India-Central Asia Relations

The Central Asian Communist countries are a group of five countries stretching from the Persian Sea area to China in the east and to Russia in the north. Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan are among them. Kazakhstan is the eighth-largest country in total land area, whereas India is the seventh-largest. 

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, these states became sovereign republics. India and Central Asia relations have recently emerged as the ‘heartland of the globe’ given their economic strength, geographical position, and natural riches, taking after Ecologist Mackinder’s proposed ‘Heartland Theory.’

India Central Asia Relations UPSC

•       The cultural and civilizational ties between Central and South Asia are extensive. Parts of these regions were ruled by ancient kingdoms such as the Kushan Empire. Relationships have spread into many spheres, including politics and faith
•       With the disruption of the historic excellent Silk Road due to the Muslim conquest, India and Southeast Asia were unable to collaborate on many matters. The Mughals, who controlled India from 1526 until 1857, were from Uzbekistan’s Samarkand area
•       Only after 1991 did India create diplomatic ties with these countries. This occurred shortly after they gained independence with the dissolution of the USSR
•       India adopted its ‘Look North’ program in 2012, emphasizing the four Cs: Commerce, Connectivity, Communication, and Compassion. At the moment, the Central Asian area is considered to be part of India’s extended neighbourhood

International North-South Transport Corridor

India has also developed its Connect Central Asia Policy, with the goal of re-connecting with the region that has a long connection with India. It is a multi-faceted strategy that includes political, financial, economic, and cultural ties through an International North-South Transport Corridor known as the Silk Route.

Engagement with Central Asian states: The primary focus of communication with these territories is on military concerns, energy development, commerce, and communication initiatives.

Military Collaboration:

An agreement has grown in recent years. However, it is still in its infancy. The nations are now engaging in leadership training, infrastructure building, and training. 

 In the military industry, India has the most extensive collaboration with Tajikistan. When India discovered that Pakistan was sponsoring extreme terror organizations during the country’s civil war in 1992-1997, it became engaged. A defense pact was inked in 2002, as India established its first foreign military base.

Khanjar with Kyrgyzstan, Kazind with Kazakhstan, and Dustlik with Uzbekistan are among the combined exercises. 

Energy Collaboration: 

Currently, the only active energy centered cooperation involving India and these countries is with Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan and India signed a Civil Peace Initiative, and the Atomic Power Suppliers Group gave India a waiver (NSG). Since then, they have supplied around 7,500 tonnes of nuclear fuel to India. They agreed to boost this to 10,000 barrels in 2019.

Strategic Importance of Central Asia

In addition, India and Turkmenistan agreed on a deal pertaining long-term production of Uranium. After Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan will become the second Statistical Asian country to provide Uranium to India.The TAPI tunnel Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India is one of the industrial pipelines. This holds immense strategic importance for central Asia and was launched in 2015. This 1814-kilometer-long pipeline would be called the “Peace Pipeline”. It is worth 10 Billion dollars. However, the project has been hampered by the current situations in Iran and Pakistan. 

India Central Asia Dialogue

•       Group Synthesized: Economic cooperation has been somewhat tepid. The value of commerce between India and Kazakhstan has been estimated to be approximately $851 million. It is India’s major trading partner in the area
•       Connection: A lack of connectivity, as well as bureaucratic sluggishness, has inhibited bilateral collaboration. However, under the Transnational North-South Transit Corridor Agreement, India has improved its connection with the area
  
  
  

  Conclusion 

Geographically, these nations serve as a link between different parts of Asia as well as Europe and Asia. Furthermore, engagement with these nations will aid in resisting China’s OBOR initiative.India could promote tourism to Central Asia as well. This will include finding Buddhist characteristics from India to Central Asia, such as that of the name Bukhara, inherited from a Buddhist Vihara.