As part of its continued commitment to fostering scholarly dialogue and regional cooperation, the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) convened the international roundtable titled “Building Bridges: Regional Dialogue for Peace and Development” on July 23–24 Tashkent.
The two-day academic event brought together scholars and experts from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Egypt, offering a dynamic platform for analysing current challenges and opportunities for peace, stability, and cooperation in Central and South Asia. The roundtable served to deepen mutual understanding and encourage collaborative efforts in the face of growing regional complexity.
The event opened with welcoming remarks by Dr. Akram Umarov, First Vice-Rector of UWED and Director of IAIS, who underscored the importance of scholarly engagement in shaping peace-oriented regional agendas.
The first session on “Engaging Scholars in Promoting Stability” explored the critical role academic institutions can play in advancing peaceful development, particularly through inclusive approaches to education, social justice, and equality. The panel was chaired by Mr. Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director of the Center for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan, while experts contributed substantive presentations highlighting concrete actions to support stability and resilient communities in the region. Among keynote speakers were Mr. Hamza Boltaev and Dr. Yulduzkhon Imomova, Senior Research Fellows at IAIS’s Centre for Afghanistan and South Asian Studies.
The second session, titled “Understanding Regional Perspectives”, focused on assessing the contribution of regional actors in fostering peace and safeguarding rights in Afghanistan and its neighbourhood. Dr. Ulugbek Ishankhodjaev, Head of the Centre for American Studies at IAIS, chaired the discussion. Among international scholars, the panel featured Head of the Centre for Afghanistan and South Asian Studies at IAIS Dr. Islomkhon Gafarov and Ms. Aziza Mukhammedova, Leading Research Fellow, who provided insight into the potential of regional cooperation mechanisms and academic dialogue in addressing current restrictions and promoting inclusive development.
On the next day, participants synthesised the outcomes of the roundtable by formulating key conclusions and recommendations. The discussion aimed at identifying follow-up steps for dialogue, scholarly collaboration, and practical engagement. In addition to the thematic sessions, the programme included exploratory meetings with academic institutions in Uzbekistan and a series of bilateral exchanges on the sidelines, further strengthening IAIS’s role as a catalyst for regional academic cooperation.
By hosting this roundtable, IAIS reaffirmed its position as a hub for interdisciplinary dialogue and knowledge exchange on pressing regional issues.
