Articles

India’s SCO Presidency and its implications for India-Central Asia connectivity

Amb D P Srivastava, Distinguished Fellow, VIF

India became a permanent member of SCO in 2017. Since joining, New Delhi has made a substantial contribution to this organisation by raising certain critical concerns relating to connectivity, transportation, regional security, and economic growth ....

December 22, 2022 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , INSTC , Iran , Kazakhstan , Uzbekistan , Chabahar , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan , Podcast , SCO summit

First Russia-Central Asia Summit: A Reflection of Deep Connect between the Two Regions

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Commentary

Background

During the ongoing Ukrainian crisis, Russia’s relations with its near abroad, namely the Central Asian region, have been put to test. Central Asian Republics (CARs) have maintained a middle-ground approach, neither opposing n....

October 25, 2022 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Commentary , US , Russia , INSTC , Afghanistan , Taliban , Chabahar , Tajikistan , Ukrainian crisis , Unified Energy System , Transport Corridors , Astana

China: Daily Scan, September 16, 2022

Chinese premier chairs State Council executive meeting: Xinhuanet

September 15, 2022

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday presided over a State Council executive meeting, which made decisions on multiple economic issues. The co....

September 16, 2022 Russia , Nepal , SCO , Tajikistan , Covid , China Daily Digest , Belarus , Samarkand

Sinostan: China's Growing Influence in Central Asia

Raffaello Pantucci

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, China had greater ambitions to establish cordial relations with newly independent CARs, which had not previously been the case due to Sino-Soviet animosity. In addition, the geopolitical vacuum left by the ....

September 07, 2022 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , China , Kyrgyzstan , Kazakhstan , Uzbekistan , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan , BRI , Xinjiang , Uyghurs , Sinophobia , Podcast

Engaging Central Asia

Amb Ashok Sajjanhar Commentary

The five countries of Central Asia viz Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have been largely peaceful and stable since they attained independence on the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991. There have been a few abe....

July 08, 2022 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Commentary , India , China , Russia , Kyrgyzstan , Kazakhstan , Uzbekistan , Ukraine , Tajikistan

The Spectre of Afghanistan: Security in Central Asia by Kirill Nourzhanov and Amin Saikal; London, I.B.TAURIS Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., 2021, pp. 249.

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF

Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are three Central Asian countries that share geographical boundaries and cross-border ethnic linkages with Afghanistan. As a result, the developments in Afghanistan have directly impacted these countries. Alth....

June 20, 2022 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Uzbekistan , United States , NATO , Book Reviews , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan , Central Asian countries

Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Implications for Central Asia

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

Background

Central Asia is geo-strategically significant for the Kremlin as the region border Afghanistan and Iran to the South, China to the East, and the Caspian Sea to the West. The Central Asian region is considered Russia’s sphere o....

April 19, 2022 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Article , Russia , Kyrgyzstan , economy , Uzbekistan , Ukraine , Tajikistan , Remittances , Eurasian Union , Labour Migrants , CSTO. Kazakhstan

How is Central Asia Reacting to Russia-Ukraine Crisis?

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

Background

Central Asia has recently been in the geopolitical spotlight with the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan and political upheaval in Kazakhstan. Russia’s special military actions in Ukraine have once again drawn attention to Cen....

February 28, 2022 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Article , Russia , Kyrgyzstan , economy , Uzbekistan , Ukraine , Tajikistan , Remittances , Eurasian Union , Labour Migrants , CSTO. Kazakhstan

India-Central Asia: Defence and Security Cooperation

Central Asia has emerged as an important geopolitical space after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991. Its geostrategic location at the crossroads of East and West, South, Central, and West Asia has often resulted in the spread of challeng....

February 28, 2022 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Kyrgyzstan , Kazakhstan , Afghanistan , Uzbekistan , Defence production , Taliban , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan , India-Central Asia Dialogue , Delhi declaration , Khanjar , Kazind , Defence Expo , India-Central Asia Summit