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The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan, held national in-depth consultations on the protection of vulnerable targets, at the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Tashkent, from 14 to 16 October 2026.

Bringing together representatives of key national authorities in Uzbekistan, alongside international experts, the consultations were co-led by UNOCT and the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) under the United Nations Global Programme on Countering Terrorist Threats against Vulnerable Targets. They were held with the support of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan.

The consultations were opened by Mr. Turakhodjayev Najmiddin, Deputy Head of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan; H.E. Hassan bin Hamza Hashim, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Uzbekistan; and Mr. Ignacio Ibanez, Head of the UNOCT Programme Office in Madrid and Coordinator of the Global Programme on Countering Terrorist Threats against Vulnerable Targets.

Over three days, the participants engaged in substantive discussions aimed at identifying existing strengths, needs and priorities for safeguarding critical infrastructure and public places ("soft targets") against terrorist threats in the country. They considered Uzbekistan's legal and normative framework, institutional arrangements, roles and responsibilities of relevant ministries, agencies and entities, as well as operational and technical readiness for preventing, protecting against and responding to terrorist attacks targeting vulnerable sites. Discussions also examined the national and regional threat environment.

Preliminary findings and recommendations will inform a draft national plan of action, or "Roadmap", for the protection of vulnerable targets reflecting Uzbekistan's priorities and needs. The roadmap aims to support national ministries, entities and other relevant stakeholders in strengthening the security and resilience of critical infrastructure and public places. The draft Roadmap is expected to be transmitted to the national authorities in November 2026, followed by an introductory capacity-building activity in Tashkent in December 2026.