The Silk road resurrected: India’s Central Asia odyssey via the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India’s Chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is coming to an end. Dr. Mahip, a leading expert of Indian foreign affairs, provided Dunyo Information Agency with his vision on cooperation between the states of Central Asia and India within the framework of the SCO.

“India is poised to host 22nd Summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on July 4, an event that will transcend physical boundaries and take place in a virtual mode. Throughout its tenure, India has consistently demonstrated its commitment to fostering constructive engagement within the SCO through various activities and mutually beneficial cooperation among member states. India has been marked by the successful organization of 134 meetings and events, including 14 ministerial-level gatherings. It has deftly addressed a wide range of pressing issues like the rise in terrorism, and the impending effects of climate change among others. At the culmination of the summit, India will pass the baton of presidency to Kazakhstan, which will assume leadership of the SCO.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was founded in 2001 in Shanghai. Its initial formation included six countries – Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan – later joined by India and Pakistan in 2017. Over the years, the SCO has attracted four observers viz. Iran, Belarus, Mongolia, and Afghanistan enriching its diverse composition as each bringing valuable perspectives to the organization. Furthermore, it boasts six dialogue partners – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Turkey – enabling a broader exchange of ideas and collaboration among nations.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a prominent Eurasian entity dedicated to upholding peace, stability, and security in the region. Since its inception, the SCO has witnessed remarkable growth, evolving into one of the largest international organizations. Its member countries collectively represent a substantial 40 percent of the world’s population and contribute about 30 percent of the global GDP. This impressive reach and influence highlight the SCO’s significance in shaping regional dynamics and fostering collaboration among its diverse member nations. In this context, it is imperative that India’s strengthening ties with the Central Asian States must be highlighted as the relationship has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few years. India shares historical civilisational and cultural links with the Central Asian region since the ancient period. When the Central Asian Republics attained independence after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, India was among the first countries to recognise these Republics and establish a diplomatic relationship with them.

The evolving dynamics between India and the Central Asian Republics (CAR) have fostered a multifaceted relationship of immense significance. It has already a strategic partnership with all the countries in the region except Turkmenistan which has adopted a policy of ‘permanent neutrality.’ The region holds an important position in India’s geostrategic calculus. India sees the Central Asian region as its ‘Extended Neighbourhood.’ It has been deepening its relationship with the region in a wide range of areas including security, counter-terrorism, energy security, trade and investments, connectivity and infrastructure, and people-to-people ties. By leveraging the SCO’s framework, India has effectively addressed and contributed to these critical domains, solidifying its role as an influential participant in shaping regional dynamics and safeguarding shared interests.

In the realm of security measures, both India and CARs pursue regional stability and face common challenges pertaining to terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking. In this regard, both India and CARs are wary of the situation and carry out frequent cooperation and collaboration to check to spawn of such extremist forces.

In the domain of trade and economic linkages, the true potential between India and the Central Asian Republics (CARs) remains largely untapped, with trade figures currently hovering around a modest USD 2 billion. However, amidst this backdrop, a distinct and encouraging surge has emerged in recent times, visualising new possibilities for growth and collaboration. Dynamic sectors such as Information Technology, Pharmaceuticals, and Tourism have become fertile grounds for trade and investment. These avenues not only strengthen the bonds between India and the CARs but also propel economic growth and cultivate mutually beneficial relationships. Moreover, recognizing the critical importance of connectivity, India has embarked on ambitious initiatives aimed at developing robust infrastructure and fostering seamless trade networks, effectively bridging the gap between the CARs and global markets. By facilitating smoother transactions and the exchange of goods, services, and ideas, these endeavours not only stimulate cross-border trade but also reinforce regional integration, unlocking the vast untapped potential of the Central Asian region.

Energy trade is also a cornerstone of the intense connection between India and Central Asia. The bountiful Central Asian region has abundant reserves of valuable resources, including oil, natural gas, and minerals.

A major barrier to attain the full potential of trade and economic linkage remains connectivity. India is a part of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) which connects it to the Central Asia region up to Russia and parts of Europe. Turkmenistan has proposed to include the Turkmenbashi Port in the framework of INSTC as well. Turkmenistan is keen to advance the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline also.

India’s commitment to enhancing connectivity in Central Asia is further underscored by its participation in key agreements and initiatives. As a signatory to the Ashgabat Agreement, India actively contributes to the facilitation of a multimodal transport and transit corridor, linking Central Asia with the Persian Gulf. In addition to this significant development, India’s strategic investment in the development of the Chabahar port along the Persian Gulf in Iran has garnered substantial attention. The Chabahar port is now integrated into the INSTC framework that enhances India’s trade and transport capabilities. Furthermore, Turkmenistan has expressed its interest in including the Turkmenbashi Port within the INSTC framework, expanding the region’s transportation infrastructure. These strategic endeavours underline India’s commitment to bolstering regional connectivity and fostering mutually beneficial trade relationships, cementing its position as a key player in the region’s economic and infrastructural development.

India’s technical cooperation programme under India Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), telemedicine and healthcare have been directly beneficial for the ordinary people of the region. Medical tourism and training of personnel between India and CARs also form a major pillar of our relationship. For example, Uzbekistan offered 2,000 medical seats for Indian students in the Uzbek medical universities.

With India is figured prominently in Central Asia’s strategy regarding the diversification of their regional relations, India has the opportunity to capitalise on this opportunity to further boost ties. As a leader in digital technology, India can help CARs in their initiatives such as the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Digital Strategy 2030 to help CARs scale and enhance digital literacy in the region.Prioritising its relationship with the CARS, India has been pushing forward its Connect ‘Central Asia Policy’ of 2012 which aimed at boosting political, economic, connectivity, security, culture and people-to-people ties with the region. In this regard, India has extended a USD 1 billion credit line to the CARs to enhance trade, investment and capacity-building partnerships with priority development projects in energy, healthcare, connectivity, IT, agriculture, education and other areas.

The close connection by way of exchange programmes, ICCR scholarships, ITEC capacitybuilding assistance, infrastructure development and increased investments in the region, joint military exercises are some of the ways through which India has made long strides to enhance cooperation and collaboration with the CARs and reinvigorate its Central Asia connect.

Inaugural India – Central Asia Summit organised in 2022 was a milestone in boosting the strategic partnership between India and the Central Asian countries. This growing relationship will get a fillip with the recently announced Astana International Forum which envisages as a new global platform for dialogue and cooperation. India’s G20 presidency is yet another platform to bring better cohesion in mutual relations.

India’s commitment to strengthening its ties with Central Asia, a region of significant geostrategic importance, is exemplified by these developments within the SCO. Through a range of initiatives spanning security, trade, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges, India is actively fostering a resilient and diverse relationship with the Central Asian nations. This collaborative effort not only reinforces regional stability but also contributes to the overall prosperity of the area. By leveraging the platform provided by the SCO, India is successfully establishing a comprehensive and multifaceted partnership with the countries of Central Asia, solidifying its position as a key player in the region’s growth and development.” (DUNYO)