Biographical Overview of Muhammad Tahir
Born in 1976, I hold an MA in Mass Communications, I am a professional journalist and analyst with nearly ten years of reporting and supervising news organizations. Since November 2002, I have served as a correspondent and editor with the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Previously I have served as a Chief Correspondent of Turkish Television News Agency [IHA], based in Pakistan and Afghanistan (1999-2002), besides reporting and editing, I supervised more than 10-12 local and international staff.
My regional analysis also frequently appears in pieces published by recognized institutes and publishers, including:
Central Asia ~ Caucasus Analyst, Washington, DC
Global Terrorism Analysis (Washington DC),
Institute for War and Peace Reporting (London)
The Journal of Turkish Weekly (Ankara)
In addition to other responsibilities I serve as an analyst for the Caspian region at the Ankara based think –tank group ‘International Strategic Research Organization’ and am former Research fellow at the Hoover Institution- Stanford University, California, where my research was focused contemporary political history of Central Asian states.
So far I have authored two books which addresses social and political issues relevant to my target region [Pakistan and Iran], and am currently working on third book, which will focus on contemporary political development in Central Asia, with particular focus on Turkmenistan.
I have worked and covered news events in more than 20 countries, and implemented successful projects throughout the south and central Asia region, which includes but not limited with setting-up offices for my affiliated organizations in Islamabad, Kabul, Ashghabat and Tehran.
During the last ten years of working in the field of media and management, I have gained excellent knowledge about the geography, politics, domestic and international policies of the countries in South and Central Asia, and therefore, besides English, am also fluent in majority of relevant regional languages, including: Persian, Urdu, Turkish, Turkmen, Uzbek, Pashtu, some Arabic and basic Russian.
Biographic Detail of Muhammad Tahir
Correspondent/Editor, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 2002-Present
· Responsible for writing analytical pieces focus on RFE/RL’s target region, edit reports sent by regional correspondents and written by local staff, and monitor day-to-day developments in Former Soviet Union, surrounding region as well as in entire world;
· Conduct daily briefings and organize daily work distribution for more than 10 journalists from different background and nationalities; while providing necessary guidance and training that may be required;
· Time to time attend editorial and regularly staff meetings to update and brief colleagues about developments in the region and prepare coverage plan; and
· Provide feedback to service staff about the coverage, content and explain the future strategy
Chief Correspondent of International Turkish Television News Agency [IHA] for South Asia [Pakistan and Afghanistan] 1999-2002
· Established the Agency’s offices in Islamabad- Kabul;
· Served as bureau-chief in Islamabad-Kabul offices, monitoring major events in surrounding countries. In addition to daily reporting/editing, I also served as the manager of the bureau which employed more than 10-12 staff from diverse backgrounds and regions;
· Organized and conducted daily briefings about the situation in the region and also provided necessary guidelines/training to the staff in their daily assignments; and,
· Traveled frequently in the region to interact with officials from different governmental departments and ministries as well as NGOs and news organizations.
Political and Analytical Skills
International Strategic Research Organization, Ankara ‘Turkey 2005 to present
· Since 2005, I have been a member of the advisory board and experts committee of the Ankara-based think-tank International Strategic Research Organization-ISRO. As an analyst for Caspian region, I frequently give briefings or conduct seminars and workshops on issues related to the region.
Columnist/Contributor
Central Asia and Caucasus Analyst, Washington, DC 2005 to present
· My analysis on Central Asia, Iran and Afghanistan and surrounding region regularly appears in the Analytical Journal of the John Hopkins University; Central Asia and Caucasus Analyst.
Columnist/Contributor
Global Terrorism Analysis-Washington 2007 to present
· Recently I have started contributing in-depth analysis focusing on the war on terror particularly in south/central Asia.
Columnist/Contributor
Institute for War and Peace Reporting London ‘UK’ 2005 to present
· From time to time I also contribute articles to the Central Asian/Afghanistan edition of the London-based, Institute for War and Peace Reporting. My analysis for IWPR mostly covers the problems of ethnic minorities living in Afghanistan/Iran and the surrounding countries.
Books
I am the author of two books, which cover the social and political structure of the countries located in south/central Asia Region:
· Turkmenistan After Niyazov, Politics and Energy, I am currently working on this book, which will offer first hand and in-depth analysis of contemporary political history of Turkmenistan and it’s international relations. This book also unveil the local developments prior and after Niyazov, general structure of the country and it’s population, religious, ethnic and tribal structure and their role etc.
· Illegal Dating, A journey into the Private Life of Iran, An autobiography / travel adventure, published in the USA in 2005; This book focuses on changes affecting young people and its possible impact on the domestic and international politics of Iran. Illegal Dating;, also unveils the Iranian society in large and brings light on complex political structure of Iran.
· Papa - we are sorry, published in Pakistan in 2000, focuses on the transformation of young people and its impact on the social and political structure of the country. This book has been accredited by the Provisional Education Ministry of Pakistan for distribution in all libraries of educational institutions.
Short Term employments
Political Columnist of Daily Newspaper Mashriq- Pakistan [2000-2002]
Special Reporter of Daily Bakhabar International Newspaper- Pakistan [2000-2002]
Editor of Monthly Suffa- a journal focused on young people – Pakistan [1996-1998]
Organizational Skills
NGO: President of Amal Foundation- Pakistan 2000 to 2002
· I founded the Amal Foundation of Pakistan founded in 2000. This organization is dedicated to support and work for the integration of refugees living in Pakistan into the local population. As part of the organization’s cultural activities, we played an active role in organizing/implementing social projects to promote inter-cultural, inter-religious and inter-ethnic understanding among different tribes and societies. The Foundation also helped refugees who seek legal help and social support regarding official matters and etc.
NGO: President of a social welfare organization of young people, Phool Club, 1992 to 1995
· I served as a Provisional President and later as Central Vice President of Phool Club, the largest social organization of young people in Pakistan, . The Phool Club is dedicated to improving the involvement of young people in the social structure of the Pakistan. As the president of its branch, I successfully established several branches of the organization including some in remote areas of the regions, and managed to bring hundreds of young people into the circle of socially active youth. Based on my performance I won the top awards each year during the entire period in which I was affiliated with this organization [1995-1998]. This position also involved strong leadership skills, managerial and administrative work and public relations. As part of the social structure of the region I was responsible for maintaining community and official-level contacts, as well as organizing fund raising activities.
Affiliation with Other Organizations
· Member of Pen Club Canada 2006 - Present
· Member of Eurasia Studies Society 2006 - Present
· Member of International Federation of Journalists 2005 - Present
· Member of Czech journalists Union 2005 - Present
· Member of Minorities in democracies studies group 2007 - Present
Additional Skills, Recognition
· During the last ten years of practical experience, in addition to the above mentioned activities and responsibilities, I have also served in different positions in several media organizations and NGOs.
· Winner of Osher Fellowship and former fellow at the Hoover Institution – Sep.-October-2007
· Based on my personnel performance I have received several national and international honorable awards, which also includes but not limited with, best performance awards by the RFE/RL in 2003-2004-2006, best performance awards in social field by the National News paper of Pakistan for three times [1996-1997-1998].
Spoken Languages
Fluent: English, Turkish, Turkmen, Uzbek, Urdu, Persian, Pashtu
Some: Arabic and Russian
