Ayesha Shaikh is a Research Associate at the Center for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS), Islamabad. She holds an M.Phil. in International Relations with distinction from the National Defence University. Her research focuses on South Asian regional dynamics, geopolitics, and contemporary security and policy issues.

Previously, she served as a researcher at the Strategic Vision Institute and as Visiting Faculty at the dept of IR, Fatima Jinnah Women University. She has also contributed to research at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, Institute of Strategic Studies Research and Analysis, and the National Assembly of Pakistan. Her work engages policy-relevant research on South Asia.