Dr. Arian Sharifi
Dr. Arian Sharifi is an American-Afghan national security professional with two decades of high-level policy and academic experience. He has taught as a Lecturer and Chair of the Master’s in Public Policy Program at Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs, and as a lecturer at Gawharshad University in Kabul and at the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF).
Today, he works as Chief Strategy Officer at PercEdge Research.
While serving as Assistant National Security Advisor for President Ghani of Afghanistan, he advised senior leaders on foreign and security affairs, led the development of over 20 national-level policies and strategies – including the National Security Policy and Counter-terrorism Strategy – and implemented numerous operations, programs, and projects in the security and intelligence sectors.
Dr. Sharifi worked as an analyst on security and terrorism in Central and Southern Asia, and as an Operations Research Analyst for the International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research in Singapore.
Arian Sharifi holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in International Security Studies from Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, a Master in Public Affairs (MPA) from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs, and a Bachelor’s (BA) in Political Science from Wesleyan University,
He comments frequently on organized crime, strategic and security issues in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Central Asia, and has conducted specialized research for major organizations, and advised leading institutions including the United Nations, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) and Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.
Dr Sharifi has published widely in academic and policy journals, such as the Diplomat and Aljazeera English.
Some of his publications include:
- Sharifi, A. M. (2024). “Afghanistan’s Ill-fated National Strategy for Countering Violent Extremism”. Royal United Services Institute.
- Sharifi, A. M. (2022). “The Taliban in Afghanistan: Assessing New Threats to the Region and Beyond”. United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Institute.
- Sharifi, A. M. (2016). “Islamist Groups in Afghanistan and the Strategic Choice of Violence”. United States Institute of Peace, Peace Brief 216.
- Sharifi, A. M. (2013). “US needs to clear its vision on Afghanistan”, Khaama Press.
- Sharifi, A. M. (2012). “Security in Afghanistan Beyond 2014: Preparedness of the Afghan National Security Forces”. In Shantie Mariet D’Souza (ed.). “Afghanistan in Transition: Beyond 2014?”. New Delhi Pentagog Press.
Click the ‘Listen’ button below to hear Dominic Bowen and Dr. Arian Sharifi exploring the current situation in Afghanistan and the risks of continued authoritarian governance by the Taliban, for the Afghan population and nearby countries.
