Afghanistan
AFGHANISTAN
2012 ANSF Senior Leaders' Seminar (5-9 Nov 2012)
The 3rd ANSF Senior Leaders' Seminar was conducted at MCD. This seminar focused mainly on an overview of National Security Strategy and National Military Strategy linking ends, ways and means in the Afghan context. The goal is to develop a long-term relationship with the senior members...
2023 Air Command and Staff College Seminar
On 12 July 2023, the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA Center) hosted approximately 90 students and faculty from the Air Command and Staff College. The group was briefed at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. by NESA Center Professor Dr. Gawdat Bahgat on security...
2023 Air War College International Officer Seminar
On 23 June 2023, the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA Center) hosted 54 international fellows and faculty from the Air War College. The students were briefed at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. by NESA Center Academic Dean Dr. Roger Kangas on the Security...
2023 NESA-IISS South Asia Security Forum
From 10–12 March 2023, the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies and its partner, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), co-hosted the 7th annual South Asia Security Forum in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. The NESA Center team Distinguished Professor Hassan...
Alumni Perspectives: Empowerment of Smaller Powers in South Asian Security Cooperation
While attending APCSS courses, Fellows are required to complete a Fellows Project which may be done as a presentation, research paper, or policy brief. APCSS is now making these papers available on line with our new Alumni Perspectives publications. "Empowerment of Smaller Powers...
Annual NESA-IISS Southern Asia Security Conference
From 24-26 September 2021, Dean Dr. Roger Kangas along with Professor Dr. Hassan Abbas and Professor John Gill participated in the restart of the annual NESA-IISS Southern Asia Security Conference in Bahrain. This was the 14th iteration of the conference after a hiatus in 2020 because...
Connecting Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Beyond
From 9–12 July 2023, the NESA Center hosted the 10th annual Strategic Studies Network (SSN) Central Asia Working Group meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan. The NESA Center partnered with the Caspian Policy Center (CPC) and the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy (ADA) to manage...
DIILS PARTNERS WITH SLOVENIA TO PREP FORCES FOR DEPLOYMENT TO AFGHANISTAN
[[{"fid":"63666","view_mode":"original_version","fields":{"format":"medium_square","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","media_title[und][0][value]":"","media_description[und][0][value]":"","media_description[und][0][format]":"filtered_html","field_tags[und]":"","field_license[...
Executive Seminar: Conflict Beyond Evolving Warfare
From 31 January to 11 February 2022, the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA Center) hosted a virtual Executive Seminar on “Conflict Beyond Evolving Warfare.” Course Director NESA Center Associate Professor David Des Roches welcomed the group and started the seminar,...
International Military Officers’ Forum
From 1-5 November 2021, the NESA Center hosted foreign military officers assigned to U.S. Central Command in Tampa in Washington D.C. for an International Military Officers’ Forum titled “World Power Competition and Middle East Turmoil.” NESA Center experts, including Professor Dr. Richard...
International Salute to Fiesta San Antonio!
By Col Jeff Cooper, USAF Commandant, Defense Language Institute English Language Center In what is growing into a San Antonio tradition, 102 military service members representing 58 countries around the world, from Nigeria to Afghanistan to Ukraine, marched with their...
Iraq Capstone and Iraq’s National Defense College Visit
On 20-24 September 2021, the NESA Center hosted a delegation from the Iraq Capstone and Iraq’s National Defense College for a five-day seminar series. Amidst the ongoing Iraq-United States Strategic Dialogue, the United States Department of Defense sought to provide its Iraqi counterparts...
Marshall Center Graduate Awarded US Meritorious Service Medal for Service in Afghanistan
Link to story on US Embassy Poland Website Link to story on Polish Navy Website (in Polish)
NESA-IISS South Asian Security Forum in Bahrain
25 to 27 March 2022 – The NESA Center and its partner, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), co-hosted the sixth annual South Asian Strategic Forum in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This unique Track 1.5 dialogue brought together 40 participants from India, Pakistan,...
Pakistan can help win peace in Afghanistan, but only once it’s stable and secure itself
Shyam Tekwani has a new opinion piece in the South China Morning Post called “Pakistan can help win peace in Afghanistan, but only once it’s stable and secure itself.” Tekwani discusses Pakistan’s roadmap to peace in Afghanistan, its own internal challenges, and the opportunity to...
