InteRussia Gave Me Something That Researchers Rarely Get in One Place

Today, Pakistan is among the most active countries applying for the InteRussia fellowship — but it was not always this way. The opening interview of our new series with InteRussia alumni features Muhammad Taimur Fahad Khan, the first-ever fellow from Pakistan, who took part in the program in International Relations in 2024. He is currently a Research Associate (Europe & Russia) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), Pakistan’s leading policy research center, and a Visiting Researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In this interview, he reflects on his InteRussia experience, its impact on his academic trajectory, and how the fellowship shaped his engagement with Russia.

— What motivated you to apply for this program?

One of the key reasons for my decision was my participation in the Primakov Readings Youth Session in November 2023. It was there that I met people directly involved in the program and first learned about the fellowship through personal conversations. In particular, Alexander Novikov, who later became my curator, shared his experience and perspective on InteRussia. In addition, I was strongly encouraged by two colleagues and close friends — Mohammad Hasan Sweidan from Lebanon and John Mwangi from Kenya — who had participated in the same Youth Session and were already taking part in the InteRussia Fellowship.

Hearing about their first-hand experience and insights further reinforced my confidence that the program would be both academically meaningful and professionally valuable. Ultimately, I applied because I wanted to learn directly from Russian academic and policy spaces, broaden my perspective, and contribute to building stronger intellectual bridges between Russia and my country, especially through the lens of Pakistan’s evolving diplomatic and strategic interests.

— The InteRussia fellowship in IR includes lectures and meetings with leading scholars, analysts, and policy experts. Which of these encounters stood out to you the most, and why?

The fellowship is built around a combination of academic lectures, practical workshops, and study visits, which together create a well-rounded and immersive learning experience. Over the six-week programme, we took part in events at major academic and expert platforms, including the International Young Scholars Conference organised by IMEMO, the Open Innovations Forum in Skolkovo, the largest innovation center in Russia, and the presentation of the Valdai Club report.The fellowship also included lectures by leading Russian scholars, such as Dr. Feodor Voitolovsky, IMEMO Director, and Corresponding Member and Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, workshops at MGIMO university, as well as study visits to the headquarters of RT and Rossiya Segodnya, which provided valuable insight into the media and information dimension of international politics.

Among all these experiences, one of the most memorable moments for me was my meeting with Dr. Belokrenitsky, Professor, Head of the Center for Middle East Studies, Institute of Oriental Studies, particularly because it was directly connected to my research work during the fellowship. His depth of knowledge, clarity of thought, and ability to analyze regional dynamics by combining academic rigor with real-world understanding made the discussion especially valuable. For someone working on Eurasian affairs and Pakistan–Russia relations, this conversation not only offered new insights but also helped me refine my research focus and strengthen the overall direction of my work. It was one of those encounters that stays with you because it adds real substance and meaning to what you study.

— Did you work on a specific project or research during the fellowship?

Yes, absolutely. In fact, one of the most important parts of my InteRussia Fellowship experience was the research paper I wrote during my time in Moscow, which became the main intellectual focus of my fellowship. My research explored a newly evolving and increasingly important avenue of cooperation between Pakistan and Russia, energy cooperation, particularly in the broader context of global supply disruptions and energy uncertainty after the developments of 2022.What made this topic especially meaningful for me was that it was not just theoretical, it was a real-world policy issue that many countries, including Pakistan, were actively trying to navigate.

The fellowship gave me something that researchers rarely get in one place: time, access, academic guidance, and the right environment to work on a policy-relevant topic with depth. Being in Russia also helped me understand the Russian perspective more directly, how Russian experts interpret energy diplomacy, long-term supply partnerships, and the opportunities and constraints in engaging new partners in the Global South. And yes, I was definitely able to develop the project beyond the course of the fellowship.

I’m proud to share that the research paper is going to be published by IMEMO in one of their flagship journals, which is honestly a major milestone for me. Even more importantly, the research did not remain limited to an academic outcome. After returning, I further expanded the findings and converted the key insights into a Policy Brief, which I was able to share with relevant stakeholders and decision-makers in Pakistan.

— Beyond the classroom, what were your impressions about life in Russia? How would you describe the people you met here — both within the program and outside of it?

Life in Russia, in terms of environment and climate, can be quite tough. Coming from Pakistan, experiencing that atmosphere made me appreciate something very important: how Russia has built an extremely effective and well-organised system to function smoothly even under harsh conditions. I was genuinely impressed by how state-of-the-art infrastructure, transport systems, public services, and urban planning are designed in a way that makes daily life feel convenient and manageable, even when the external environment is challenging. All of it gave me a sense of how resilience is not only a political concept, it is also something you see in how a society builds systems to support ordinary people.

I also found that everyday interactions in Moscow were surprisingly meaningful, walking through the city, using the metro, visiting cafés, and simply observing how people live and carry themselves. Even small things, like someone helping you navigate, or a polite exchange in daily routine left a positive impact.

My interactions with Russians were often simple but impactful. I experienced people as respectful, professional, and quietly warm. There is a certain seriousness and dignity in how many people carry themselves, but once you engage, you realize there is also strong sincerity and hospitality.

