Author Information:
Kamal moved from an academic environment focused in politics in the early 1970’s to the diplomatic arena across the globe and a full-bloom professional career over 33 years. In three decades of his diplomatic career with Pakistani Foreign Service, the roles assigned to Kamal exposed him to processes critical in the making of the contemporary world scene: As Desk Officer on Iran (1979-81), he was a witness to the advent of the Iranian Revolution, the US hostage crisis and sanctions against Iran as well as the beginning of the Iran-Iraq war, and the OIC peacemaking endeavors. He served as a political officer in Moscow (1985-88) and later as a key officer on the Soviet desk in Islamabad (1988-1990) in time with the Gorbachev-led Soviet state’s move to extricate itself from the Afghan quagmire. It also coincided with the beginning of the change within the state, prior to its collapse. Kamal’s exposure to the settings in Tokyo (1981-85) and Ottawa (1991-1995) gave him greater enrichment as a diplomat and a broader world view; a closer understanding of economic forces shaping contemporary political scenes, as well as the science of conflict prevention and resolution. While serving as Consul-General in Jeddah, he presided over the largest Pakistani consular district abroad: 600,000 Pakistani residents (amongst 1.2 million in Saudi Arabia) and more than 200,000 pilgrims visiting there every year. Assignments as Ambassador to Qatar (1999-2003) and Jordan (2003-2007) made Kamal privy to the shaping of the contemporary Middle Eastern scene in the wake of Iraqi wars and lack of progress in the Palestinian -Israeli peace process. Currently, Kamal is Director of Global Studies at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Research & Analysis (ISSRA), within the National Defense University of Pakistan. His role there draws upon years of experience as a diplomat and allows him to return to academia and research in the nation’s premier higher education institute and think tank for policy and strategic formulation. Kamal is recipient of high civil awards: “Medallion of Independence in the first Order” from Jordan’s King Abdullah II and “The Sash of Merit” from Qatar’s His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani.
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