taliban
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...
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 with...
Washington Seminar Discussion January 2023
On Thursday, 26 January 2023, the NESA Center hosted a Washington Seminar Discussion at the Army-Navy Club in downtown Washington, D.C. The seminar presented a conversation between NESA Center Distinguished Professor of International Relations Dr. Hassan Abbas and CNN’s National Security...
Mantraya Annual Report 2022-23
The Mantraya Annual Report 2022-23 was released on 09 January 2023. The report is an annual compilation of Mantraya’s policy briefs, analyses, occasional papers, and voices from the South Asia region. Mantraya is an independent research forum that seeks to make constructive...
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...
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: 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: Taliban Incapacity and the growing threat of Islamic State-Khorasan Province by Dr. Shanthie Mariet D'Souza and Bibhu Prasad Routray
On 10 March 2023, Mantraya published the analysis "Taliban Incapacity and the growing threat of Islamic State-Khorasan Province" co-authored by NESA Center alumna Dr. Shanthie Mariet D'Souza and Bibhu Prasad Routray. The article discusses the potential threat posed by...
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: "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: "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 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 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...
Women’s secret war: the inside story of how the US military sent female soldiers on covert combat missions to Afghanistan
"Women’s secret war: the inside story of how the US military sent female soldiers on covert combat missions to Afghanistan" is an eye-opening account published on 22 May 2023 in The Conversation US that delves into the untold narrative of the U.S. military's deployment of female soldiers on...
Alumni Publication: "A Compulsive Embrace Beneath the Afghanistan-Iran Water Conflict" by Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
On 31 May 2023, The Diplomat published NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D’Souza's article "A Compulsive Embrace Beneath the Afghanistan-Iran Water Conflict." D'Souza argues that "Kabul and Tehran have conflicting claims over the Helmand river’s water, but other mutual interests...
NESA Center Update: February–March 2023
The NESA Center February–March 2023 Update focuses on Near East South Asia Region cyber trends. The update also highlights February through March 2023 NESA Center programs and events, faculty and staff engagements, alumni contributions, and a calendar with upcoming events....
CSAG Information Paper: "China and Russia: Competition for Afghanistan"
Subject: China and Russia: Competition for Afghanistan (AFG) Purpose: The aim of this paper is to present CSAG’s analysis of competition between Russia and China for agreements and strategies for the Central Asian Heartland. Read the full paper here View other USCENTCOM Combined...
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 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: "Society Needs to Use Religion to Counter Extremism" by Charani Patabendige
On 29 June, International Policy Digest published NESA Center alumna Charani Patabendige's latest Op-Ed "Society Needs to Use Religion to Counter Extremism." "Harnessing the true tenets of religion is key to fostering a unified front against extremism. A multi-faceted approach...
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: "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’...
Faculty Publication: "The internal splits that threaten the Taliban’s rule" by Hassan Abbas
On 28 July 2023, Chatham House published NESA Center Distinguished Professor Hassan Abbas's latest article "The internal splits that threaten the Taliban’s rule" for its The World Today issue. "Dogmatically and brutally, the Taliban are learning to govern – but growing tensions between...
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Professor Hassan Abbas quoted in AP article on Taliban leader's Eid message
NESA Center Professor Dr. Hassan Abbas was quoted in an Associated Press article published 6 April 2024, titled "Reclusive Taliban leader releases Eid message urging officials to set aside their differences." Read the article The views presented in this post are...