Sajal Shahid

Sajal Shahid

Research Assistant

Sajal Shahid

Professional Experience

Sajal Shahid is a Research Assistant at the Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS), Islamabad. She holds an undergraduate degree in Strategic Studies from the National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad. Her research interests include sustainable development, non-traditional security, and emerging security challenges. Previously, she has worked with Teach For Pakistan (TFP), the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), and the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).

Publications

Before the ‘Botlash’ – The Global South’s Missing AI Moment

April 20, 2026

uch of the Western discourse on Artificial Intelligence (AI) has lately focused on establishing safeguards and installing guardrails against powerful new AI systems, algorithmic bias, collusion of governments and tech oligarchs, and rising environmental costs related to AI ecosystems. The growing backlash in the West against the adverse effects of AI is labelled as ‘Botlash’ in the most recent commentary by Marietje Schaake. This commentary refers to various anti-AI movements that have gained tractions in the recent past including ‘QuitGPT’, ‘Resist and Unsubscribe’, and ‘Stealing Isn’t Innovation.’ While ‘botlash’ may be an apt description of how AI is now being perceived in the developed countries, the story for the Global South is completely opposite where AI is being viewed as some magical cure for poor governance, corruption, and weak economic development. Countries in the Global South are yet to undergo indigenous AI governance, development and deployment. Therefore,

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The Most Consequential Midterm Elections of the US

April 2, 2026

The US midterm elections will be held in November 2026, which can prove to be one of the most consequential midterms in the US history. The outcome of these midterms will influence the US economic strategies, domestic policies, as well as the global markets and geopolitical alliances. Being held amid escalating international tensions and deep domestic divisions, the result of these midterms will, therefore, carry considerable impacts extending far beyond Washington.
In the electoral process of the US, midterm elections are carried out near the midpoint of the four-year presidential term. During midterms, all 435 seats of the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate seats are up for election. Thus, the results of these elections determine who gets to control the Congress. Since Congress influences everything, from legislation, spending, and oversight

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Why India and Afghanistan Cannot be Natural Allies?

December 8, 2025

India and Afghanistan have recently warmed up marked by the official visit of Taliban’s foreign minister to India and New Delhi’s decision to reopen its embassy in Kabul. While the chatter about a renewed partnership in the region is only natural, a long term alliance between Taliban led Afghanistan and BJP’s India is anything but natural.

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