Qatari Diplomatic Institute Virtual Seminar
From 08-10 November 2021, Dr. Gawdat Bahgat led the Qatari Diplomatic Institute Virtual Seminar to help foster a shared understanding of the evolving strategic landscape in the Middle East and promote mutual cooperation. The seminar was attended by over 100 officials from the Qatari...
Security Trends and Challenges in South Asia
From 28–30 August 2023, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies, in partnership with the Bangladesh Center for Indo-Pacific Affairs (BCIPA) Department of International Relations, Jahangirnagar University, hosted a Strategic Studies Network (SSN) seminar...
Senior Executive Seminar: Global & Regional Power Competition
From 15-19 November 2021, the Near East South Asia Center (NESA) hosted a virtual Senior Executive Seminar titled “Global and Regional Power Competition.” The seminar started off with welcomes from Course Director Dr. Michael Sharnoff, NESA Center Academic Dean Dr. Roger Kangas, and NESA...
The Evolving Significance of Afghanistan in China’s Strategic Calculus: From an Insignificant ‘Backyard’ to a Consequential Geostrategic Hub
“The Evolving Significance of Afghanistan in China’s Strategic Calculus: From an Insignificant ‘Backyard’ to a Consequential Geostrategic Hub” is the title of a paper written by Dr. Atal Ahmadzai for Security Nexus. This article addresses how Afghanistan may shift its strategic outlook to...
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: A Tenable Provider of Security in Post-2014 Central Asia?
Can the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) service as a security provider in post-2014 Central Asia? Dr. Jeffrey Reeves discusses whether, and to what degree, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) can fulfill this role in his new article “The Shanghai Cooperation...
Pages
Alumni Publication: "2 Years of Structural Violence and Humanitarian Crisis Under the Taliban" by Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
On 16 August 2023, The Diplomat published NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D’Souza's Op-Ed "2 Years of Structural Violence and Humanitarian Crisis Under the Taliban." "Since the fall of Kabul in August 2021, the Taliban have entrenched themselves in power and common Afghans have been...
Alumni Publication: "Al-Qaida and the Taliban in Afghanistan: Information Blackhole and Strategic (Mis)communication" by Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
On 05 July 2023, The Diplomat published NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D’Souza's article "Al-Qaida and the Taliban in Afghanistan: Information Blackhole and Strategic (Mis)communication." "U.S. and U.N. estimates about al-Qaida’s strength and position in Afghanistan differ. Sorting...
Alumni Publication: "America and the 'War of Ideas' Against Islamic Extremism" by Ilan Berman
On 11 August 2023, the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC) published the article "America and the 'War of Ideas' Against Islamic Extremism" by Ilan Berman, a NESA Center alum and regular speaker for NESA Center programs. Berman's article is featured in AFPC's latest...
Alumni Publication: "An ambassador arrives: China tangos with the Taliban in Afghanistan" by Shanthie Mariet D'Souza
On 18 September 2023, the Middle East Institute published NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D'Souza's brief analysis "An ambassador arrives: China tangos with the Taliban in Afghanistan" in its weekly newsletter/blog Monday Briefing. "The Taliban regime, which recently welcomed the...
Alumni Publication: "ANALYSIS: Pakistan’s deepening woes in Balochistan" by Shanthie Mariet D'Souza and Bibhu Prasad Routray
On 20 July 2023, Mantraya published NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D'Souza's co-authored analysis on "Pakistan's deepening woes in Balochistan." "Pakistan is facing an uphill task in Balochistan. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is expanding its influence into the restive province...
Alumni Publication: "Hobson’s Choice for India in Taliban-Held Afghanistan" by Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
On 19 September 2023, The Diplomat published NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D’Souza's latest Op-Ed "Hobson’s Choice for India in Taliban-Held Afghanistan." "When it comes the question of engaging with the Taliban, New Delhi favors a cautious middle path," writes D’...
Alumni Publication: "In Afghanistan, Taliban Face a Growing Threat in ISKP" by Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
On 21 March 2023, The Diplomat published NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D’Souza's article titled "In Afghanistan, Taliban Face a Growing Threat in ISKP." "The Taliban are neither demonstrably capable of weakening ISKP, nor are they willing to accept any capacity enhancing external...
Alumni Publication: "Krisen in Afghanistan - Grenzen externer Intervention" by Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
NESA Center Alumna Shanthie Mariet D’Souza writes about the crisis in Afghanistan in her latest piece titled "Krisen in Afghanistan - Grenzen externer Intervention (Crises in Afghanistan - Limits of External Intervention)”, which was published in Volume 196 of the German ...
