PM Visit to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Republic: Why Central Asia Matters for India, Pg16

Key Highlights:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a four-day visit to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic from August 29 to September 1, 2026.
• The visit included a bilateral state visit to Uzbekistan and participation in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic.
• The SCO Summit marked the 25th anniversary of the organization, which India joined as a full member in 2017.
• India's engagement with Central Asia is guided by its Connect Central Asia policy, launched in 2012.
• The region is strategically important for its rich mineral and natural resources, including uranium, gold, hydropower, and natural gas.

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Detailed Insights:

• The bilateral visit to Uzbekistan focused on strengthening strategic partnership across trade, investment, defense, digital connectivity, and energy.
• PM Modi's participation in the SCO Summit aimed to highlight India's priorities of Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity within the forum.
• The Connect Central Asia policy seeks to deepen India's political, economic, security, and cultural ties with the five Central Asian republics.
• A major challenge for India's engagement is the lack of direct overland access, primarily due to Pakistan blocking transit routes.
• India aims to overcome connectivity challenges through projects like the International North South Transit Corridor (INSTC) and the Chabahar Port in Iran.
• Central Asia's strategic significance is also linked to security concerns, including the threat of radicalism and terrorism following the Taliban's rise in Afghanistan.
• China's extensive investments in the region through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) present a geopolitical dynamic that India seeks to balance.
• The SCO currently comprises 10 member states: India, Belarus, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Connect Central Asia Policy: India's foreign policy framework launched in 2012 to enhance engagement with Central Asian countries across various sectors.
• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO): A Eurasian political, economic, and security organization established in 2001, with India becoming a full member in 2017.
• International North South Transit Corridor (INSTC): A 7,200 km multi-modal network of ship, rail, and road routes connecting India, Iran, Central Asia, Russia, and Europe.
• Chabahar Port: A deep-water port in southeastern Iran, developed with Indian assistance, providing India with an alternative trade route to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.
• Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): China's global infrastructure development strategy launched in 2013, aiming to connect Asia, Africa, and Europe through land and sea networks.