Archive · 29 Aug 2026
Modi's Visit Expected to Give Fresh Direction to India-Kyrgyzstan Ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
He will mainly attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
He is also expected to meet Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov.
India and Kyrgyzstan want to improve their partnership in defence, trade and transportation.
Their relationship became a strategic partnership in 2019.
Since then, their trade has almost doubled, according to India’s ambassador.
The countries have also increased military training and counter-terrorism cooperation.
They are using a major transport route called the International North–South Transport Corridor because there is no direct physical connection between them.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Bishkek for the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
Ambassador Birender Singh Yadav said Modi and President Sadyr Japarov will review bilateral ties.
Defence cooperation includes joint exercises, training programmes and specialised counter-terrorism courses.
India-Kyrgyzstan trade has nearly doubled since the relationship became a strategic partnership in 2019.
Both countries are promoting the International North–South Transport Corridor to address limited connectivity.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Indian ambassador Birender Singh Yadav are central figures.
- What
- Modi is visiting Kyrgyzstan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit and hold bilateral talks focused on strengthening strategic ties.
- When
- The visit is associated with the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation heads-of-state summit; no exact visit date is provided.
- Where
- Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
- Why
- The two countries aim to deepen defence and security cooperation, expand trade and improve physical connectivity.
- Strategic partnership
- India and Kyrgyzstan elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership during Modi’s 2019 visit.
- Trade
- Bilateral trade turnover has nearly doubled over the past five to six years, according to Ambassador Yadav.
- Defence cooperation
- A 2019 memorandum of understanding created a joint working group that meets annually and produces an agreed plan of action.
- Security training
- The countries have increased joint exercises and training, including specialised counter-terrorism courses.
- Medical assistance
- India gifted two Bheeshma Arogya Maitri health cubes during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit in April 2026.
- Trade negotiations
- Negotiations have begun on a free-trade agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union.
- Connectivity route
- India and Kyrgyzstan are promoting the International North–South Transport Corridor to facilitate goods and services trade.