India-Central Asia

Indias presence in Central Asia

o Member of Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building
Measures in Asia (CICA)
Only inter-governmental forum in Central Asia that India is a
part of
o Observer in SCO
o Indias only foreign military base is in Tajikistan
o TAPI <refer TAPI under energy article>
Close link between the peace, security and stability of Central Asia and
India
Indias interest in Central Asia
o Strategic, military and economic
o Energy
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan can provide oil and
gas
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan hold great hydroelectric potential
o Strategic location
Sandwiched by Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan
India cannot afford to lag behind in this competition for
resources
o Security and stability
The region holds Islamic terrorist groups that may find way to
India
If there is instability in Central Asia, combined with the
precarious situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, it can lead
to serious security problems for India
o Economic cooperation
o Cultural dialogue
o India is surrounded by unstable states and if it can cultivate positive
and effective relations with its immediate northern neighbours, all
the better
What can Central Asia gain?
o Market to diversify their energy supplies
o A strong nation that can help them balance Chinese, Russian and
US pressure
o Help in progressing their economies beyond just energy supplies,
say IT sector and capability building
o Foreign investment
Challenges
o Lack of efficient surface transportation capabilities and connectivity
Way forward
o Develop the International North-South Corridor

Mongolia

Diplomatic relations established in 1955

India was the first country outside the Soviet block to establish diplomatic
relations with Mongolia
Mongolia supports Indias candidature as a permanent member of the UN
SC
Pratibha Patil visited the country in July 2011
o Three agreements were signed to expand cooperation in defence,
planning and education and media exchanges
o First Indian presidential visit after a gap of 23 years
Cultural links
o Buddhism

Kazakhstan

PM MMS visited Astana in April 2011

Three major agreements signed during the 2011 visit
o Civil nuclear cooperation
o Between state oil companies on a 25 pc stake for India in a Caspian
Sea basin block (Satpayev and Satpayev Vostochni)
o Agriculture
Background
o Lukewarm relations for a decade
o After that India invited Pres Nazarbayev to be Chief Guest at the
Republic Day celebrations in 2009
o Strong cultural ties: Raj Kapoor, Nargis, Bollywood at present.
Energy ties
o Caspian basis in rich in oil resources
o Kzk willing to supply Uranium to India
o Satpayev oil block
Agriculture
o Agreement signed. Explore possibility of Indian farmers taking over
Kazakh farmland on lease.

Shanghai Co-operation Organisation

SCO has slowly established itself as an important forum for the Eurasian
region.
Presently the SCO prioritises peace and security issues, mainly, dealing
with terrorism, separatism and focuses on making the whole region a
stable and in predicable situation
Major issues in the region
o Security and stability
o Terrorism and Separatism
o Narcotics trade
o Trafficking and smuggling
10th summit of SCO held in Astana in 2011. Astana Declaration adopted

At this summit an agreement on the criteria for membership was

also reached and Insia is likely to join soon
o Iran may not be able to join due to UN sanctions
Astana Declaration
o Stressed the goal of combating the three forces
Terrorism, extremism and separatism
o Summit called for a neutral Afghanistan
o Adopted a counternarcotics strategy for 2011-16
SCO will have an important role in imparting stability in Afghanistan after
US leaves
o

India and SCO

India is an observer member (2005) along with Iran, Pakistan and Mongolia
The Yekaterinburg summit of 2009 was attended by MMS. This marked a
new chapter of Indias relationship with SCO
Indias interest in SCO
o Be a partner in enhancing regional security
o Make a gateway to Central Asia
o Fight against drug trafficking
o Energy security
o Strengthen people to people contacts, exchanges of business
persons and scholars
o trade, investment and technology flows