Dr. Adil Rasheed joined MP-IDSA as Research Fellow in August 2016. Before that, he was researcher and political commentator in various international think tanks and media organizations for over 17 years, both in the United Arab Emirates and India. He was Senior Research Fellow at the United Services Institution of India (USI) for two years from 2014 to 2016, where he still holds the honorary title of Distinguished Fellow. He was Researcher at the UAE’s premier think tank The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) for eight years (2006-14), where, in addition to research and publishing several papers and articles, he interviewed many distinguished international leaders such as former US Secretary of State Leon Panetta, former Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Mahathir Mohamed, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the first Executive Chairman of UNMOVIC in Iraq Hans Blix, former NATO Chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, etc.
Dr. Rasheed is the author of the book ISIS: Race to Armageddon (2015), which explored the so-called Islamic State’s origins, ideology, vision, mission, organization, administration, military strengths and weaknesses, warfare, global outreach, recruitment and the international response to the challenge it poses. The book also covered the implications for India’s security as regards the growing malicious influence of this jihadist group. The first book on the subject from India, it has been a huge draw internationally and is currently available on Amazon and Kindle. Dr. Rashid has also co-edited the book Indian Ocean Region: Emerging Strategic Cooperation, Competition and Conflict Scenarios. Published by the USI in 2015, this book focuses on growing India-China competition in the quest for strategic control of the world’s third largest ocean, emerging scenarios and recommendations for India’s maritime policies. Dr. Rashid is also the author ofthe seminal research paper ‘Countering the Threat of Radicalization: Theories, Programme and Challenges’ published in the Journal of Defense Studies (April-May 2016).
His publications include:
Political Islam: Parallel Currents in West Asia and South Asia
Deep State Continuum in Pakistan and Implications for India: Jyoti M. Pathania, New Delhi, KW Publishers, 2022
In a country like Pakistan, where none of its Prime Ministers could ever complete a full five-year term in office, the role of the so-called ‘deep State’ — a term used as a euphemism for its Army—in exercising disproportionate control over the affairs of the country—has often been highlighted.
The Irreligious, Inauthentic Narrative of ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind’
Ghazwatul Hind appears to be a speculative eschatological red herring, meant to beguile and mislead young minds by violent extremist and terrorist groups.
Motivations of Suicide Bombers: An Exploratory Study
Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Adil Rasheed’s research paper, co-authored with Ms Ayesha Saman Kidwai, titled ‘Motivations of Suicide Bombers: An Exploratory Study’ has been published in the Journal of Peace Studies (January-June 2023 edition).
This paper explores the history of suicide attacks, the social and psychological dimensions of the menace as well as various political, social, and psychological theories proposed by counterterrorism experts to thwart instances of suicide terrorism.
MP-IDSA Fellows Seminar : Influence Operations: Winning Without Waging Wars in the 21st Century
An MP-IDSA Fellows Seminar presentation by Dr. Adil Rasheed, Research Fellow, on “Influence Operations: Winning Without Waging Wars in the 21st Century” was held on 20 July 2023. It was chaired by Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Rakesh Sharma (Retd.), Member, Executive Council, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA). The External Discussants were Maj. Gen. Roopesh Mehta, ADG CD (B) IHQ, and Mr. Vinit Goenka, Secretary, Centre for Knowledge Sovereignty (CKS). Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Bipin Bakshi (Retd.), Deputy Director General, MP-IDSA; Lt. Gen.
China’s Challenge to the US in West Asia
Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Adil Rasheed’s Commentary ‘China’s Challenge to the US in West Asia’ has been published by Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) on 18 July 2023.
Decodifying Taliban and ISKP in Afghanistan
Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Adil Rasheed’s chapter ‘Decodifying Taliban and ISKP in Afghanistan’ has featured in the recently published USI Strategic Year Book 2023.
The book highlights how Deobandi Taliban's doctrinal differences with Salafi-jihadist ISIS have a bearing on the two organization's respective strategic objectives and designs, decision-making, mode of warfare, tactical choices and even desired end-state.
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Iran-Arab Gulf Joint Naval Force and China’s ‘Collective Security Architecture’
China and Iran claim to be building a new security architecture for West Asia on the pretext of keeping out the “unjustified” presence of “foreign forces”.
Towards an Epistemic Understanding of Radicalism, Extremism and Terrorism
The persistence of conceptual confusion regarding terms associated with terrorism impedes the legitimacy and effectiveness of counter-terrorism campaigns.
The Metastasising ISKP Menace for India
The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) has claimed responsibility for last year’s botched Coimbatore and Mangalore blasts in an attempt to show its expanding influence, which raises serious concerns for Indian security agencies.