4 days ago
Modi’s Central Asia Visit Highlights India’s Strategic Regional Outreach
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting two Central Asian countries.
He will visit Uzbekistan for talks and the Kyrgyz Republic for a major regional meeting.
India wants closer relationships with the five Central Asian countries.
These countries have important supplies of minerals, uranium, gold, natural gas and water power.
India also wants to cooperate with them on security because of concerns connected to Afghanistan and the Taliban.
China has invested heavily in the region, so India wants to remain an important partner there.
India hopes new transport routes through Iran will help it reach Central Asia because Pakistan blocks direct land access.
India and Uzbekistan also share old cultural connections, including similarities in language and food.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit will bring together leaders from several countries and international organisations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Uzbekistan from August 29 to 30 for bilateral talks and the Kyrgyz Republic from August 31 to September 1 for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
India’s focused engagement with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan began with its 2012 “Connect Central Asia” policy.
Central Asia offers India access to mineral, energy and hydropower resources while serving as a region for security and connectivity cooperation.
India seeks to counter China’s growing regional influence, strengthen security cooperation after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and advance the International North-South Transit Corridor.
Limited overland access through Pakistan, regional security threats and possible tensions linked to Russian migration are major challenges for India and Central Asian countries.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India and the Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic.
- What
- Modi will make a bilateral visit to Uzbekistan and attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of State meeting in the Kyrgyz Republic.
- Where
- Uzbekistan and Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic.
- When
- August 29 to September 1; the Uzbekistan visit is scheduled for August 29-30 and the SCO summit for August 31-September 1.
- Why
- To deepen India’s security, political and economic engagement with Central Asia, including cooperation on resources, connectivity, trade and regional security.
India’s Regional Outreach
Competing Regional Influence and Constraints
India’s role in Central Asia
India’s Regional Outreach
India views Central Asia as its extended neighbourhood and seeks security, political and economic benefits through closer engagement.
Competing Regional Influence and Constraints
China has made major investments in the region through its Belt and Road initiative, creating competition for strategic influence in the post-Soviet space.
Connectivity and trade
India’s Regional Outreach
India wants to integrate the International North-South Transit Corridor with Iran’s Chabahar port to improve access to Central Asia and its resources.
Competing Regional Influence and Constraints
Pakistan’s obstruction of direct overland access remains a major barrier to India’s economic engagement with the region.
Regional security
India’s Regional Outreach
India sees cooperation with Central Asian states as important after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and amid concerns about radicalism and Islamic State regrouping.
Competing Regional Influence and Constraints
The region faces additional uncertainty from the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the possible social tensions caused by the arrival of Russians seeking temporary relocation.
Key facts
- Uzbekistan visit
- Modi is scheduled to visit Uzbekistan from August 29 to 30 on a bilateral visit.
- SCO summit
- The 26th SCO Council of Heads of State meeting is scheduled in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, from August 31 to September 1.
- India’s regional policy
- India launched its “Connect Central Asia” policy in 2012 and Modi visited all five Central Asian countries in July 2015.
- Key resources
- Central Asia has major reserves and potential involving uranium, gold, natural gas, minerals and hydropower.
- Connectivity challenge
- Pakistan blocks India’s direct overland access to Central Asia.
- Trade with Uzbekistan
- India-Uzbekistan bilateral trade stood close to $1 billion in 2025-26, according to the article.
- SCO membership
- India has been a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation since 2017.
Sources
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