PM Modi holds delegation-level talks with Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Tashkent in 2024 marks a watershed moment in India-Uzbekistan relations, elevating bilateral ties from a Strategic Partnership (established in 2019) to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This upgrade is not merely symbolic — it reflects a deepening convergence of interests across trade, defence, connectivity, and security, rooted in centuries of civilisational linkages along the ancient Silk Road. Uzbekistan, the most populous nation in Central Asia and a double-landlocked country, occupies a pivotal geostrategic position connecting South Asia, the Middle East, and Eurasia. For India, this partnership is a cornerstone of its 'Connect Central Asia' policy launched in 2012, which seeks to revive historical ties and counterbalance growing Chinese influence in the region through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The delegation-level talks between PM Modi and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev focused on setting concrete, time-bound goals. Key deliverables include expanding bilateral trade — currently around $700 million — to $1 billion by 2025, with pharmaceuticals, IT services, and agro-processing as priority sectors. India is already among Uzbekistan's top 10 trading partners, and Indian pharma companies supply over 30% of Uzbekistan's generic drug requirements. Defence cooperation is set to deepen through joint exercises, training, and potential co-production of military equipment, building on the 2018 MoU on Defence Cooperation. Crucially, both nations reaffirmed commitment to the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a 7,200-km multi-modal network linking Mumbai to Moscow via Iran and Central Asia, which reduces transit time by 40% compared to the Suez route. The Chabahar Port in Iran, developed with Indian investment, serves as India's gateway to this corridor, bypassing Pakistan's land blockade. On the security front, the partnership addresses shared concerns over terrorism, radicalisation, and drug trafficking emanating from Afghanistan — a critical issue since the Taliban's return in August 2021. Both countries are active in the SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), headquartered in Tashkent. Constitutionally, such international agreements fall under Article 253 (legislation for giving effect to international agreements) and Article 73 (executive power of the Union extends to matters where Parliament has law-making power), read with Entry 14 of the Union List (entering into treaties and agreements with foreign countries). The Ministry of External Affairs, under the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, manages these diplomatic engagements. Geopolitically, this partnership strengthens India's 'Extended Neighbourhood' doctrine and balances China's growing footprint — evidenced by the China-Central Asia Summit (2023) and BRI investments. It also complements India's engagement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the proposed India-EAEU Free Trade Agreement. Future implications include potential Uzbek participation in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), both India-led global initiatives. For aspirants, this visit exemplifies how India leverages historical goodwill, strategic diplomacy, and institutional frameworks to expand influence in a region vital for energy security, trade diversification, and regional stability.