This paper tries to address the questions that have not been answered properly by both Afghan and Central Asian counterterrorism community. They include understanding of extremism and terrorism, counterterrorism strategies and goals, enemies, terrorist organizations, and level of the threat.

The paper rather seeks to explore the understanding of terrorism, existing narratives and mutual perceptions (or misperceptions) regarding counterterrorism in a post-Taliban Afghanistan and Central Asia, which are facing common insurgency groups and the threat will stay there.

Finally, the paper discusses the need to develop whole-of-society approach to combat terrorism through practical counterterrorism cross-border cooperation and enhancing track two diplomacy to understand what is working and what is not, who poses an immediate threat and how it will be addressed to build resilient to radical ideology societies and nations in the long run.