28 January 2022, NIICE Commentary 7617
Dr. Priya Suresh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the first virtual meeting of the India-Central Asia Summit on 27 January 2022. Leaders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, `Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan participated. The Summit is a first of its kind initiative between India and Central Asian Republics.

Post the visit of Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi in 2015, both India and the five Central Asian Republics exhibit new levels of interest. This was followed by three rounds of Central Asia Dialogue at the Foreign Ministers level, the National Security Advisers Meeting at the regional level that included all the five nations.

Speaking at the first India-Central Asia Summit Prime Minster Modi highlighted three important goals for the Summit. First, called for cooperation between India and Central Asia much needed for regional stability and security. Central Asia will be a part of India’s vision of integrated and stable neighborhood. Second, an effective structure for all future cooperation that shall offer a platform for routine interaction amongst stakeholders. Third, a progressive road map for integrated regional connectivity and cooperation between India and Central Asia countries. The inaugural summit of this nature outlined the frames of cooperation and engagement.  Speaking at the inaugural summit President Modi outlined both short- and long-term goals that enumerated several areas of cooperation and partnership.

One of the major issues discussed at the summit was the overland connectivity issue between India and landlocked Central Asian countries. The possibility to enhance trade with the region comes at a time when the overall trade between India and Central Asia is currently at an all-time low of $2 billion. Both India and Central Asia are keen to explore the option over sea the route primarily provided by the Iranian ports that involve the Chabahar port terminal managed by India and the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) through Bandar Abbas. A Joint working Groups (JWGs) has been planned on Afghanistan and Chabahar port project.

Other initiatives that were outlined included bi-annual summits, annual meetings of Foreign Trade and Cultural Ministers and Secretaries of Security. All agreements aimed to strengthen cooperation in the areas of political and development, partnership, trade and connectivity, culture and tourism and security along with a proposed plan to build a ‘Central Asia Centre’ in New Delhi.  All leaders were concerned about the events unfolding in Afghanistan. Issues listed included humanitarian assistance, formation of a representative and an all-inclusive government, combating drug trafficking and terrorism and safeguarding the rights of children and women. The leaders reinforced their support for peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

The region is endowed with rich natural resources such as carbon, uranium, gold copper, oil, and gas. Given the region’s economic and strategic significance it continues to attract several external actors. Chinese President Xi Jinping convened a Central Asian Conference two days before the India-Central Asia Virtual Summit. China offered a whopping $500 million in assistance and pledged to increase trade to $ 70- billion from the present level of $40 billion. India’s huge energy demands cannot ignore the CAR’s reserves of oil and natural gas.

The summit is symbolic of the importance of a comprehensive and enduring partnership between India and Central Asian countries. The Summit comes at a time of heightened tension between the West and Russia and US and China are increasing. For India border tension with China and Taliban taking over Afghanistan. Quoting Indian strategic expert K Subramanian “Central Asia therefore pose the most critical and complex challenges to Indian diplomacy whether judged by geostrategic compulsion or India’s energy demands”. The Summit is a way forward and India need to get a clear picture of Central Asia Connect that was initiated in 2012.

Dr. Priya Suresh is an Assistant Professor at the Department of International Studies, Stella Maris College, India.