AZIZ HANIFFA is the National Affairs Editor and Chief Diplomatic and Political correspondent of India Abroad--the oldest and largest circulating South Asian newspaper in North America and the largest outside of India.

He has been covering Washington for over 18 years since joining India Abroad and over the years has scored many scoops and done tons of exlusives, including interviews with presidents, prime ministers, cabinet ministers, and US and South Asian lawmakers.

Aziz was the only South Asian print journalist who was part of the White House press delegation that accompanied former president Bill Clinton to the subcontinent in March 2000.

A native of Sri Lanka he has a bachelors degree,double majoring in English and Economic and a masters degree in political science and international affairs from George Washington University.

Aziz is a regular South Asia analyst on CNN International and has appeared frequently on other CNN programs including Q & A,and also on MSNBC and C-Span.

He is also a regular media panelist at the National Defense University's NESA (Near East and South Asia) Center that throughout the year hosts senior military officers and Foreign and Defense Ministries in Washington for four-to-right week periods from the Middle East and South Asia.

He has travelled extensively in South Asia, Middle East, East,North and South Africa, Europe, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Over the years he has won several awards and accolades, including most recently the Lifetime Service Award from the US-Asia Foundation.