- The region is also considered the most convenient trade route for international trade and commerce for many countries from South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Eurasia.
- India shares historical and civilizational ties with the Central Asian countries from the ancient period, which was continuous since the Soviet period.
- India realized the importance of the Central Asian region as an extended neighbourhood and its prominent geographical location.
- Along with Prime Minister Modi, the leaders of Central Asian republics have agreed to set up a Joint Working group on Afghanistan and Chabahar Port.
The Central Asian states attained independence in 1991, after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. The region consists of five post-Soviet republics, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. All the five-Stans share a common geography, history, religion, culture, extremism, and limited connection with external world markets.
The region became very significant due to its geographical location and energy resources. Central Asian republics are land-locked countries that share their geographical location with the World’s emerging powers. The region is located in the middle of Eurasia and encircled by the significant civilizations of the World, including the Islamic, Christian, Buddhist, and Hindu Civilizations.
The abundant energy resources like oil, gas, and uranium attracted many external powers. Moreover, this region is also considered the most convenient trade route for international trade and commerce for many countries from South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Eurasia.
India’s Interests
India-Central Asian state’s formal relationship began immediately after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991. However, India shares historical and civilizational ties with the Central Asian countries from the ancient period, which was continuous since the Soviet period. India realized the importance of the Central Asian region as an extended neighbourhood and its prominent geographical location. India initiated Connect Central Asia Policy in 2012 during the India-Central Asia dialogue at Kyrgyzstan to strengthen cooperation in political, energy, economic, education, and health sectors.
India initiated Connect Central Asia Policy in 2012 during the India-Central Asia dialogue at Kyrgyzstan to strengthen cooperation in political, energy, economic, education, and health sectors.
In 2015, Prime Minister Modi made his first diplomatic visit to the Central Asian region, and he is the first PM who visited five Central Asian states together. During his visit to the region, he reiterated the importance of five central Asian states. He emphasized developing strategic, political, economic, and cultural ties with the region, aiming to develop regional connectivity and connect people-to-people with India.
Subsequently, India has shown its interests in the region by participating in India-Central Asia Dialogue in 2019 and 2020. Prime Minister Modi has invited all the five Central Asian states Prime Ministers for 73rd Republic Day celebrations on 26th January 2022. However, due to Covid-19, the visit got cancelled. Major India’s strategic interests in CAS under Prime Minister Modi’s foreign policy are:
- Strengthening trade and energy partnership
- Maintaining peace and stability in the region
- Countering cross-border terrorism and extremism
- Spreading India’s sphere of influence (soft-power) in the Central Asian region
- Countering Chinese hegemony.
New Great Game in CAR
As Mackinder predicted in his Heartland theory, the Central Asian region became a significant geographical location for geopolitics. Central Asian states are rich in energy resources like Oil, Gas, and uranium, which has invited many external players that led to strategic competition and rivalry among major powers like Russia, the U.S, China, India, Pakistan, Turkey, and Iran. This region has become more significant to the major powers to achieve their interests, which led to a New Great Game in the Central Asian Region. However, India successfully balanced the relationship with other great powers in the region, including China, Russia, and the U.S. India’s integration into Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) also strengthened its policy towards Central Asian states.
As Mackinder predicted in his Heartland theory, the Central Asian region became a significant geographical location for geopolitics.
Challenges for Cooperation
For several years, India’s engagement with Central Asian states was unnoticed due to lack of direct land connectivity, India’s conflictual relationship with Pakistan, and the strained situation in Afghanistan. Both Russia and China have emerged as the largest trading partners with the Central Asian states. China has extended mutual financial assistance as a part of the Belt and Road Initiative Project. Recently Xi Jinping announced a 500 million dollars grant assistance to support the livelihood programs of Central Asian States to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations. However, India’s interests in strengthening the connectivity through International North-South Transport Corridor and Chabahar Port in enhancing its trade and economic ties with all the five Central Asian states are progressive.
Future Areas of Cooperation
On 27th January 2022, the virtual summit between India and five Central Asian states, and both sides realized overcoming the landlocked connectivity would be the utmost priority. Along with Prime Minister Modi, the leaders of Central Asian republics have agreed to set up a Joint Working group on Afghanistan and Chabahar Port. The summit also addressed the need for humanitarian assistance, combating terrorism, drug trafficking, and preserving the rights of women, children, and ethnic minorities. Under the Connect Central Asia Policy, Modi emphasized strengthening political, economic, and strategic cooperation with the region to create an ambitious roadmap for both India and Central Asian Republics. Furthermore, the central Asian region is viewed as India’s vision of an integrated and stable neighbourhood.
References:
- Dutt, V.P (2007), “India’s Foreign Policy: Since Independence”, New Delhi, National Book Trust.
- Suhasini Haidar, and Bhattacherjee Kallol (2022), “No Central Asian Chief guests at this year’s Republic Day Celebrations”, The Hindu, Accessed from https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/this-year-too-no-chief-guest-in-republic-day-parade/article38291645.ece on 27th August 2022.
- Kumar, Karamala Areesh and Teja, Dakka Surya (2021), “India’s Strategic Interests and New Great Game in Central Asia” International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Review, Vol 7, Issue-9, September 2021, Accessed from http://www.ijmdrr.com/admin/downloads/170920214.pdf on 28th January 2022.
- Embassy of the People Republic of China in the Republic of India (2022), “Xi Jinping chairs the Virtual summit to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations Between China and Central Asian Countries”, Accessed from http://in.chineseembassy.org/eng/zgxw/202201/t20220126_10634121.htm on 27th August 2022.
- The Indian Express (2022), “PM Summit with 5 Central Asian heads for the joint group on Afghanistan, stronger ties” Accessed from https://indianexpress.com/article/india/days-after-china-pm-modi-holds-summit-with-five-central-asian-countries-7744679/ on 28th January 2022.
(Authors Information: Hari Yadav. G is a PhD. Research Scholar from Centre for South Asian Studies, Pondicherry University. Dr Karamala Areesh Kumar teaches International Relations and World Politics at the Post Graduate Centre, Department of Political Science, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Bangalore, India.)
Dr. Niranjan B Poojar 
Bhagyashree Gupta 
Balaji Subramanian