India-Central Asia Relations: Strategic Importance, SCO & Uzbekistan

GS II: Bilateral, regional, and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Context: The Indian Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to Uzbekistan and participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan provide an opportunity to strengthen India’s strategic, economic and diplomatic presence in Central Asia amid Russia’s relative decline and China’s expanding influence.

Central Asia- Strategic Significance for India

• Geostrategic Location: Central Asia lies at the intersection of Russia, China, Afghanistan, Iran and the Caspian region, making it important for India’s continental strategy.
• Eurasian Connectivity: Despite the absence of direct overland connectivity, India shares deep historical, cultural, linguistic and civilisational linkages with the region.
• Resource Potential: Central Asia possesses significant reserves of oil, natural gas, uranium and critical minerals, creating opportunities for India’s energy and resource security.
• Security Dimension: Instability in Afghanistan, terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking directly affect India’s security interests.
• Geopolitical Diversification: Central Asian States are increasingly seeking partnerships beyond traditional dependence on Russia and China, creating space for greater Indian engagement.

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Evolution of India-Central Asia Relations

• Post-Soviet Transition: The independence of the five Central Asian republics in 1991 created new opportunities for direct Indian diplomatic engagement.
• 2015 Milestone: Prime Minister Modi’s visit to all five Central Asian countries marked a significant shift from India’s earlier cautious approach towards Russia’s traditional sphere of influence.
• SCO Membership: India became a full member of the SCO in 2017, providing an institutional platform for engagement with Central Asia.
• 2022 India-Central Asia Dialogue: The initiative created a mechanism for regular high-level cooperation between India and the five Central Asian republics.
• Republic Day Outreach: India invited the Central Asian leaders as chief guests for Republic Day 2022, signalling the strategic importance attached to the region.

Why Uzbekistan Matters

• Regional Influence: Uzbekistan is among the most populous and strategically significant Central Asian States.
• Foreign-policy Diversification: Under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan has pursued greater diversification of its external partnerships.
• Counter-terrorism Cooperation: Its strong opposition to terrorism and extremism aligns with India’s security interests.
• Afghanistan Expertise: Uzbekistan’s geographical proximity and pragmatic approach towards Afghanistan and the Taliban make it an important partner.
• Connectivity Potential: India has discussed alternative rail and road routes through Iran and Afghanistan, which could help overcome geographical constraints.
• People-to-people Ties: Historical connections through Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara provide a strong foundation for cultural diplomacy.

India and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

• Institutional Platform: The SCO has evolved from the Shanghai Five established in 1996 into a major Eurasian grouping.
• Indian Membership: India became a full member in 2017, alongside Pakistan.
• Security Cooperation: The SCO provides a platform to address terrorism, extremism and regional instability.
• Strategic Balancing: India uses the SCO to engage simultaneously with China, Russia and Central Asian countries.
• Geography over Ideology: India’s SCO engagement is primarily driven by geographical and strategic interests, rather than ideological alignment.
• Connectivity and Development: India has advocated greater cooperation in connectivity, technology, economy and civilisational exchanges.

Major Challenges

• Chinese Dominance: China’s expanding economic and infrastructure footprint makes it difficult for India to compete for influence.
• Russian Decline: The weakening of Russia’s traditional influence creates both an opportunity and uncertainty in the regional balance.
• Connectivity Deficit: India lacks direct land connectivity with Central Asia, significantly constraining trade and investment.
• Pakistan Factor: Pakistan’s geographical position limits India’s direct access to the region and complicates connectivity initiatives.
• Afghanistan Instability: Continued instability in Afghanistan remains a major obstacle to developing overland connectivity.
• Regional disputes: Central Asian States face unresolved issues involving borders, water resources and ethnic identities.
• Limited Economic Engagement: India’s trade and investment presence remains considerably below the region’s potential.

Areas for Deepening India-Central Asia Cooperation

• Connectivity: Strengthen the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and explore multimodal routes through Iran and Afghanistan.
• Energy Security: Expand cooperation in uranium, hydrocarbons, renewable energy and critical minerals.
• Defence Cooperation: Increase joint training, counter-terrorism cooperation and intelligence sharing.
• Digital Partnerships: Leverage India’s expertise in Digital Public Infrastructure, information technology and fintech.
• Education and Healthcare: Expand scholarships, medical cooperation, telemedicine and institutional partnerships.
• Tourism and Culture: Promote Buddhist, Sufi and historical linkages, along with tourism and cultural exchanges.
• Trade Diversification: Develop mechanisms to increase Indian exports, investment and private-sector participation.

Way Forward

• Strategic Autonomy: Use engagement with Central Asia to strengthen India’s multi-alignment and strategic autonomy.
• Connectivity First: Address the geographical constraint through INSTC, Chabahar and multimodal transport networks.
• Security Partnership: Build deeper cooperation against terrorism, extremism, organised crime and drug trafficking.
• Economic Diplomacy: Shift from predominantly diplomatic engagement towards commercially sustainable partnerships.
• Development Partnership: Offer Indian expertise in IT, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, education and digital governance.
• Institutionalise Engagement: Strengthen the India-Central Asia Dialogue through regular ministerial and sector-specific mechanisms.

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Conclusion

Central Asia is not merely a distant region for India but an important part of its continental neighbourhood and Eurasian strategic space. By combining connectivity, economic diplomacy, security cooperation and civilisational ties, India can establish a stronger presence in a region increasingly characterised by Chinese expansion, Russian transition and greater strategic diversification.

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