Alumni Publication: "Navigating Afghanistan’s Complex Path Towards Freedom and Inclusion" by Mustafa Aryan
On 23 June, Salzburg Global Seminar published NESA Center alum Mustafa Aryan's latest piece "Navigating Afghanistan’s Complex Path Towards Freedom and Inclusion." This op-ed is part of a series, written by Salzburg Global Fellows and speakers of the Salzburg Global Weekend, with...
Alumni Publication: "The Cost of Uzbekistan’s ‘Pragmatic’ Taliban Policy" by Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
On 22 July 2023, The Diplomat published NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D’Souza's Op-Ed "The Cost of Uzbekistan’s ‘Pragmatic’ Taliban Policy." "Tashkent’s approach to the Taliban has shifted over the years, with the latest swing moving it toward more direct engagement," writes D’...
Alumni Publication: "The dangers of legitimizing the Taliban" by Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
On 01 May 2023, the Middle East Institute published NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D’Souza's article "The dangers of legitimizing the Taliban" in its Monday Briefing: People power — the Israeli version blog. "Consensus eludes the West and regional countries on how to reform...
Alumni Publication: "The Fall of a Nation: A Story of Resilience and Hope" by Mustafa Aryan
On 18 August 2023, two years after the Taliban seized control of Kabul, Salzburg Global Seminar published NESA Center alum Mustafa Aryan's article "The Fall of a Nation: A Story of Resilience and Hope" in which he recounts the vivid memories he has of the Afghan...
Alumni Publication: "The Prospect of US-Taliban Counterterrorism Cooperation: Is the Embrace Worth It?" by Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
On 15 May 2023, The Diplomat published NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D’Souza's article "The Prospect of US-Taliban Counterterrorism Cooperation: Is the Embrace Worth It?" D'Souza argues that "suggested convergence on counterterrorism cooperation between the United States and the...
Alumni Publication: "The Samarkand Meeting: A Half-baked Regional Approach to Afghanistan’s Endless Woes" by Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
On 25 April 2023, The Diplomat published NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D’Souza's piece titled "The Samarkand Meeting: A Half-baked Regional Approach to Afghanistan’s Endless Woes." D'Souza argues that "legitimizing the Taliban’s rule is not the solution to Afghanistan’s current...
Alumni Publication: "The Taliban’s Afghanistan: Retribution, Refugees, and Violent Extremism" by Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
On 29 August 2023, The Diplomat published NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D’Souza's latest Op-Ed "The Taliban’s Afghanistan: Retribution, Refugees, and Violent Extremism." "An overwhelming element of vengeance continues to drive the Taliban’s policies, as illustrated by...
Alumni Publication: "The Taliban’s Unsustainable War on Drugs" by Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
On 27 June, The Diplomat published NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D’Souza's latest Op-Ed "The Taliban’s Unsustainable War on Drugs." "Afghanistan’s opiate economy is unlikely to be disrupted by a one-off campaign of crop destruction in a handful of provinces." Read the full...
Alumni Publication: China’s Challenges in Afghanistan Are Just Beginning by Shanthie Mariet D'Souza
NESA Center Alumna Dr. Shanthie Mariet D'Souza authored an article published by The National Interest on 6 February 2023 titled “China’s Challenges in Afghanistan Are Just Beginning." Read the article here The views presented in...
Alumni Publication: Iran’s Taliban outreach poses a significant challenge to India’s Afghan policy by Shanthie Mariet D'Souza
On 15 March 2023, Firstpost published NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D'Souza's opinion piece titled "Iran’s Taliban outreach poses a significant challenge to India’s Afghan policy." Read the article here Shanthie Mariet D'Souza is founder and president, Mantraya and Visiting...
Alumni Publication: Moscow Multilateral Security Dialogue: Regional Consensus Elusive on Afghanistan by Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
On 22 February 2023, The Diplomat published NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D’Souza's latest op-ed titled "Moscow Multilateral Security Dialogue: Regional Consensus Elusive on Afghanistan." Read the article here The views presented in this...
Alumni Publication: Pressure the Taliban to protect women’s rights by Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
NESA Center Alumna Shanthie Mariet D'Souza authored an opinion piece published by the Hindustan Times on 19 January 2023 titled “Pressure the Taliban to protect women’s rights.” Read the piece here The views presented in this article are...