Zahid Yaqub is a PhD Scholar at the University of Karachi Pakistan, specializing in the study of Soft Power in International Relations. His doctoral research, titled Israeli Soft Power Application: Lessons for Pakistan, examines the strategic use of soft power through the theoretical framework developed by Joseph Nye Jr. His work places particular emphasis on how states craft influence through culture, diplomacy, values, and global engagement, and how Pakistan can enhance its own soft power capabilities.
He previously completed his MPhil from Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, with a thesis on the topic Knowledge Power Nexus, using Pakistan as a case study. It was based on the Foucauldian school of thought (Michel Foucault). His academic background reflects a sustained interest in the interaction between knowledge, power, and statecraft.
Zahid has taught a range of graduate level courses at PAF (Pakistan Air Force) Air War College Institute, including Foreign Policy, Digital Diplomacy, Power Studies, and subjects related to National Security. His teaching and research focus on the evolving dynamics of global power, contemporary diplomacy, and strategic communication. He also closely follows the development of international soft power metrics, particularly the Global Soft Power Index, and how states project influence in an interconnected world of politics.
He is a widely published fiction/ non fiction writer in Pakistan with his literary name "Zahid Yaqub Aamir" and has authored three books.
His broader research interests include International Relations Theory, Power Studies, National Security Studies, Public Diplomacy, and the role of digital tools in shaping global perceptions/ Perception Management.
