First India-Central Asia Summit

Recently, the first India-Central Asia Summit was hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Context

Recently, the first India-Central Asia Summit was hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

• This first India-Central Asia coincided with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Central Asian countries.

Key-Points 

• India-Central Asia Summit was held virtually between India and Central Asian Countries.
• India and central Asian Countries agreed to institutionalize the Summit mechanism by deciding to hold India-Central Asia Summit every 2 years.
• They also agreed on regular meetings of Foreign Ministers, Trade Ministers, Culture Ministers and Secretaries of the Security Council to prepare the groundwork for the Summit meetings.
• At the First India-Central Asia Virtual Summit, it was decided to set up an India-Central Asia Secretariat in New Delhi to support the new India-Central Asia Summit mechanism.
• In this Summit, the leaders discussed proposals to further cooperation in areas of trade and connectivity, development cooperation, defence and security, and cultural and people-to-people contacts. These include-
• Round-Table on Energy and Connectivity.
• Joint Working Groups at senior official level on Afghanistan and use of Chabahar Port.
• Showcasing of Buddhist exhibitions in Central Asian countries.
• Commissioning of an India-Central Asia dictionary of common words.
• Joint counter-terrorism exercises.
• Visit of 100 members youth delegation annually from Central Asian countries to India.
• Special courses for Central Asian diplomats.
• In the summit,The leaders reiterated their strong support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan with a truly representative and inclusive government.
• The Prime Minister conveyed India’s continued commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.

Significance of the Summit

• The countries share their boundaries with Afghanistan. Afghanistan was taken over by Taliban after the US left Afghan soil in August 2021. 
• This left Indian developmental works in Afghanistan incomplete. Also, the Indian investments made towards the development of Afghanistan went in vain.
• Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic share their boundaries with China. India is now involved in a 21 – month standoff with China.