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Central Asia
Taliban’s Victory: Implications for the Region
Amb D P Srivastava, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Commentary

The Taliban victory in Afghanistan in the 90s had displaced Rabbani government from Kabul. It was a slow process; they could not establish control over the North, which remained under the control of the Northern Alliance. This time they have achieved....

August 21, 2021 International Relations and Diplomacy , Neighbourhood Studies , Central Asia , Afghanistan , Commentary , India , Central Asia , Iran , Afghanistan , Taliban , ISI , Imran Khan , TTP , ETIM , Haqqani
Sino-Tajik Relations: An Unequal Partnership
Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

The narrative about the ‘peaceful Rise of China’ is ironic. China has border disputes with all its neighbours. Some of these issues have been addressed, while some still exist. For example, its border dispute with India is a critical issue affect....

August 17, 2021 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , China , Article , India , SCO , Afghanistan , military base , Soviet Union , Tajikistan , Debt Trap , Xinjiang , Badakhshan , Uyghurs , Border Dispute , Chinese Belligerence , investment and trade , Pamir Region
Developments in Afghanistan: Concerns for Russia’s Central Asia Policy
Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

Background
The failure of the Afghan Peace process and subsequent 'US-allied forces’ withdrawal from Afghanistan has paved the way for an accelerated Taliban offensive in the country. This has become a serious concern for regional secur....

August 13, 2021 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Afghanistan , Article , Russia , Uzbekistan , Taliban , Afghan peace process , Turkmenistan , IMU , Al Qaeda Tajikistan , military drill.
VIF Virtual talk on ‘India-Tajikistan Relations’ by Amb. Viraj Singh, Indian Ambassador to Tajikistan

India and Tajikistan are traditional partners. They share deep historical and cultural relations. Tajikistan was a part of the Kushana and Persian Empire, which had close cultural linkages with India. Subsequently, during the Islamic rule in India, t....

July 29, 2021 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , India-Tajikistan Relations , Tajikistan , inetraction , Dushanbe , Kushana
Uzbek President’s Call for Connectivity, Cooperation, Dialogue and Trust in Central Asia-South Asia Region: Pakistan’s Obduracy is the Obstacle
Amb Skand Ranjan Tayal Article

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan hosted an important conference ‘Regional Connectivity Between Central Asia and South Asia – Challenges and Opportunities’ in Tashkent on 15-16 July 2021. The conference was proposed by the Uzbek Presi....

July 20, 2021 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Article , Pakistan , Central Asia , South Asia , Taliban , Connectivity , S Jaishankar , President Shavkat Mirziyoyev
Why are Central Asian Republics wooing Pakistan?
Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

The emerging regional security threats post-US withdrawal from Afghanistan has led to an active engagement between Pakistan and Central Asian republics (CARs). The US and NATO forces were scheduled to be withdrawn from Afghanistan by 11 September 202....

July 15, 2021 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Pakistan , Article , Pakistan , China , Russia , Kyrgyzstan , INSTC , Chabahar Port , Iran , Kazakhstan , US Withdrawal , CPEC , Taliban , Turkey , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan , CSTO , Afghanistan. Uzbekistan , Trans-Afghan Railway , Transit Trade Agreement
India-Central Asia Relations: Issues and Prospects
Amb D P Srivastava, Distinguished Fellow, VIF

Despite close historical and cultural connection that India shared with Central Asian region, the bilateral relations have remained below the potential. The key reason is the lack of connectivity. However, in 2015, with PM Modi’s visit to this regi....

July 07, 2021 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , China , Russia , INSTC , Central Asia , trade , Energy Security , Chabahar , BRI , Oil and Gas , Connectivity , Podcast
Second China-Central Asia (C+C5) Foreign Ministers Meet: Major Takeaways
Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

Background
China’s relations with its Central Asian neighbours have been complicated. Since the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Central Asia has been crucial for Chinese foreign policy for two reasons. First, the security of its nor....

June 07, 2021 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Article , China , Kyrgyzstan , SCO , INSTC , Chabahar Port , Kazakhstan , Eurasian Economic Union , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan , BRI , COVID-19 , China's Belligerence , C+C5 , Afghanistan. Uzbekistan
China-Central Asia Relations
Amb Ashok Sajjanhar

Since the Soviet disintegration, Chinese activities in Central Asia grew leaps and bounds. China has penetrated deep into economic and strategic spheres of these countries with its ambitious Belt and Road projects. However, with the increasing Chines....

May 17, 2021 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , China , China , Russia , Central Asia , BRI , Debt Trap , Oil and Gas , Military Exercises , Sinophobia , Podcast , Railways and roads
Central Asia: Three Decades of Developments
Amb D P Srivastava, Distinguished Fellow, VIF

Central Asia, located between the East and the West has always been been at the centre of power struggle between major powers such as Russia, China, US and West. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the leaders of these independent republics, adop....

March 17, 2021 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , India , China , Russia , SCO , INSTC , Chabahar Port , Central Asia , Geopolitics , EAEU , CSTO , Podcast , three decades of collapse of Soviet Union
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