Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said Tashkent was ready to host a regional branch of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism. He said it could support cooperation on reporting terrorist content, detecting terrorist financing and training specialists. Mirziyoyev also argued that AI could help officials identify and disrupt militant networks more efficiently.

He linked security efforts to education and economic opportunity, saying broader access could make people less vulnerable to militant messaging. A readout from his office described quality education and opportunities for people to realize their potential as an important foundation for security. Mirziyoyev also proposed an “Enlightenment Against Ignorance in the Digital Age” program under the auspices of Tashkent’s Center for Islamic Civilization.

The discussions come amid concern over militant groups operating from Afghanistan. Tajikistan has experienced multiple cross-border armed incidents over the past year, while watchdog groups have recorded more clashes in 2026 involving Taliban forces and armed groups challenging their control in northern Afghanistan. ISIS-K and other militants outside Taliban control are known to target Central Asians for recruitment.

In June 2025 testimony to a U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee subcommittee, National Defense University security expert Brianne Todd said ISIS-K was using dispersed networks of Central Asian operatives to project force internationally. She said the group’s online outreach had become more targeted and sophisticated, using encrypted platforms, coded language and AI-generated content to evade detection and manipulate audiences.

Jordan launched the Aqaba Process in 2015 to strengthen coordination and exchange expertise on security issues. The Astana session was hosted by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and attended by Jordan’s King Abdullah and the presidents of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, as well as senior representatives from Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan.