The third meeting between India and the Central Asian countries took place among the Foreign Ministers on 19th December 2021. This meeting was chaired by India and focused on having a joint celebration between India and Central Asia to mark the establishment of 30 years of diplomatic ties in 2022. The focus of this meeting was to deal with several issues like the COVID-19 Pandemic issues, economic growth and stability, connectivity and digitalization and finally, defence and security especially on getting a broader regional consensus on Afghanistan.
With regard to the COVID-19, India and Central Asia have jointly cooperated with one another to fight against coronavirus and together all of the countries focused on sharing vaccine doses, transfer of technology, development of local production capacities, promotion of supply chains for medical products and ensuring price transparency. The countries also focused upon the gradual restoration of the tourism industry along with supporting business ties and people-to-people exchanges and also welcome the mutual recognition of the COVID-19 vaccination certificates. India has been assisting in the supply of vaccines and essential medicines. India also thanked countries, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for their supplies that they sent India.
In the economic domain, India and the Central Asian countries stressed the need to work in full potential in the domain of trade especially in areas like pharmaceuticals, information technology, agriculture, energy, textiles, gems and jewellery. The Central Asian Foreign Ministers were grateful for India’s Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme which was essential in capacity building and human resource development. India also offered customized training programmes in India for the Central Asian professionals in the domain of terrorism, cyber security, space, energy and World Trade Organization. The countries also aimed the establishment of cooperation in the field of sectors of finance, information technology, digital and other advanced technologies and renewable energy.
In the sector of connectivity, there was a need to strengthen the already existing economic cooperation and take it forward by emphasizing greater importance on the TAPI gas pipeline project. They further focused on the optimum use of the International North-South Transport Corridor as well as the Ashgabat Agreement on the International Transport and Transit Corridor to make sure there is greater connectivity between India and Central Asia. The countries also welcomed the initiative of including the Chabahar Port within the greater framework of the International North-South Transport Corridor to strengthen regional connectivity between Central Asia and South Asia. India welcomed the interest of the Central Asian countries to make use of the Shahid Beheshti Terminal at the Chabahar Port to engage in trade with India and also aimed to improve the logistics network.
In the realm of defence and security, they aimed to hold regular consultations among the National Security Councils of India and also help fight terrorism, terror financing, and arms and drug trafficking. Recently, the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s Regional Security Dialogue with the Central Asian countries was held and they primarily discussed the situation of Afghanistan.
Key Concerns
Afghanistan’s current situation under the Taliban is a major concern for the Central Asian countries as they are neighbours and due to the Taliban take over, there will be a major refugee crisis at the borders of the Central Asian countries as already, the Afghans especially the women and children are facing severe food crisis and health issues. Further, the concern for India is that all the effort that India has made over the years in Afghanistan with the Ghani Administration is now at a standstill and Pakistan is majorly involved in the day to day dealings with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Taliban is not only a regional issue to India and Central Asia but also a domestic issue as the Taliban has said that it will take a look at the Jammu and Kashmir issue and this is a major concern for India as Pakistan is playing a proxy war through the Taliban in Jammu and Kashmir. Afghanistan’s political instability is also taking a toll on the regional security factors as well where the region of Central Asia and South Asia are under constant threat of terrorism and radicalization which has a direct impact on the national security of each country. The connectivity projects have also been stopped which has not only impacted the infrastructural development but also the trade and commerce. Also recently, Taliban has banned the import and export of dry fruits to India via the transit of Pakistan and this has also taken a toll on the dry fruit industry with the soaring prices and the disruption in the supply chain. Thereby, Afghanistan is a major concern for India and Central Asia.
The Way Ahead
The relationship between India and Central Asia must be viewed from the perspective of interconnectedness and these can be seen in the civilisational ties, cultural and commerce exchanges and interactions between people and this was further emphasized by the Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and that India and Central Asia focused on 4 C’s- commerce, capacity enhancement, connectivity and contact. In the future, the countries need to deepen cooperation, strengthen peace and create an atmosphere of friendship which would help in enhancing stronger ties in the international arena.
References
Source: Financial Express,21 December 2021.https://www.financialexpress.com/defence/third-india-central-asia-dialogue-shifting-gears-of-indias-central-asia-policy/2385693/
Ministry of External Affairs.(2021). Joint Statement of the 3rd meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue, December 19, 2021. http://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/34705/Joint+Statement+of+the+3rd+meeting+of+the+IndiaCentral+Asia+Dialogue
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ministry of External Affairs.(2021). Joint Statement of the 3rd meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue, December 19, 2021. http://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/34705/Joint+Statement+of+the+3rd+meeting+of+the+IndiaCentral+Asia+Dialogue
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Anil Trigunayat and .Dr Parvesh Kumar Gupta.(2021) Third India-Central Asia dialogue: Shifting gears of India’s Central Asia policy,Financial Express, 21 December 2021. https://www.financialexpress.com/defence/third-india-central-asia-dialogue-shifting-gears-of-indias-central-asia-policy/2385693/
Ashok Sajjanhar. (2021).How 3rd India-Central Asia Dialogue helps make great strides towards a stronger partnership, Firstpost, 21 December 2021. https://www.firstpost.com/india/how-3rd-india-central-asia-dialogue-helps-make-great-strides-towards-a-stronger-partnership-10225281.html
Ministry of External Affairs.(2021). Joint Statement of the 3rd meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue, December 19, 2021. http://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/34705/Joint+Statement+of+the+3rd+meeting+of+the+IndiaCentral+Asia+Dialogue
A Strategic Bulwark: On Third India-Central Asia Dialogue, The Hindu, 21 December 2021.
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/a-strategic-bulwark-on-third-india-central-asia-dialogue/article38000172.ece