The geological development of the wide region extending from Eastern Turkey to Central Asia is strongly influenced by an interaction between the various blocks and plates that collided with the Eurasian continent from Permian to Cenozoic time (e.g. Arabia; India). The numerous mountain ranges and basins extending across many countries have certain features in common which need to be identified but also some specific features, concerning the geological history and processes that include rifting, sea-floor spreading (ophiolite genesis), subduction (accretion/arc magmatism), collision and terrane translation. Over the last 4 years research on such topics has received a boost from work carried out by the international DARIUS programme, which has the production of new palaeogeographical and palaeotectonic maps as one of its key aims. The purpose of this session is to provide a forum for the results of this work to be presented while inviting all others working in this region to present new results hopefully leading to productive discussion and suggestions for future work.