DUSHANBE, February 2, 2016, Asia-Plus -- U.S. Embassy Dushanbe sponsored a Countering Violent Extremism seminar for 22 participants from Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Religious Council, and Council on Youth and Sports as part of the United States Central Command’s annual plan of military-to-military contact events with Tajikistan.

This seminar was conducted by a team from the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Civil Military Relations (CCMR) and focused on understanding the roots of religious extremism.

Participants in the seminar also discussed case studies and ideas for developing institutional strategies to counter the radicalization of vulnerable populations.

Forums such as these are aimed at improving the government of Tajikistan’s ability to effectively reduce the threat of violent extremism and to enhance interoperability and partnership between the governments of the United States and Tajikistan.