India-Central Asia Relations

The Central Asian Republics, forming India’s extended neighborhood, lie at the crossroads of geopolitics, energy, and trade. India’s engagement with them blends civilizational ties with development-driven and strategic cooperation to advance regional connectivity and stability.

Central Asia Region

Location: Located at the heart of the Eurasian landmass, bounded by Russia (north), China (east), Iran and Afghanistan (south), and the Caspian Sea (west).
Members: Comprises 5 landlocked countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Evolution of India-Central Asia Relations

India and Central Asia, in each other’s ‘Extended Neighbourhood’, enjoy close and cordial contemporary diplomatic relations underpinned by millennia old cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
- India has several millennia old historical, cultural and civilisational links with Central Asia.
Cultural Linkages (Ancient): The Silk Road fostered trade, Buddhism, and Sufi cultural exchanges between India and Central Asia.
Diplomatic Outreach (1991): Post-USSR breakup, India established ties with CARs to boost energy and trade access.
Strategic Ties (2009–2012): India signed strategic partnerships and launched the Connect Central Asia Policy (2012).
Leadership Diplomacy (2015): PM Modi’s visit to all five CARs strengthened political and security cooperation.
Regional Integration (2017–2019): Joining the SCO (2017) and launching the India–Central Asia Dialogue (2019) expanded engagement.
Development Focus (2021–2022): Post-U.S. exit from Afghanistan, India launched the Summit (2022) and Development Group for regional stability.

Significance of CAR for India

Strategic Location: Central Asia serves as India’s Eurasian gateway, vital for regional connectivity, security outreach, and projects like Chabahar Port and INSTC.
Energy Hub: The region’s vast oil and gas reserves boost India’s energy security through initiatives like the TAPI Pipeline and Kazakhstan uranium supply.
Resource Access: Rich in minerals, uranium, and rare earths, Central Asia supports India’s clean energy transition and technology manufacturing goals.
Security Cooperation: Partnership through the SCO frameworks aids counterterrorism, border stability, and checks extremism and drug trafficking.
Trade Connectivity: The INSTC corridor and Chabahar route enhance India’s Eurasian trade linkages, reducing freight time by 40% and logistics costs.

4^th India-Central Asia Dialogue: Key Highlights

Strengthening Economic Cooperation: Agreed on Focusing on untapped trade potential in sectors like pharma, IT, textiles, energy, and agriculture.
Cooperation in Science, Technology, and Digital Public Infrastructure: Agreement to collaborate on DPI, innovation, and research; establishment of India-Central Asia Digital Partnership Forum.
Critical Minerals Exploration: Appreciating the outcomes of the 1^st India-Central Asia Rare Earth Forum held in 2024, Ministers expressed interest in joint exploration of rare earth and critical minerals.
India’s Global Platforms: India invited Central Asian Countries to join International Solar Alliance (ISA), Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA), International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) etc.
UN Reforms & Global South Cooperation: Central Asian countries reiterated support for India’s permanent UNSC membership and collaboration through India’s Global South Centre “DAKSHIN.”
Condemned the Terrorist attack in Pahalgam: Their unanimous condemnation of the attack in Jammu and Kashmir reflected a common understanding of the security threats posed by terrorism.
- It reiterated the urgent call for cooperation to combat the terrorism in all manifestations and also strongly advocated for the early adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), which was first proposed by India in 1996.
Peace in Afghanistan: India and Central Asian countries reaffirmed their commitment for regional cooperation on Afghanistan by supporting a peaceful, terror-free, and drug-free country.
Cooperation in Health: It expressed their desire to deepen cooperation in the health-care sector, including medical tourism. Following India’s “One Earth, One Health” vision.
Enhanced Connectivity through INSTC: Emphasis on International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and interest in Chabahar Port development.
Other: Ministers welcomed the designation of 2025 as the “International Year of Peace and Trust“.

Key Challenges

Lack of Direct Land Access: India does not share a direct land border with Central Asia, making trade routes dependent on third countries like Iran, Afghanistan, or Pakistan.
Geopolitical Competition: Central Asia is a region of strategic interest for major powers like China (through its Belt and Road Initiative), Russia, Turkey, and the EU.
Low Trade Volume: Trade between India and Central Asia lies at a measly US $2 billion compared to China’s US $100 billion trade.
Regional Security Concerns: Terrorism, radicalization, drug trafficking and instability in neighboring Afghanistan.
Drug and Arms Trafficking: The proximity to the “Golden Crescent” (Iran-Pakistan-Afghanistan) makes Central Asia susceptible to drug and arms trafficking, which can fuel instability and corruption.
Regulatory Hurdles: Difficulties in visa issuance, customs clearances, and investment regulations.

Way Forward For Deepening Engagement With CAR

Connectivity: Focus on developing and upgrading transportation and logistics infrastructure that connects India with Central Asia. Investing in transport corridors, such as the INSTC.

Digital Partnership: Expand India–Central Asia Digital Forum to share Digital Public Infrastructure and fintech innovation.
Energy Collaboration: Revive the TAPI pipeline & expand uranium, gas, & rare earth imports from CARs.
Strategic Diplomacy: Use the SCO and India–Central Asia Dialogue to ensure balanced engagement amid China–Russia influence.
Development Cooperation: Channel $1 billion LoC for infrastructure, education, and healthcare projects to strengthen goodwill and trust.

India’s development-first diplomacy in Central Asia strengthens connectivity, trust, and regional stability, offering an alternative to power-driven geopolitics. It reinforces India’s role as a constructive and reliable partner in the evolving Eurasian landscape.

Reference: Hindustan Times

UPSC Mains PYQs – Theme – India-Central Asia Relations

[UPSC 2024 10M] Critically analyse India’s evolving diplomatic, economic, & strategic relations with the Central Asian Republics (CARs), highlighting their increasing significance in regional & global geopolitics.
[UPSC 2018 10M] A number of outside powers have entrenched themselves in Central Asia, which is a zone of interest to India. Discuss the implications, in this context, of India’s joining the Ashgabat Agreement, 2018.

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 395

Q. Examine the key structural and geopolitical constraints that have limited India’s economic engagement with Central Asia despite its ‘Connect Central Asia Policy’. How can India leverage emerging regional dynamics to enhance trade and connectivity? (250 Words) (15 Marks)

Approach

Introduction: Write a brief introduction about the Central Asia-India Relations.
Body: Examine the key structural and geopolitical constraints that have limited India’s economic engagement and how India leverages emerging regional dynamics to enhance trade and connectivity.
Conclusion: Write a comprehensive conclusion by mentioning the future course of action.