The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED), jointly with the British Embassy in Tashkent, held an International Conference on Countering Terrorism and Radicalization in Central Asia on 26–27 March 2026 in Tashkent. The event was devoted to the evolving challenges of violent extremism, online radicalization, and terrorist propaganda, with particular attention to evidence-based responses, regional cooperation, strategic communications, and resilience-building against extremist narratives.

The conference brought together representatives of specialised government institutions from the countries of Central Asia, diplomats, international and regional expert community, as well as practitioners from international organisations, NGO’s, and other institutions working on counter-terrorism, prevention of violent extremism, and related issues. It served as a platform for discussing shared regional challenges, exchanging practical experiences, and exploring policy-oriented approaches to addressing radicalization in both offline and digital environments.

The conference was opened by H.E. Sodyq Safoev, First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis and Rector of UWED, Mr. Djakhongir Irgashev, Head of Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and H.E. Timothy Smart, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Republic of Uzbekistan. The opening session was chaired by Dr. Akram Umarov, First Vice-Rector of UWED and Director of IAIS. In their remarks, the speakers underscored the importance of closer international cooperation and multi-stakeholder dialogue in responding to the changing nature of terrorist threats across the region.

The first day of the conference focused on the current configuration of the terrorist threat in Central Asia, the role of the internet in spreading extremist propaganda, the root causes of radicalization, and the social and gender dimensions of extremist recruitment. The discussions addressed both the security dimension of terrorism and the broader societal drivers that make communities vulnerable to radicalization.

The second day turned to practical approaches for the prevention of violent extremism and for countering online extremist propaganda. The exchanges highlighted the need for preventive work at the community level, stronger public communication strategies, and more coordinated efforts among state institutions, international partners, and civil society actors to reduce the influence of extremist messaging.

Throughout the conference, participants examined the intersection of security, governance, digital communication, and social resilience in shaping contemporary responses to terrorism and radicalization in Central Asia. The event reaffirmed the importance of sustained regional dialogue and international cooperation in developing practical recommendations and long-term strategies to counter extremist threats in the region.