saif Tahir is a Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) analyst and policy researcher with expertise in analysing jihadist propaganda narratives. His research focuses on analyzing jihadist propaganda, tactical and operational narratives, and the militant landscape across Pakistan and Afghanistan. As a doctoral candidate at Victoria University of Wellington, Saif’s research focuses on analyzing non-state actors' visual propaganda and online engagement patterns.
Syed Sami Raza
Senior Expert
Syed Sami Raza has served as an Associate Professor of International Relations at the University of Peshawar. His research lies at the intersection of Critical IR, Critical Legal Studies, and Critical Security Studies. He has focused on terrorism, radicalization, extremism, and geopolitics in the Pakistan-Afghanistan borderland. Holding a PhD in Political Science from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (2012, Fulbright Scholar), a Post-Doctoral Fellowship from UCLA (2021–2022), an MA in Political Science (Gold Medal, 2002), and an LLB with Distinction (2021), he applies rigorous interdisciplinary methods to regional security challenges.
Research & Editorial Associate
Zainab Biabani is a researcher specializing in countering violent extremism (CVE), international humanitarian responses, and migration. Her experience spans foreign policy and irregular migration research. She has contributed to regional analysis on South and Central Asia, and has worked with underserved populations through roles in basic needs programs, college access mentoring, and public service organizations. Her interests include international security, terrorism, human rights, and the intersection of policy and social equity. She holds a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations from UC Berkeley.
Ameera Moinuddin
Research Associate
Ameera Moinuddin is an undergraduate student at Wake Forest University pursuing a double major in Politics and International Affairs and Statistics. Having lived in both Pakistan and the Middle Eastern Gulf, and being a native Urdu speaker, she is most interested in the politics of South Asia and the Middle East. Ameera regularly writes for the college newspaper, showing her passion for writing and research, and is a member of the judicial branch in the Wake Forest Student Government. After completing her undergraduate degree, she intends to attend law school.
Research Associate
John Elliot is a Master’s student studying Economic Analytics at Clemson University, where he also graduated with a dual major Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Economics. He is also a research intern at ACG Analytics. His career ambitions reflect a passion for data analytics and foreign policy, with a particular interest in global politics.
Research Associate
William Shillinglaw is a Master’s student in Applied Intelligence at Georgetown University. Having graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government at Clemson University, he specialised in counterterrorism, unconventional warfare, and state sponsorship of terrorism. His work focuses on producing accurate, accountable analysis of regional security developments, with an emphasis on understanding militant dynamics and their broader strategic implications.
If you want to work with us, we’re always looking for exceptional graduate students and undergraduate students. Please send us an email with your resume and a cover letter at [email protected] indicating your area of interest and whether you are interested in research or writing for us. Please note that at present, these are unpaid and voluntary positions.