— Was there a cultural experience that surprised you or left a lasting positive memory?

For me, it was a combination of both major cultural experiences and simple everyday moments. One of the most unforgettable cultural highlights was witnessing Swan Lake at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Honestly, it felt like experiencing something timeless, not just a performance, but a living symbol of Russia’s rich cultural identity. The atmosphere, the discipline of the performers, and the sheer level of artistic excellence made it more than entertainment. It was one of those moments where you truly understand why Russian classical arts are respected globally. For me, it became a lasting memory of how deeply culture is valued and preserved in Russian society.

Another experience that stayed with me was visiting the Tretyakov Gallery, where I had the opportunity to see the work of Vasily Vereshchagin first-hand. It was not just a cultural visit, it felt like experiencing Russian history and identity through art. His paintings leave a deep impression because they don’t just show history, they make you feel the human weight of war, sacrifice, and resilience. That visit reminded me that art can sometimes explain a country more powerfully than political texts ever can.

— How did the InteRussia fellowship influence you professionally?

The program significantly expanded my understanding by pushing me to see international relations not as a field dominated by one “mainstream” narrative, but as a space where multiple legitimate perspectives exist, each shaped by historical experience, security perceptions, and national priorities.

One of the most meaningful shifts for me was learning how Russian scholars and practitioners interpret concepts like multipolarity, strategic stability, global governance, and the role of non-Western states. Even if one doesn’t agree with every argument, the fellowship helped me recognize how Russia frames its foreign policy logic and strategic choices in a way that is internally coherent within its worldview.

At a global level, I came away with a stronger appreciation of how international politics is increasingly shaped by competing interpretations, not just competing interests. And as a researcher, that matters, because analysis becomes far more accurate when it accounts for how actors understand themselves, their environment, and their rivals.

In simple terms, the fellowship helped me move from studying Russia as an “object of research” to engaging with Russia as a thinking political space, with its own debates, internal diversity of opinions, and intellectual traditions.

— Beyond professional outcomes, how did the fellowship affect you personally?

It strengthened my analytical confidence and expanded my ability to think in a more nuanced and balanced way. It pushed me to understand international affairs through multiple perspectives, and to engage with complex issues beyond simplified narratives. Being exposed to Russian academic discussions and interacting with experts helped me sharpen my research approach and improve the way I structure policy-relevant analysis.

Besides that, the fellowship made me more open-minded and patient. But one of the most meaningful outcomes of the fellowship was the friendships I made and the professional connections I forged during the program. Being part of such a diverse international cohort created a sense of community that went far beyond the classroom. These relationships genuinely helped me immensely, not only during the fellowship itself, but also afterwards in my personal and professional life. Some of these connections turned into long-term professional networks that I can rely on for collaboration, exchange of ideas, and even career growth.

I also had the opportunity to engage with Russian experts and hosts, and those interactions were valuable because they created access to a different intellectual environment. I have already collaborated with the connections I made during the fellowship on multiple projects such as an edited book, co-authored research papers as well as events. In fact, I am organising an event jointly with one of my good friends and colleague in the coming weeks from IMEMO.

Overall, I returned with a stronger sense of purpose, greater confidence, and a clearer understanding of my role as a researcher, someone who can contribute to building meaningful dialogue and intellectual bridges between regions.

— Did the fellowship lead to any new opportunities?

Yes, the fellowship contributed to new opportunities, both directly and indirectly. Directly, it expanded my academic exposure and credibility, and that naturally supports future prospects such as participation in international dialogues, research opportunities, and institutional engagement.

Indirectly, and just as importantly, it strengthened my confidence. After spending time learning in Russia, engaging with experts, and exchanging perspectives with a multinational group, I felt more empowered to pursue larger projects and think more ambitiously about my professional path.

The professional contacts I made with Russian academia and research organizations during the fellowship enabled me to establish institutional linkages between my own Institute (ISSI) and renowned Russian research institutions such as IMEMO RAS, IOS RAS, ICCA RAS & Valdai Discussion Club, to name a few, and many agreements with Russian think tanks and universities are also under process and will materialize soon.

Even when opportunities don’t appear immediately in the form of a formal invitation, the value shows up in how the fellowship strengthens your profile, your ideas, and your readiness to take on bigger responsibilities. My national and international media engagements have increases, such as with TASS, Sputnik, Izvestia and other outlets. Moreover, more engagements with Russian academia and think tanks after the fellowship resulted in me visiting Russia for events four times in just two years post fellowship.

— What advice would you give to a young professional considering applying for this fellowship?

My advice would be simple but sincere. First, apply with an open mind. Don’t come with fixed assumptions. The most valuable part of this fellowship is learning how to understand perspectives that may be different from your own and doing so respectfully.

Second, be prepared to participate actively. Ask questions, engage in discussions, and connect with people. The fellowship gives you access not only to knowledge, but to a community, and you should take full advantage of that.

Third, think long-term. Don’t treat the experience as only a short academic visit. Think about how the exposure, the network, and the learning can shape your research path and your professional identity.

And finally, enjoy the human experience. Beyond the academic side, you will carry memories of the people, the city, and the moments that stay with you long after the fellowship ends.