Russia’s war on Ukraine has helped put the spotlight on Central Asia. It is there that the new Great Game is being played out, with great powers wooing the region, even as Russia continues to remain distracted with Ukraine
In the foreseeable future the usefulness of Iran’s Chabahar port and the INSTC for the landlocked Central Asian countries will triumph over those of other connectivity routes.
India has been working with Central Asian countries in counter-terrorism both within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, as well as on a bilateral basis
Uzbekistan’s involvement in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has always been marked by a strong focus on economic cooperation. Tashkent will continue to use this approach during its current leadership of the SCO.
It said that the situation in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s seizure of power is alarming and it is ready to ‘take effective measures’ to ensure safety of the borders of its member states.
Both New Delhi and Moscow view the change of guard in Kabul a worrisome historic event that they must address jointly.
The United States spent more than $8 billion over 15 years on efforts to deprive the Taliban of their profits from Afghanistan’s opium and heroin trade, from poppy eradication to airstrikes and raids on suspected labs.
“The main threat to the Central Asian region today comes from the Afghan direction”.
By Aditi Bhaduri, The Quint Last week the US announced the formation of a new
The ground for strong relations had been laid down during the Soviet period when India enjoyed excellent relations with the USSR. That legacy still continues and is quickly being tapped into.