India and Central Asia have a rich historical relationship that influences today’s cultural, political and economic interactions. When they work together on trade, energy, security and cultural issues, important questions arise about the depth and sustainability of these bonds. It is important to consider whether their partnerships will promote long-term stability and growth, or simply serve short-term strategic benefits. Despite the opportunity following the collapse of the Soviet Union in the past, India has struggled to engage strategically with Central Asia for over 30 years, achieving fewer than other external players. However, since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014, new momentum has emerged to strengthen India’s ties with Central Asian countries, reflecting his commitment to strengthening cooperation with this important region. I did.
In 2015, he became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit all five Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on one trip. This groundbreaking visit highlighted India’s commitment to engaging with Central Asia and laid the foundation for deeper cooperation on issues of mutual benefit. Under Modi’s leadership, a strategic initiative was launched to strengthen relations with the Central Asian Republic, recognising the importance of the region as part of India’s extended neighbourhood. Modi emphasized the importance of fostering relationships based on mutual interest, shared cultural connections and local stability.
India’s inclusion as a permanent member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in 2017 further demonstrated its intention to engage more actively with Central Asia. Prior to this, there was no formal forum for direct engagement in collectively with all five Central Asian countries. Two years later, India-Central Asia dialogue at the foreign minister’s level was launched, providing New Delhi with a platform to discuss bilateral and multilateral relations. Complementing this diplomatic outreach, the Central Asia Business Council of India was established in 2020 to promote trade and investment between regions. These positive developments peaked at the first India-Central Asia Leadership Summit in 2022. This is a virtual meeting with important consequences to enhance cooperation.
However, despite these progressive steps, relations between India and Central Asia appear to be stagnant. The substantial lack of progress raises questions regarding the effectiveness of India’s diplomatic strategies in the region. For example, SCO membership in India is often perceived as underutilized. The organization is heavily influenced by China and Russia’s strategic priorities, limiting its ability to effectively assert India’s interests. India’s involvement with SCO members remains primarily bilateral rather than multilateral, reducing the collective benefits the organisation can offer.
Economic interactions and trade relations between India and Central Asia remain limited. Sustainable trade barriers, inadequate infrastructure and logistical challenges hinder robust economic ties. The connectivity issues, particularly regarding the development of reliable transport corridors, continue to hinder deeper economic involvement.
An important aspect of India’s connectivity challenges is the poor performance of Iran’s Chabahar Port project. Located on Iran’s southeast coast, Chabahar strategically serves as a gateway to Indian trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia, particularly given Pakistan’s denied access to Indian goods. It is positioned. Despite this possibility, port development is hampered by a set of challenges, including procurement issues, sanctions and logistical constraints.
A major obstacle was the difficulty of procuring essential equipment due to international sanctions against Iran. India has successfully delivered six port cranes manufactured in Italy, but obtaining sophisticated German equipment such as Quay cranes attached to the railway is difficult under the sanctions regime It has been proven.
An even more complicated issue is the incomplete Chabaharzahedan Railway line, important for linking the port to Afghanistan and Central Asia. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed between India’s IRCON and Iran’s Ministry of Railways for funding and construction, but concerns over secondary US sanctions have made progress. The US has granted sanctions exemptions, but finding suppliers willing to operate under such restrictions remains difficult.
Furthermore, there is no direct delivery link from India to Chabahar, which hinders operational efficiency. Currently, only Iran’s state-owned IRISL and private company Sarjak Container Lines operate limited services. Low volumes of returned cargo will further reduce operational chances.
To fully realize Chabahar’s potential, India prioritizes its long-term investment commitments, proposes an extension (such as a 50-year lease agreement), and works with Iran to work with the company to target local stakeholders. You must establish a Chabahar business forum. The development of phase 2 on the port, including the oil export terminal, will further enhance the strategic significance of Chabahar. Recently, US President Donald Trump signed an order that could impose sanctions on India for his investment in Iran’s port of Chabahar. However, it is little clear how this order will affect India’s role in Chabahar.
