INDIA-CENTRAL ASIA DIALOGUE

• Recently, the 3rd meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue was held in New Delhi.
• It is a ministerial-level dialogue between India and the Central Asian countries namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
• India virtually hosted the second meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue in 2020.

Important points:

• Emphasis on optimum usage of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) as well as Ashgabat Agreement on International Transport and Transit Corridor to enhance connectivity between India and the Central Asian countries.
• Stressed on including Chabahar Port within the framework of INSTC and expressed interest in cooperation on issues related to the development and strengthening of regional connectivity in Central and South Asia.
• Agreed to develop the transit and transport potential of their countries, improve the regional logistics network and promote joint initiatives to create new transport corridors.
• Agreed to explore the possibility of establishing joint working groups to address the free movements of goods and services between India and the Central Asian states.
• The connectivity initiatives (China’s Belt and Road Initiative) should be based on the principles of transparency, broad participation, local priorities, financial sustainability and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.

India-Central Asia Dialogue

• It is a ministerial-level dialogue between India and the Central Asian countries namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
• All five nations became independent states after the collapse of the USSR in 1991, post-Cold war.
• All the countries participating in the dialogue, except for Turkmenistan, are also members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
• The dialogue focuses on a number of issues including ways to improve connectivity and stabilise war-ravaged Afghanistan.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT