The first India-Central Asia meeting of National Security Advisers/Secretaries of Security Council’s was held on 6 December, 2022 in New Delhi. Turkmenistan was represented by their Ambassador in New Delhi. India’s relations with Central Asian countries very traditional and relations based on mutual trust, respect and understanding.
Recent meeting between Central Asia and India, India’s complete focus was the how to stabilize the Afghanistan and the region. That’s why India organize meeting with Central Asian counties or another words we can say India back in Afghanistan. According to the report India recently sent its technical team in Afghanistan to meet the Taliban’s authority. India clearly define that India has not any political role but it wants to complete its development projects. Recently, Taliban said India may restart 20 projects in Afghanistan.
Taliban authority understands very well that India is a big economy and it cans investment huge money in Afghanistan. In the meeting both sides very deep discussed about the security and stability of the region. India wants Afghanistan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity should not be compromise. It is report that Islamic State influence increasing in Afghanistan and Pakistan. That’s why Taliban showing some softness towards India and obviously towards Iran also.
Unconfirmed report that Afghanistan approach India about the Islamic State situation in the region that’s why one of the reasons India invited the Central Asia’s NSA meeting in New Delhi.
India wants Afghanistan’s internal affairs should not be challenge by external powers. So that, India and Central Asia’s nations raised the concern in the joint declaration that the territory of Afghanistan should not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing any terrorist acts and reaffirmed the importance of UNSC Resolution 2593 (2021),that no terrorist organizations including those designated by the UNSC Resolution 1267 should be provided allowed to use the territory of Afghanistan. India’s indication about the Pakistan’s based terrorist organization like Lashkar e-Taiba and terrorist Azhar Mehmood.
These days world facing the problem the recruitment of terrorist, fund raising, expansion of terrorist propaganda and serious concern for the region. As well as terror organization using the technology like cyber, fake information etc both sides discussed the how to contain this menace.
India and Central Asia emphasis on connectivity it will increase the trade and increase the better understanding of the regional issues. That’s why India already playing the important role through the Chabahar Port to connect the Afghanistan, Central Asia and India to bring closer with each other. It will also help to solve the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. India started the using this port in 2017, India’s first shipment of wheat to Afghanistan was sent through the Chabahar port. And in next year in 2018, Afghanistan exported $70 million in goods to India. The Zaranj-Chabahar route allows Afghan goods to reach India without cross Pakistani territory. In 2020 India exports US $ 997.58 million to Afghanistan and Afghanistan exports US $530 million to India. For the trade connectivity Central Asian countries showed the trust in 7,200 km long multi mode network of ship, rail and road route moving freight between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). All countries agreed to include the Chabahar port within the framework of INSTC.
India wants to establish effective mechanism and long term plan with Central Asia and Afghanistan it will include trade, connectivity, people to people contact and cultural exchange.
Central Asia and India agreed connectivity based on transparency and trust, it is necessary of local participation of the trading goods. And it should be respect territorial integrity of all nations.
Both sides gave emphasis the importance of regular dialogue between Security Councils of their countries in view of the common challenges of terrorism, extremism and radicalization in the region. So that Indian organized in November 2021 and in Dushanbe in May 2022 “Regional Dialogue on Afghanistan.
Next host of the India-Central Asia National Security Advisers/Secretaries will be Kazakhstan in 2023.
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