Center for Research and Security Studies

The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) is a Pakistani independent non-profit think tank founded by civil society activists to conduct research and advocacy on democratic governance, regional peace and security, human rights, and counter-radicalization. It was founded in 2007 by journalist and writer Imtiaz Gul.

The CRSS specializes in communication to impart information to people in conflict- and disaster-hit areas.

It has produced more than 1700 radio programs on issues related to extremism, peace, conflict, and other humanitarian and social issues, airing through the network of 17 radio stations of the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation and some private radio channels. These programs were intended to address the challenge of cross communication and increased awareness by narrowing the communication gap among the civil society organizations, government departments, experts and the target beneficiaries.

Reporters are deployed in most parts of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to report stories. Recently the center has equipped its media houses in Swat, Islamabad and Peshawar with technology to support the pre-production process of our live shows in other studios.

The head of the think tank is Imtiaz Gul, a strategic analyst, writer, and journalist. Besides writing for national and international magazines, he is the author of books such as The Unholy Nexus: Afghan-Pakistan Relations under the Taliban Militia, The Al-Qaeda Connection, The Most Dangerous Place, and Pakistan: Before and After Osama bin Laden. Munawar Virk is responsible for the financial, administrative, and human resource operations of CRSS. He also provides executive administrative support to the offices of Chairman and Executive Director of the organization. Asif Khan heads the media, counter-radicalization, and humanitarian information projects.