India-Central Asia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Shanghai Co-Operation Organisation, India and SCO

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India-Central Asia

  • India՚s presence in Central Asia
  • Member of Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA)
    • Only inter-governmental forum in Central Asia that India is a part of
  • Observer in SCO
  • India՚s only foreign military base is in Tajikistan
  • TAPI < refer TAPI under energy article >
  • Close link between the peace, security and stability of Central Asia and India
  • India՚s interest in Central Asia
    • Strategic, military, and economic
    • Energy
    • Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan can provide oil and gas
    • Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan hold great hydroelectric potential
  • Strategic location
    • Sandwiched by Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan
    • India cannot afford to lag behind in this competition for resources
  • Security and stability
    • The region holds Islamic terrorist groups that may find way to India
    • If there is instability in Central Asia, combined with the precarious situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, it can lead to serious security problems for India
  • Economic cooperation
  • Cultural dialogue
  • India is surrounded by unstable states and if it can cultivate positive and effective relations with its immediate northern neighbours, all the better
  • What can Central Asia gain?
    • Market to diversify their energy supplies
    • A strong nation that can help them balance Chinese, Russian and US pressure
    • Help in progressing their economies beyond just energy supplies, say IT sector and capability building
    • Foreign investment
  • Challenges
    • Lack of efficient surface transportation capabilities and connectivity
  • Way forward
    • Develop the International North-South Corridor

Mongolia

  • Diplomatic relations established in 1955
  • India was the first country outside the Soviet block to establish diplomatic relations with Mongolia
  • Mongolia supports India՚s candidature as a permanent member of the UN SC
  • Pratibha Patil visited the country in July 2011
    • Three agreements were signed to expand cooperation in defence, planning and education and media exchanges
    • First Indian presidential visit after a gap of 23 years
  • Cultural links
    • Buddhism

Kazakhstan

  • PM MMS visited Astana in April 2011
  • Three major agreements signed during the 2011 visit
    • Civil nuclear cooperation
    • Between state oil companies on a 25-pc stake for India in a Caspian Sea basin block (Satpayev and Satpayev Vostochni)
    • Agriculture
  • Background
    • Lukewarm relations for a decade
    • After that India invited Pres Nazarbayev to be Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations in 2009
    • Strong cultural ties: Raj Kapoor, Nargis, Bollywood at present.
  • Energy ties
    • Caspian basis in rich in oil resources
    • Kzk willing to supply Uranium to India
    • Satpayev oil block
  • Agriculture
    • Agreement signed. Explore possibility of Indian farmers taking over Kazakh farmland on lease.