1. India and Central Asia
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Map 9.1-Central Asia♤ The region is rich in diverse energy resources.1.2. India and Central Asia• India’s disconnect with Central Asia came with Partition and the loss of directo build closer political, security, economic and cultural relations.• Prime Minister Modi’s Visit to all the 5 Central Asian Republics in 2015 was a significant moment in these relations.♤ Tajikistan has set up a field hospital in Farkor at the border with Afghanistan to treat Northern Alliance fighters. India, it also has a “quietly functional” small base to aid the Afghan government, and helped service and repair Mi fighter planes.♤ India is not a part of the Lapis Lazuli corridor.♤ Issues of mutual concerns are :regional peace, connectivity and integration; reforms in the United Nations; and, combating terrorism.♤ Kazaksthan was one of the first countries with which India launched civil nuclear cooperation through a uranium purchase contract.1.2.4. India-Uzbekistan♤ Mirza Ghalib and Amir Khusro are notable Indians of Uzbek parentage.♤ Uzbekistan, the seventh biggest uranium exporter in the world, will be a key player in1.2.5. Ashgabat Agreement♤ It is a transit pact established in 2011 between Uzbekistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Oman. Kazhakstan joined subsequently and Pakistan joined in 2016. Indian joined the agreement in 2017.1.2.6. India-Kyrgyzstan1.3. The Connect Central Asia Policy♤ The policy calls for:o joint commercial ventures,1.4. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation♤ SCO was formulated in 1996 with five countries- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, China, Tajikistan.♤ Tashkent-based Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) is the security apparatus of the SCO.and reach in Central Asia.♤ Likewise, participation in SCO’s counter-terror exercises and military drills could be beneficial to the Indian armed forces.♤ In addition, India may also have to either dilute its growing partnership with the West or engage in a delicate balancing act.1.5. What Should India Do?will gain full meaning only if Iran joins the grouping eventually.♤ India should rope in one or more SCO countries, preferably Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, in1.6. The International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC)Map9.2-The INSTC♤ INSTC will not only help cut down on costs and time taken for transfer of goods from India to Russia and Europe via Iran but also provide an alternative connectivity initiative to countries in the Eurasian region.♤ It will be India’s second corridor after the Chabahar Port to access resource rich Central
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