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.