PM Narendra Modi embarks on four-day visit to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyz Republic

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's four-day visit to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic marks a significant milestone in India's evolving engagement with Central Asia, a region often described as India's 'extended neighbourhood'. This diplomatic outreach is not an isolated event but the culmination of a sustained policy trajectory that began with the launch of the 'Connect Central Asia' policy in 2012 during the first India-Central Asia Dialogue in Bishkek. The policy was further institutionalised with the inaugural India-Central Asia Summit in virtual format in January 2022, followed by the first in-person summit hosted by India in 2023. The current visit reinforces the strategic priority accorded to this region under the broader framework of India's 'Extended Neighbourhood' and 'Act East' policies, complementing the 'Neighbourhood First' doctrine enshrined in Article 51(c) of the Constitution, which directs the State to foster respect for international law and treaty obligations in the conduct of international relations. Historically, India shares deep civilisational links with Central Asia, dating back to the ancient Silk Road that facilitated not just trade but the exchange of ideas, religion, art, and culture. The spread of Buddhism from India to Central Asia and onwards to China, the influence of Sufi traditions, and the shared legacy of the Kushan and Mughal empires create a unique people-to-people foundation that few other regions enjoy. PM Modi's emphasis on 'civilisational connection' taps into this rich heritage, distinguishing India's approach from the predominantly transactional engagements of other global powers. The visit also comes at a time when Central Asia is witnessing heightened geopolitical competition among major powers — Russia, China, the US, and the EU — making India's balanced, non-hegemonic outreach particularly valuable. Key stakeholders in this engagement include the leadership of Uzbekistan under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, whose reform-oriented 'New Uzbekistan' agenda since 2016 has opened the economy and improved regional cooperation, and the Kyrgyz Republic under President Sadyr Japarov, which seeks to diversify its strategic partnerships beyond its traditional reliance on Russia and China. For India, the stakes are multifaceted: energy security through access to uranium (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan) and hydrocarbons; connectivity via the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Chabahar Port project, which bypasses Pakistan to reach Central Asia; counter-terrorism cooperation, especially given the region's proximity to Afghanistan; and expanding markets for Indian pharmaceuticals, IT services, and agricultural products. The recent operationalisation of the India-Uzbekistan Preferential Trade Agreement and ongoing negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the Kyrgyz Republic underscore the economic dimension. From a governance perspective, the visit aligns with the Ministry of External Affairs' institutional mechanisms such as the India-Central Asia Joint Working Groups on trade, defence, and cultural cooperation. It also reflects the Prime Minister's personal diplomacy, a hallmark of India's foreign policy since 2014, where high-level visits serve as force multipliers for bureaucratic negotiations. Constitutionally, while foreign policy is the executive's domain under Article 73, Parliament exercises oversight through the Committee on External Affairs, and treaties requiring legislative sanction (e.g., extradition, mutual legal assistance) are ratified under Article 253. Looking ahead, the visit is expected to yield concrete outcomes in digital public infrastructure (DPI) sharing — leveraging India's UPI, Aadhaar, and CoWIN platforms — defence cooperation including joint exercises and training, and enhanced connectivity through the INSTC's eastern corridor. The future implications are profound: a stable, prosperous, and connected Central Asia serves as a land bridge between India and Eurasia, reduces dependence on maritime routes vulnerable to disruption, and positions India as a net security provider in the region. For UPSC aspirants, this visit encapsulates the intersection of history, geography, economics, and diplomacy — a quintessential case study in India's foreign policy architecture.