ISSI, SASSRI sign MoU to enhance research cooperation

ISLAMABAD, Sep 30 (APP): The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) and the South Asia Sustainability and Security Research Institute (SASSRI), Sri Lanka, on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen institutional cooperation in research, policy dialogue and joint academic activities.

The MoU was signed at a simple ceremony held at the ISSI as part of the institute’s international outreach for developing cooperative institutional mechanisms, especially with regional partners, said a press release.

It aims to develop and strengthen the mutual institutional cooperation in research, policy dialogue, joint publications and events on issues of mutual interest.

Besides the leadership of ISSI and SASSRI, the ceremony was attended by Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Colombo Major General Dr. Nayyar Naseer, HI (M), and Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Islamabad A. Christy Ruban.

The participants shed light on the history of fraternal relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka from diplomatic and defense to cultural and humanitarian spheres. They agreed that for a prosperous and connected South Asia, regional countries needed to come closer and strengthen mutual ties through continued engagement, dialogue, and active cooperation. Stressing the role of regional cooperation in collective development in South Asia, the need for revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was particularly emphasized.

Under the MoU, concrete steps such as joint events, policy papers, and researchers exchange programmes were suggested. Leadership of the two think tanks expressed determination to jointly work for shaping better policy discourses and well-informed public opinions in the two countries.