The annual inter-India dialogue was not held last year. This is happening as more and more countries are trying to engage with Central Asia. This gives the impression that India is either serious or unprioritized about its involvement with the region. Scholars also argue that China’s deep penetration in Central Asia is the main reason for India’s lack of severity. However, this perspective is not accurate as India’s involvement in the region is driven not by political ambitions but by goodwill cultivated through historical relations centuries ago. Meanwhile, Beijing has sought to have more impact on the region due to leveraging its geographical strategy.
When Central Asian countries are very sensitive to their interests and very sensitive to what the nation can offer them from a political, economic and diplomatic perspective, India must act accordingly. Not there. A more proactive, consistent, strategic approach is needed to stimulate engagement and address sustainable challenges. India has made important progress in engaging in Central Asia and the Chabahar Port Project, but the enduring challenges continue to limit progress. To be free from this stagnation, India must adopt a more aggressive, sustainable and strategically coordinated approach, highlighting multilateralism, infrastructure development and economic diplomacy. To stimulate relations with Central Asia and fully recognize the potential of Chabahar Port is crucial for India’s long-term strategic and economic aspirations in the region.
To strengthen India’s policies towards Central Asia and to deepen its involvement, the following recommendations can be considered:
* Focuses on the development and upgrade of transportation and logistics infrastructure that connects India and Central Asia. Investing in transport corridors such as the International North and South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and strengthening the capacity of Chabahar Port will facilitate smoother trade routes and reduce reliance on overland routes through Pakistan. can. India must also invite like-minded Central Asian countries to invest in these projects.
*Increase the frequency of high-level visits and diplomatic interactions. Regular dialogue and updates between the Foreign Minister and other key officials will help maintain momentum in bilateral relations and encourage exploration of new fields for collaboration.
*Establish trade facilitation agreements that reduce barriers and improve market access. Creating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Central Asia and India will help strengthen economic ties, promote investment and strengthen joint ventures.
*Promote cultural diplomacy through scholarships, academic partnerships and cultural festivals to foster connections between people. Encouraging educational exchanges will allow for goodwill and understanding among younger generations and a positive placement of India within the region.
* Actively participate in the SCO initiative to ensure that Indian interests are represented. We propose joint projects within the SCO framework focusing on security, counter-terrorism, and economic cooperation, and advocate for more balanced power dynamics within the organization.
*Entering energy partnerships with Central Asian countries, including investments in renewable energy, green energy and energy resource exploration. Establishing joint energy projects can create interdependencies and strengthen economic relationships.
*Strengthen regional safety collaboration with a focus on counter-terrorism and drug trafficking. Establishing cooperative security frameworks through joint exercises and intelligence sharing will strengthen mutual trust and create effective mechanisms for both bilateral and multilateral efforts.
* India can leverage its cultural heritage, technology and innovation sectors to establish itself as a development partner in Central Asia. Healthcare, education, and technology transfer initiatives can generate goodwill and strengthen relationships.
*Forms a dedicated task force within the Indian government focusing solely on Central Asia. This task force can coordinate efforts across various ministries, set clear strategic goals and ensure that Central Asia remains a priority in India’s foreign policy.
*Establish mechanisms for regular review and evaluation of India’s engagement strategies in Central Asia. Analyzing the effectiveness of existing policies and initiatives can provide insights and enable coordination to ensure successful outcomes.
India must make serious efforts to strengthen its presence in the region as a natural partner in Central Asian countries. The momentum gained in India’s Central Asia policy in 2015 needs to be stimulated and promoted. Amidst the ongoing global geopolitical turmoil, the region has favorable conditions and New Delhi should assume a more constructive role that benefits both sides. Implementing these recommendations will allow India to significantly strengthen its policy towards Central Asia and promote stronger and more resilient relations that benefit both regions in the long term.
This article is written by Pravesh Kumar Gupta of Associate Fellow (Eurasia) of Vivekananda International Foundation in New Delhi.
