Now Reading: PM Modi to visit Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Republic for SCO summit
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PM Modi to visit Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Republic for SCO summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Uzbekistan from August 29 to 30 for a bilateral visit, and then to the Kyrgyz Republic for the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit from…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Uzbekistan from August 29 to 30 for a bilateral visit, and then to the Kyrgyz Republic for the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit from August 31 to September 1. The visit continues India's 'Connect Central Asia' policy, which began in 2012. Modi became the first Indian prime minister to visit all five Central Asian countries in July 2015.
The region is rich in resources: Kazakhstan has major uranium reserves, Kyrgyz Republic has gold, Turkmenistan has large natural gas deposits, and Uzbekistan has gold, uranium and gas. India's engagement aims at security cooperation post-Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, countering China's influence, energy needs, and connectivity via the International North-South Transit Corridor. A key challenge is the lack of overland access due to Pakistan blocking routes, making the Chabahar port in Iran vital.
India and Uzbekistan share deep cultural links, including nearly 3,000 common Hindi-Uzbek words, and India is among the top 10 trading partners of Uzbekistan, with bilateral trade close to $1 billion in 2025-26. The SCO summit in Bishkek will include leaders from 10 member states including China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Central Asia is the only region where India, China, Russia and Pakistan all seek strategic influence simultaneously. India's 'Connect Central Asia' policy since 2012 was designed to counterbalance China's Belt and Road Initiative, which has poured billions into infrastructure across the region. The International North-South Transport Corridor, linking India to Russia via Iran and Central Asia, directly competes with China's overland routes. India's lack of direct land access means every trade or energy deal depends on Iran's Chabahar port, a project repeatedly delayed by US sanctions. The SCO summit will test whether New Delhi can advance multilateral connectivity without endorsing Beijing's agenda. The next milestone to watch is the operationalisation of Chabahar for transit to Uzbekistan.
Source: indianexpress.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
