From 23–27 June 2025, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies held an Executive Seminar titled “Global Dialogue on Countering Extremism and Terrorism” in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, that produced significant outcomes aligned with NESA’s mission and Department of Defense priorities. The program was led by Course Director Dr. Hassan Abbas, a distinguished professor of international relations, and supported by NESA Center faculty members Distinguished Professor Minister Ali Jalali and Professor Brianne Todd.

The seminar convened 30 participants from 14 countries — Armenia, Canada, France, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — fostering strategic dialogue on regional security, intelligence sharing, and counterterrorism cooperation, including discussions on the evolving threat of the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP). Through expert-led sessions and multi-perspective discussions, participants deepened mutual understanding of extremist and terrorist narrative strategies and localized threats, leading to the development of more effective countermeasures. Speakers at the seminar included Prof. Rohan Gunaratna (Singapore), Professor William Lawrence (USA), Ellie Bird Lenawarungu (U.K.), Fahad Kazmi (Pakistan), Dr. Nishchal N. Pandey (Nepal), Prof. Shahab Khan (Bangladesh), Anastassiya Reshetnyak (Kazakhstan), and NESA Center Academic Dean Dr. Roger Kangas.

In parallel, NESA Center faculty engaged with regional actors to gain nuanced insight into local threat perceptions, including foreign fighter returnees, online radicalization, and institutional vulnerabilities, while also analyzing how geopolitical players are shaping regional security dynamics amid U.S.- China competition. These discussions enhanced the NESA Center’s strategic foresight capabilities regarding hybrid threats and regional alignments in Central and South Asia. The event was hosted at the Armed Forces Academy of Uzbekistan, while the group also visited the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, where participants learned about Uzbekistan’s perspectives on these challenges. Dr. Akram Umarnov, leading the Institute for Advanced International Studies at the University, hosted the event. U.S Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Jonathan Henick, participated in the closing ceremony and presented certificates to the participants. Overall, the seminar strengthened regional cooperation, deepened understanding of complex security environments, and bolstered U.S.-Uzbekistan engagement as part of a broader effort to counter terrorism and promote regional stability.