In June, APLN warmly welcomes five new senior network members:

• Professor Alka Acharya (India), Director of the Institute of Chinese Studies, Delhi (ICS).
• Ambassador Zamir Akram (Pakistan), Advisor to the Strategic Plans Division, Government of Pakistan, former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva (2008-2015).
• Ambassador Humayun Kabir (Bangladesh), former Ambassador of Bangladesh to the United States (2007-09), Nepal (2003-06), and High Commissioner to Australia and New Zealand (2006-07).
• Dr. Salma Malik (Pakistan), Associate Professor at the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
• Ambassador Pankaj Saran (India), Former Deputy National Security Adviser of India; former Ambassador of India to Russia, and former High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh.

The APLN is working hard to expand our network across the Asia Pacific region, improve engagement and diversity on gender, race, age, and nationality. We recognise that we have much work to do but are working hard to do better. The wealth of expertise and experience of our newest network members increase APLN’s reach and engagement with governments across the region, increasing its policy impact and effectiveness.

The APLN network is comprised of political, military, diplomatic and thought leaders who work to address the security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region with a particular focus on nuclear non-proliferation, risk reduction and disarmament. APLN members contribute to security policy debates through writing articles, papers, and group statements, engaging in direct discussions with regional governments, and debating the issues in public and private events.