Dr. Nihar Nayak (PhD) is presently working as Research Fellow at Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies & Analyses (MP-IDSA), New Delhi. Before joining the MP-IDSA, he worked as a Research Associate at the Institute for Conflict Management, New Delhi. He earned his PhD and M.Phil degrees from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi) and post-graduation from Delhi University (New Delhi). He has been associated with the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict since its inception. His areas of expertise are Nepal, Maoist/Left-wing extremism in South Asia, small Arms, conflict management, peace-building, and cooperative security in South Asia. Dr Nayak has been writing and publishing in both national and international journals. His latest edited work is “Cooperative Security Framework for South Asia”, IDSA/Pentagon Security International, New Delhi, 2013. He is also the author of “Strategic Himalayas: Republican Nepal and External Powers,” IDSA/Pentagon Security International, New Delhi. He has been associated with the Society for Study in Peace and Conflict since its inception.