India in Central Asia: Time for a more comprehensive strategy?
* Republics in Central Asia: The Stans (Kazakhstan,Uzbekistan,Kyrgygstan,Tajikistan,Turkmenistan)
* Indias interests in Central Asia:
* Economic:
* Energy:
* As a reliable source of oil and gas, owing to volatility in the middle east and Indias growing energy demands.
* Uranium rich kazkhstan
* Hydropower
* Raw material for Indian industry :
* Iron ore,coal,minerals
* Agriculture:
* Vast tracts of land available for commercial farming in providing food for growing population of india
* Security:
* The Arc of instability starting from central asia end up in kashmir that poses threat to indias north west frontier
* Prevent destabiilisation of Afghanistan and the region following pull out of NATO forces
* Establishing military presence in Central Asia
* Co-opration in other sectors
* Pharmaceutical,IT
* Last but not the least cultural dialogue,people to people contact,development of human resource
* BOTTLENECKS:
* Transportation bottlenecks such as high altitude Himalayan Range(Geographical barrier).
* Destabilised Afganistan
* Unwillingness of Pakistan to allow rise in India-Central Asia trade relation
* Active engagement of China, Indias geopolitical rival in Central Asia in devloping infrastructure
* Rising ethnic nationalism and Islamic fundamentalism in the region
* INDIAS CENTRAL ASIA POLICY
* April 2011,Mohans visit to central Asia:(Astana sumit)
* Civil nuclear co-operation
* India got access to oil rich Caspian sea and ONGC-Videsh got 25% stake in satpayev oil block in Kazakhstan
* June 2012, 1st India and Central Asia dialogue:
CONNECT CENTRAL ASIA POLICY(CCAP) was evolved. It calls for
* Improving air connectivity to boost trade and growth
* Joint commercial ventures
* Setting up university,hospital,IT centre,an e-network in telemedicine connecting both republics.
* Strategic partnership in defence and security affairs
* August 2013,Indo-China dialogue on Central Asia: Issues discussed were
* Regional security and counter terrorism
* Sharing information and share common ground on energy exploration and energy cooperation such as jointly bidding for an oil,gas field or price negotiations.
* Sep-2013,Foreign Minister visit Krygyzstan to attend SCO:
* Pact between India and Uzbekistan to import uranium.A similar pact is already in place with Kazakhstan.
* Sep-2013 Krygyzstan defence minister to India
* Both agreed to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation in areas, including training, UN peacekeeping and defence industry.
* India-Krygyzstan Relation
* India has traditionally warm and friendly political ties with the Kyrgyz Republic. Kyrgyzstan also supports Indias stand onKashmirand have welcomed theongoing peace process. Kyrgyzstan also supports Indias claim for permanent seat at theUnited Nations Security Counciland Indias role in theShanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO).Both are working together to boost bilateral trade.
* INDIA IN SCO:GRIP NEED TO BE STRONG!!!!!
* Shanghai Co-operation Organization(SCO):
* Six nation grouping influential in central Asia (Russia,China,Karygyzstan,Kazakhstan,Turkmenistan,Uzbekistan
* India still holds observer status since it joined in 2005 due to lack of consensus among the member nations on Indias full membership.
* Why India interested in SCO?
* SCO can act as a credible alternative regional platform to discuss challenges related to Afghanistan and other security and economic issues
* Indias Membership in SCO remain critical to raise its profile in the Central Asia region
* In the recent sumit India pitched for:
* Full membership status to play a greater role in SCO
* To deepen security related co-operation particularly with SCOs Regional Anti Terrorism Structure(RATS)
* Indias immediate priorities on Central Asia:
* Development of transport infrastructure remain imperative to increase trade turnover and import of strategic mineral resources. So India need to focus on
* North South Transport Corridor Project(NSTC):It connect India with central Asia through chabbahaar port of Iran and
Zarni-Delaram roadway bypassing Pakistan
* India can work with US towards completion of US initiated transport corridor NEW SILK ROAD PROJECT for development of Afghanistan. India can get benefit from it as it connects India and Central Asia.
* TAPI pipeline
* Indian Govt and corporates need to activate contact with central Asia counterpart for advancing mutual co-operation via connect central Asia policy to boost investment in the region.
* Sharing of security concern with Central Asia republics and need to participate in counter terrorism military exercises similar to that with Russia and China.
* It is imperative for Indian diplomacy to work towards major power
co-operation to bring some measures of stability to Afghanistan as well as larger Central Asia region.
* REFERENCES:
* http://www.turkishweekly.net/op-ed/3099/
* http://newindianexpress.com/opinion/India-on-Central-Asias-fringes/2013/09/19/article1791114.ece
* http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/amid-energy-competition-india-china-hold-first-central-asia-dialogue/article5024973.ece
* http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2013/09/06/indias-ailing-strategic-policy-in-central-asia/
* Name: Ashok kumar panda
