| Introduction: Write about Central Asian Countries Body: 1) Write few points on the importance of region for the strategic interest of India. 2) Write the challenges to good India-Central Asia relations. Conclusion: Write down a few steps taken by India to improve relations. |
Central Asian Republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan) form a part of India’s extended neighbourhood. India has had several millennia old historical, cultural and civilizational links to the region.
Significance of Central Asia for India’s strategic interests:
- The availability of commercially viable quantities of natural resources like oil, gas, uranium, lead, etc. make it important for India’s energy security.
- The geographical location of central Asia makes it important for India’s aspiration to connect to greater Eurasian region via land route.
- The illicit drug trade, religious fundamentalism and terrorism emanating from the region create greater security challenge for India.
- Central Asia has a growing consumer market for goods and services that India can provide.
- Central Asia’s proximity to middle east, Afghanistan, Pakistan and China makes it important for India geo-strategic interests.
However, there are many hurdles in ensuring a good India-Central Asia relation:
- The lack of direct land connectivity, because of India-Pakistan relations, restricts the potential of economic cooperation.
- Unrealised trade potential due to limited connectivity to the region. India’s trade with region stands approx. $ 2 Bn, as compared to China’s $ 100 Bn.
- Scramble for Oil and Gas In the region, where several global players already have significant presence, constraints India’s options as a late comer.
- China’s influence in the region through its debt-trap diplomacy, restricts India’s ability to enhance ties.
- India’s lackadaisal approach towards project like TAPI, INSTC and Chabahar port reduces the credibility of India’s promises to the region.
- Instability in Afghanistan, Pakistan and strained US-Iran relation, which creates a volatile security scenario discourages investment in the region. The Ukraine crisis at present could cause instability in the region.
India even with the present bottlenecks, can improve its ties with the region, through:
- Deepening engagement through summits and trade agreements. Recent first India-Central Asia summit is a welcome step.
- Engaging with major players like US and Russia will go a long way in stabilizing the region.
- Using soft diplomacy to enhance people to people connect can counter India’s lack of economic capability. India can strengthen its outreach through programs like the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)
- Renewed push to inter regional projects like TAPI, INSTC, etc. would go a long way.
- India shall maximize the use of multilateral platforms like SCO to further its interests in the region.
Given the historical, cultural and economic connect India is well placed to maximize its role in the development of the region. India’s connect central Asia policy, India central Asia dialogue and India- Central Asia summit will go a long way in fulfilling India’s interest in the region.
