Farhana Ali joined the RAND Corporation
in August 2005 as an Associate International Policy Analyst. Her
research is focused on the evolution of global terrorism and political
trends in key Muslim countries such as Pakistan. Ms. Ali has published
several articles on the strategic U.S.-Pakistan alliance and presented
her work to the National Defense University (Islamabad), Pakistan
Institute of International Affairs (Karachi), and U.S. military
audiences. She frequently visits Pakistan in support of RAND research
to examine the current political climate in the country and assess the
rise of Islamic extremism and international terrorist groups operating
in the northern areas. She is a sought-after lecturer on terrorism and
has presented her work to diverse audiences, including John Hopkins
University, Oxford University, and the International Institute of
Strategic Affairs in London, and has been invited as a guest lecturer
to the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland. She also has appeared in
numerous media outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington
Post, Al-Jazeera television, BBC World News, CNN International and
Headlines news, National Public Radio, ABC News, Canadian national
television, Bloomberg television, and Voice of America.
Prior to RAND, she worked in the U.S. Government for five years. Her
unique understanding of conflicts in the Muslim world as well as
Islamic doctrine did not go unnoticed. During her career, she received
several Meritorious Awards. Upon her departure, she was recognized for
her outstanding service to the U.S. Government at large. Ms Ali is a
graduate of The George Washington University with a Master’s in
Security Policy Studies and is proficient in French, Urdu, Hindi,
Punjabi.
