Although you wouldn’t assume at first glance, Niala is a fighter, quite literally. Just ask her many bruised and battered martial arts and boxing opponents over the years! Little did she know these survival skills would prove most valuable upon entering the tumultuous world of international news and radio broadcasting where she works for Voice of America’s newest Pashto language program, VOA Deewa Radio. Niala’s role at VOA Deewa is critical to the success of every broadcast as she helps set the tempo, tone and flow while directing live radio programs. In the studio, Niala’s word is law! Her hip attitude, good taste and deep knowledge of Pashto music and culture also make Niala perfectly suited to the task of selecting which popular Pashto artists and songs make it on the VOA Deewa airwaves.

Just prior to joining VOA, Niala worked at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, DC researching human rights and Afghan-Pakistan relations for senior diplomats. Niala also worked with Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission - Peshawar office where she researched health care in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). During this time Niala also had the opportunity to work at Khyber TV, a Pashto language satellite channel, in their Peshawar bureau where she engaged in concept writing to develop ideas for new programming.

Niala recently completed her Masters in International Studies and Diplomacy from the School of Oriental and African Studies - University of London, where her focus was International Law, specifically as it relates to human rights. She has performed extensive research on the indigenous and tribal peoples in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan.

Niala was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Massachusetts - Boston. She travels to Pakistan quite often and speaks fluent Pashto and Urdu. During her undergraduate studies, Niala traveled to London where she studied intensive Pashto at the prestigious School of Oriental and African Studies - Language Center.

Niala began studying martial arts at the age of ten and has since been certified as an official black belt, which means she is licensed to kill if she must! She later studied boxing under the tutelage of her brother Fada, a professional boxer. In addition to martial arts and boxing, her interests include dance, music, travel and photography.