Rustam Ali Seerat

Rustam Ali Seerat

Non-Resident Associate Fellow

School of Humanities and Social Sciences


Contact Information

Rustam Ali Seerat is a Non-Resident Associate Fellow at the Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence. He is a political scientist with a PhD in International Relations from South Asian University, New Delhi. His research examines comparative politics, ethnic politics, institutional design, and post-conflict governance, focusing on Afghanistan and Central and South Asia. He studies power-sharing and ethnic mobilisation in divided societies using process tracing, interviews, and mixed-method analysis. His work addresses Afghanistan’s political transformation, regional diplomacy, and China’s engagement with Afghanistan. He has authored research for the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, and the Institute of Chinese Studies, and has published through Shiv Nadar University’s Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies.

  • Ph.D., International Relations, South Asian University, New Delhi, India (2016–2025).
  • M.A., International Relations, South Asian University, New Delhi, India (2014–2016).
  • B.B.A., Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Nanded, India (2011–2014).

Research Methods Training (2024–2025):

  • Qualitative Research Methods; Quantitative Methods; Philosophy of Science; Qualitative Bayesian Reasoning for Case Studies.

  • Independent researcher and policy author on Afghanistan’s political transformation, governance, human rights, and regional relations — for the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, and others.
  • Research Intern, Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi (2015).

  • Comparative politics
  • Ethnic politics and mobilisation
  • Power-sharing and consociationalism
  • Institutional design
  • Post-conflict governance
  • Afghanistan’s political institutions
  • Central and South Asian regional politics
  • International intervention and regional diplomacy

Languages:

Dari-Farsi (mother tongue); Pashto (C1); English (C2); Italian (B2); Hindi-Urdu (B2).

  • Rustam Ali Seerat, “The Limits of Chinese Diplomacy in Afghanistan: Mediation Initiatives (2014–2021),” Centre for Social and Economic Progress (2025). https://csep.org/reports/the-limits-of-chinese-diplomacy-in-afghanistan-mediation-initiatives-2014-2021/

  • Rustam Ali Seerat, “Afghanistan’s Political Transformation: A Road Map for the European Union,” Friedrich Naumann Foundation (2025). https://www.freiheit.org/publikation/afghanistans-political-transformation-roadmap-european-union
  • Rustam Ali Seerat & Reza Ehsan, “Navigating Afghanistan–China: Engagement Amidst Challenges and Opportunities,” Friedrich Naumann Foundation (2023).
  • Rustam Ali Seerat, “Impact of the War in Ukraine: Afghanistan’s Perspective,” Friedrich Naumann Foundation (2023). https://www.freiheit.org/south-asia/impact-war-ukraine-afghanistans-perspective

  • Rustam Ali Seerat, “China’s Role in Afghan-Taliban Peace Talks: Afghan Perspectives,” Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi (2015). https://icsin.org/faculty/rustam-ali-seerat

  • “Mandarin Mission: Iran’s Clerical Outreach to China,” Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies, Shiv Nadar University (December 12, 2025). https://snu.edu.in/centres/centre-of-excellence-for-himalayan-studies/research/mandarin-mission-irans-clerical-outreach-to-china/en/
  • “Old Game, New Players: Taliban Balances between China and the United States,” Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies, Shiv Nadar University (September 23, 2025). https://snu.edu.in/centres/centre-of-excellence-for-himalayan-studies/research/old-game-new-players-taliban-balances-between-china-and-the-united-states/en/
  • “Between Marginalization Politics and Realpolitik: The Taliban Ban Nawruz, Celebrate Chinese New Year,” Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies, Shiv Nadar University (April 22, 2024). https://snu.edu.in/centres/centre-of-excellence-for-himalayan-studies/research/between-marginalization-politics-and-realpolitik-the-taliban-ban-nawruz-celebrate-chinese-new-year/en/
  • “Relocations and Religious Schools: Reading Unfolding Developments in Northern Afghanistan,” Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies, Shiv Nadar University (July 7, 2023). https://snu.edu.in/centres/centre-of-excellence-for-himalayan-studies/research/relocations-and-religious-schools-reading-unfolding-developments-in-northern-afghanistan/en/

  • “Marginalization and Poverty: A Case Study of Hazaras in Afghanistan,” Virtual (October 9, 2024).
  • “Human Rights in Afghanistan: Exploring New Topics and Addressing Persistent Challenges,” Istanbul (June 5–6, 2024).
  • “Human Rights and Citizenship in a Changing World Order,” Virtual (February 11, 2022).

  • Silver Jubilee Scholarship (Doctoral Programme), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India (2016–2022).
  • Silver Jubilee Scholarship (Master’s Programme), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India (2014–2016).
  • ICCR Scholarship, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (2011–2014).