New Delhi
Foreign Ministers from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan will arrive in New Delhi on Thursday to take part in the two-day 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue. This event highlights India’s efforts to strengthen cooperation on anti-terrorism and de-radicalisation across the region. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will host the ministers, including Bakhtiyor Saidov (Uzbekistan), Rashid Meredov (Turkmenistan), Zheenbek Kulubaev (Kyrgyzstan), Sirojiddin Muhriddin (Tajikistan), and Murat Nurtleu (Kazakhstan). The visit comes amid ongoing cross-border terror incidents, such as the tragic April 22 Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 innocent lives.
The foreign ministers will attend the India-Central Asia Business Council meeting on Thursday and the main dialogue session on Friday. Their visit will conclude with a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday evening.
The India-Central Asia Dialogue, launched in January 2019 in Samarkand, is an important platform to deepen ties between India and Central Asia. Previous meetings focused on regional security, counter-terrorism, infrastructure, and connectivity. This year’s discussion will emphasize enhancing trade, technology, connectivity, and development cooperation. The ministers will also address regional security challenges and other global issues of common concern.
India shares centuries-old cultural and historical links with Central Asia, including the spread of Buddhism and rich trade exchanges. The 2022 India-Central Asia Summit, chaired by PM Modi and attended by Central Asian leaders, strengthened this bond and led to the 'Delhi Declaration' for regular summits and dialogues.
Four Central Asian countries, except Turkmenistan, are members of organizations like SCO and support India’s permanent seat on a reformed UN Security Council. The dialogue reflects a shared commitment to build a closer partnership based on friendship, trust, and mutual respect.