INDIA - CENTRAL ASIA RELATIONS -
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIP
News: India to host conclave of top security
officials of Central Asian countries
What is in the news?
● For
the first time, India will host on a
conclave of top security officials of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and
Uzbekistan with a focus on the evolving security situation in Afghanistan and
ways to deal with threat of terrorism emanating from that country,
authoritative sources said.
● The
NSA-level conclave that comes around 10 months after the first India-Central
Asia virtual summit is also set to deliberate on ways to boost India's connectivity
with the Central Asian region among other issues.
● In
November last year, India hosted a regional dialogue on the situation in
Afghanistan that was attended by NSAs of Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
● India considers the
Central Asian countries as the heart of Asia.
These countries are also members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(SCO).
Key takeaways:
● The
security situation in Afghanistan
and the evolving dynamics in that country will figure in the deliberations.
● Boosting connectivity
including exploring making the Chabahar port in Iran a part of the
International North-South Transport Corridor will also be part of the
discussions.
○ Located
in the Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-rich Iran's southern coast,
the Chabahar port is being developed
by India, Iran and Afghanistan to boost connectivity and trade ties.
○ The
International North-South Transport
Corridor (INSTC) is a 7,200-km-long multi-mode transport project for moving
freight among India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central
Asia and Europe.
● The
leaders agreed to institutionalize the summit
mechanism by deciding to hold it every two years.
○ They
also agreed on regular meetings of Foreign Ministers, Trade Ministers, Culture
Ministers and Secretaries of the Security Council to prepare the groundwork for
the summit meetings.
Importance of Central Asia to India:
1. Strategic location:
● India
considers Central Asian countries as the heart of Asia.
● Central
Asia serves as a land bridge between
Asia and Europe making it geopolitically important for India.
● Strategic
location of Central Asia is a key aspect of geopolitical maneuvering affecting
India’s relations with Pakistan, China, the US, Russia and other powers.
● India’s only foreign
military base is in Farkhor, Tajikistan in proximity to PoK.
2. Like-Mindedness in Combatting Terrorism:
● India
and the Central Asian nations have similarities in approach in countering terrorism and the threat of radicalization.
● The
latest meeting called for the early
adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism,
which India had first proposed in 1996, but has been held up for decades,
primarily over differences on the definition of terrorism.
3. Energy security:
● Central
Asia is fuel rich (petroleum, natural gas) hence, important for India’s energy
security.
○ Oil
and Natural Gas - TAPI Pipeline via Turkmenistan.
○ Nuclear
- Uranium from Kazakhstan.
○ Uzbekistan
- Oil exploration, Uranium, Gold
○ Kyrgyzstan
- Green technology and agriculture
○ Tajikistan
- Strategic location and hydropower.
4. Natural resources:
● The
region is rich in natural resources like antimony, aluminum, gold, silver, coal
and uranium which can be utilized by India.
5. Trade and commerce:
● The
Central Asian countries offer an opportunity for India to expand trade and
commerce.
● INSTC
also offers a safe and cost-effective route to the European Union market.
● Central
Asian regions are fast getting linked to the global market for production,
supplies of raw materials and services.
● They
are also increasingly getting integrated
into the East-West Trans-Eurasian transit economic corridor.
● Development
of central Asia has led to a construction boom and development of sectors like IT and tourism. India can also take
advantage of the same.
6. Connectivity:
● TAPI gas pipeline:
○ Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India
seeks to connect an energy-rich Central to South Asia, which will be possible
only if there is peace in Afghanistan.
○ In
2018, India joined the Ashgabat agreement that “would diversify India’s
connectivity options with Central Asia.
○ The
pact was signed in 2011 by Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Oman and Qatar and
aimed at developing the shortest trade route between the Central Asian
republics and Iranian and Omani ports.
● Chabahar port:
○ In
2003, India and Iran announced the development of the Chabahar port.
○ Once
Chabahar was complete, this would serve as an alternate route to Central Asia.
● International North-South
(Transit) Corridor (INSTC):
○ In
2000, India, Iran and Russia agreed on a new route for trade that later came to
be known as INSTC.
How has India evolved its relations with Central Asia?
1. Connect Central Asia policy:
● In
2012, New Delhi’s ‘Connect Central Asia’ policy aimed at furthering India’s
political, economic, historical and cultural connections with the region.
2. Cultural connect:
● Central
Asia is undoubtedly a zone of India’s civilizational influence; the Ferghana
Valley was India’s crossing-point of the Great Silk Road.
● Buddhism
also found inroads in several Central Asian cities in the form of Stupas and
Monasteries.
● Men
of prominence such as Amir Khusrau,
Dehlawi, Al-Biruni etc. having Central Asian roots came and made their name in
India.
● Bollywood
stars like Raj Kapoor and Mithun Chakraborty are famous in these countries.
3. Strategic partnership agreement:
● New
Delhi signed the Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPA) with Kazakhstan,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to stimulate defence cooperation and deepen trade
relations.
4. SCO membership:
● India's
full membership into the SCO now opens up an opportunity for a closer
engagement with the region.
5. India-Central Asia dialogue:
● It
is a ministerial-level dialogue between India and the Central Asian countries
namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
6. India's Soft Power:
● India's
presence in the form of universities, hospitals and other services such as
tele-medicine and tele-education.
Challenges:
1. Geographic non-accessibility:
● India’s
major limitation in this strategically important region is geographic
non-accessibility. India does not share
borders with the CARs.
2. Tensions with Pakistan and China:
● India's
tensions with Pakistan mean there is no viable land route towards Central Asia.
● Pakistan’s
obstructionist attitude has played a big role in keeping India out of Central
Asia.
● Given
its close ties with China, Pakistan would likely push Afghanistan to join
connectivity projects initiated by Beijing and not New Delhi.
● China
took advantage and unveiled BRI in
Kazakhstan.
● Beijing
has made considerable inroads into the region, boosting trade and co-opting
Central Asian states into its Belt and Road Initiative.
3. Instability in Afghanistan:
● The
takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban has severely set back India’s plans in
Central Asia.
4. Drug menace:
● Porous
border and unbridled corruption along with the proximity with regions of
soaring opium production (Golden Crescent and Golden Triangle) makes the region
a powerhouse for drug and money trafficking.
5. Low trade:
● India’s
current trade volume with Central Asia is minimal, and cannot be increased
without substantially improving transport connectivity.
● Trade and commercial
bonds: Trade between India and Central Asia is very low (US $2 billion)
compared to Chinese trade with the CARs, which amounts to approx. US $100
billion.
6. Security:
● Terrorism, drug
trafficking and radicalization have been a
matter of concern for India and Central Asian countries alike.
● This
has especially become a major concern in the context of the Taliban taking over
control of Afghanistan.
7. India’s Foreign policy:
● India’s
foreign policy has been more focused on the bigger powers such as Russia and the United States (US) and in
dealing with challenges from China and Pakistan. Thus, CARs got less attention
in the past.
WAY FORWARD:
● It
is fairly understood that both the CAR and India both have not optimally
utilized each other’s resources present in diverse sectors.
● India
is rapidly moving towards its goal of becoming a regional power which continuously requires uninterrupted supply of
fuel and energy which can easily be provided by the CAR.
● There
is a need to realize a Free Trade
Agreement (FTA) between India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) which
has a potential of spurring the trade to 170 billion dollars from paltry 10
Billion Dollars.
Although
China has the largest regional presence in Central Asia, India’s outreach may
provide an alternative to CARs. Also, India’s
commitment to “principles of transparency, local priorities and respect for
sovereignty and territorial integrity” makes it a preferred alternative to
China in the long run.