Third Central Asia Dialogue begins today in New Delhi

External Affairs Ministry affirmed the participation of the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in New Delhi today. 

 The Third Central Asia Dialogue commences today in New Delhi. It will be a two-day event witnessing the participation of the foreign ministers of five countries- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as affirmed by the External Affairs Ministry.  

 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be hosting the event; critical areas of concentration are connectivity, trade and development with the member states, and Afghanistan’s current plight. 

The Central Asia Dialogue 

Since millennials, Central Asia and India have maintained a long-term partnership in energy, natural resources, tourism and trade. The annual holdings of the Central Asia Dialogue have become a vital part for all the member states to bolster the essence of friendship, mutual trust and understanding.  

Notably, the alliance with these nations has been on an upward slope since the assumption of office by PM Narendra Modi in 2014.  

PM Narendra Modi became the first PM to visit all the five Central Asian States in July 2015. There were only four Prime Ministerial visits from India over the last 20 years before he was commenced as the main head of the country. 

The first Central Asia Dialogue was held in the historical city of Uzbekistan, Samarkand, in January 2019 to restore the already established relations, which had debilitated since 1991, for most of the years since these countries became independent. 

With the outburst of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, the Second Central Asia dialogue was held on a video-conference mode in October 2020, with the Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan as a special invitee. 

The emphasis of the meet was to continue close cooperation between the Sanitary and Epidemiological Services of India and the Central Asian countries in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. 

This year, the third meeting from December 18 to 20 in New Delhi amidst the Covid-19 and Omicron havoc is laudable. The current situation in Afghanistan will be a crucial topic of discussion.  

The recent developments in Afghanistan after the Taliban’s takeover have reinforced the importance of Central Asian countries with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan- that share borders with Afghanistan. 

Five Central Asian heads as guests on Republic Day 

Earlier in November, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan took part in a regional dialogue on Afghanistan hosted by India. It also saw the participation from the NSAs of Iran and Russia. 

Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Foreign Affairs Minister of Tajikistan, is also on a bilateral visit to India from December 18 to 20. India might witness five Central Asian heads on RajGhat this Republic Day beside PM Modi.