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The Significance of the Fourth India-Central Asia Dialogue
Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

The long-pending India-Central Asia dialogue could not be convened at a more relevant time than now. India has taken a decisive yet measured strike on cross-border terrorism perpetrated by Pakistan in the form of Op Sindoor. Central Asia has also lo....

June 23, 2025 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Article , INSTC , Terrorism , Chabahar , Rare Earth Minerals , Medical Tourism , DPI , Pahalgam , OP Sindoor
Eurasian Responses to the Pahalgam Terrorist Attack and Operation Sindoor: An Assessment
Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

The terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of at least 26 civilians, including one Nepalese national, sent shockwaves through South Asia and beyond. The terror attack bore the hallmarks of cross-bo....

June 13, 2025 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Article , Central Asian Republics , Lashkar-e-Taiba , India-Pakistan relations , Cross-border terrorism , Operation Sindoor , Pahalgam Terrorist Attack , Zero Tolerance Policy , Counter-terrorism cooperation , Strategic partners , De-escalation , Geopolitical cooperation
Growing Regional Cooperation in Central Asia: Implications for Major Powers
Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

Introduction
After decades of externally driven agendas and persistent intra-regional fragmentation, the five Central Asian republics (CARs) have taken notable steps toward deepening their mutual regional engagement in the recent past. Th....

May 29, 2025 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Article , regional cooperation , collective security , Trade facilitation , Economic Development , Border Settlement
The Kyrgyz-Tajik Border Deal: A Step Closer Towards Regional Cooperation in Central Asia
Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

The recently concluded Kyrgyz-Tajik border demarcation agreement marks a significant milestone in Central Asia’s ongoing efforts to address long-standing territorial disputes. After more than three decades of disputes, violent skirmishes, and polit....

March 17, 2025 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Article , Central Asia , Soviet Union , Ferghana Valley , Border Dispute , land swap
Eurasia: Reflections on 2024 and Outlook for 2025
Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

The year 2024 is shaping up to be a critical juncture for Russia and Central Asia, characterized by significant geopolitical upheavals, economic volatility, and shifting social dynamics. These changes are not merely adjustments; they are fundamentall....

January 07, 2025 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Article , regional cooperation , BRICS , Nuclear Power , Ukraine War , Green energy , Central Asian Migrants
Second Minsk Conference on Eurasian Security: Some Major Takeaways
Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

The II Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security, hosted by Belarus from October 31 to November 1, is believed to have highlighted the shifting stance within Eurasia towards a more multipolar world, with an increasing emphasis on autonomy f....

November 08, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Article , EU , Russia Ukraine war , multipolarity , Energy imports , Illegal Sanctions
Uzbekistan’s Pragmatic Engagement with Afghanistan: Significant for the Region
Amb Skand Ranjan Tayal Commentary

During a recent visit to Tashkent, I had attended the roundtable on ‘Foreign Policy of Uzbekistan: Openness and Prosperity for Peace’ on 25 October 2024. The speakers were some of the prominent policy makers with long experience of diplomacy and ....

November 05, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Commentary , Afghanistan , trade , Gas Fields , railway line , IMU , Amu Darya , Friendship Bridge
A Critical Examination of the SCO Council of Heads of Government Summit in Islamabad
Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Commentary

The recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) Summit held in Islamabad has garnered significant attention due to the regional dynamics among member countries, particularly between India and Pakistan, as well ....

October 28, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Commentary , CPEC , BRI , Connectivity , Gwadar port , SCO summit , Terrorism and Extremism
The Fifth World Nomad Games in Kazakhstan: Embracing Tradition Through Sports
Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Commentary

Introduction
Kazakhstan hosted the Fifth World Nomad Games (WNG) from September 7–13, 2024, in its capital city Astana. Since its inception in 2012, the World Nomad Games (WNG) have expanded into a notable platform showcasing the tradit....

September 20, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Commentary , Central Asia , Soft Power , Tourism , Keywords- Nomadic Culture , Traditional Sports , ethnosports
The Changing Dynamics of Taliban’s Relations with its Central Asian Neighbours
Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Commentary

The Taliban seized control of Kabul in August 2021, overthrowing the democratic government of Afghanistan. It has been three years since their rule, yet they have not gained international recognition. Many assessments have been made regarding how the....

September 04, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Commentary , Taliban , Trans Afghan railway , Qosh tepa Canal. TAPI , Lapis Lazuli Corridor
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