Meeting Between Center for Strategic and Regional Studies (CSRS) and Uzbekistan’s Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS)
The Center for Strategic and Regional Studies recently hosted a delegation from Uzbekistan’s Institute for Advanced International Studies. The CSRS delegation included Director Dr. Shahrukh Raufi, Head of Political Studies Abdul Saboor Mubariz, and department member Imran Zakaria. Representing the Uzbek institute was Hamza Boltayev, who heads their Center for Afghanistan and South Asian Studies.
Dr. Raufi opened the meeting by introducing the CSRS and highlighting the value of collaborative research with regional institutions. He noted that Afghanistan and Uzbekistan share more than just economic and political interests; the two nations are bound by deep historical, cultural, and religious connections. “This closeness between our countries is both natural and meaningful,” he said.
Hamza Boltayev then explained his visit to Afghanistan. He pointed out that while Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have government-level relations, active people-to-people exchanges, and growing business ties, academic collaboration between the two countries remains underdeveloped. “The purpose of my visit is to meet with research centers and academic institutions here and help strengthen the academic links between our nations,” he said.