India’s return to its Central Asian neighbourhood, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Uzbekistan and attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
• This visit signifies India's renewed focus on its Central Asian neighborhood.
• India became a full member of the SCO in 2017, following PM Modi's historic 2015 visit to all five Central Asian nations.
• The India-Central Asia Dialogue mechanism was established after the virtual Republic Day event in 2022.

Detailed Insights:

• Central Asia is a landlocked region situated between Russia and China, grappling with issues of radicalization and terrorism.
• The region's diverse ethnicities and resources influence its domestic and foreign policy choices, with Turkmenistan maintaining rigorous neutrality.
• India shares deep civilizational links with Central Asia, despite challenges in direct overland connectivity.
• The Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan geographically separates India and Tajikistan, highlighting potential connectivity routes.
• Uzbekistan is recognized for its dynamic economy, strong stance against terrorism, and pragmatic engagement with Afghanistan.
• India has explored alternative rail and road connectivity options through Iran and Afghanistan with Central Asian countries.
• The SCO, which began as the "Shanghai Five" in 1996, has expanded to include 10 member states.
• India's engagement with the SCO is primarily driven by geographical imperatives rather than ideological alignment.
• PM Modi has previously articulated a vision for the SCO centered on security, connectivity, and opportunity.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO): A Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance.
• Wakhan Corridor: A narrow, mountainous strip of land in Afghanistan, historically significant for regional connectivity.
• Geopolitics: The study of how geography and economics influence the power and foreign policy of a state.
• Central Asia: A region comprising Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.