Afghanistan

Qatari Diplomatic Institute Virtual Seminar

From 8-10 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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sessions were led by NESA director LTG Read More >

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 Russell, Deputy Director COL David Lamm, Academic Dean Dr. Roger Kangas, and Professor Read More >

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 of the health crisis. As in the past, this Read More >

Iraq’s National Defense College Visit to NDU

On 20–24 September 2021, the NESA Center hosted a delegation from Iraq’s National Defense College (INDC). The first day started with opening remarks from NESA Center Dean Dr. Roger Kangas and a seminar introduction from NESA Center Professor Daniel Curfiss, who also moderated the seminar series. Over the course of the five-day seminar, members of Read More >

Iraq Capstone Visit

On 13–17 September 2021, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies hosted the Iraq Capstone Visit to National Defense University (NDU) in Washington DC for an in-person seminar that consisted of ten sessions throughout five days. The seminar started off with opening remarks from NESA Center Director LTG Terry Wolff, U.S. Army Read More >

Optimizing Mutual Interests in Afghanistan

By: Lt Col Farhan Ali, Pakistan Army, CSAG CCJ5 05 Aug 2021 Introduction: While the present domestic political and security situation in Afghanistan is extremely volatile, there are opportunities to strengthen the partnerships beyond the military domain and address the Coalition interests. Every challenge creates new opportunities, but these opportunities can be time sensitive. Dividends Read More >

US Withdrawal from Iraq and Conditions that Enabled ISIS’ Spread: 2011 and 2021 Comparison

By: LTC Octavian Dorobantu, ROU Army, CSAG CCJ5 23 July 2021 Introduction: In early 2019, the ISIS caliphate was declared “defeated” after losing the Battle of Baghuz Fawqani. However, in 2020, a significant growth in IS attacks has been witnessed in their traditional heartlands of Syria and Iraq, as well as an increasing presence in Read More >