Muhammad Waqas Haider

Muhammad Waqas Haider is a Research Fellow at London Dialogue and a doctoral candidate in International Relations at Lancaster University. A Chevening Scholar and former officer in the Pakistan Air Force, he brings over 17 years of experience across defence, strategy, and policy. His research focuses on geopolitical competition, space security and diplomacy, and the technology‑driven transformation of warfare, with particular emphasis on air and missile defence, escalation dynamics, and strategic stability. His work explores how emerging technologies—including aerospace capabilities, missile systems, and unmanned platforms—are reshaping deterrence and the character of modern conflict, particularly in South Asia and the Middle East.

Prior to entering academia, he held a range of operational, research, and strategic appointments within the Pakistan Air Force, including leading analytical work on future warfare concepts, air defence strategy, and capability development, as well as delivering senior‑level strategic assessments. He has also contributed to defence policy through his work with the Ministry of Defence Production on emerging technologies and industrial strategy. He is the author of more than fifteen peer‑reviewed publications on hybrid warfare, deterrence, and regional security, and has presented his research at international conferences. At London Dialogue, his work advances analysis of strategic competition, defence innovation, and the future of warfare, bridging academic research with policy‑relevant insight.