Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi to host the first India-Central Asia Summit

On Thursday, January 27, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will convene the first India-Central Asia Summit in a virtual format. The leaders are expected to discuss strategies to elevate relations to new heights as well as the shifting regional security environment during the Summit.

Five presidents will attend the India-Central Asia Summit: Kazakhstan's Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbekistan's Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tajikistan's Emomali Rahmon, Turkmenistan's Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, and Kyrgyz Republic's Sadyr Japarov.

This summit would be the first of its type between India and Central Asian countries at the level of presidents, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The summit exemplifies the emphasis that India's and Central Asia's leaders place on a comprehensive and long-term India-Central Asia collaboration.

The involvement of the secretaries of Central Asian countries' National Security Councils in the Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan, which took place in New Delhi in November last year, articulated a shared regional strategy to Afghanistan.

Furthermore, the summit takes place a day after Republic Day, when no foreign heads of state or government are expected to attend. The leaders of the five Central Asian countries were expected to attend, but the country's Republic Day celebrations were cut short due to an increase of COVID-19 cases.

The first India-Central Asia Summit, according to the Ministry of External Affairs, reflects the country's increased involvement with Central Asian countries, which are part of India's "extended neighbourhood."

PM Narendra Modi had already visited all Central Asian countries in 2015. Following then, there have been high-level discussions at bilateral and multilateral venues.

The leaders are scheduled to explore ways to push India-Central Asia relations to new heights during this summit, according to the MEA.

They are also expected to share their perspectives on regional and international subjects of relevance, particularly the changing security situation in the region.

The establishment of the India-Central Asia Dialogue at the level of Foreign Ministers, whose third meeting took place in New Delhi from December 18-20, 2021, has given a boost to India-Central Asia relations.