Summit level meet once in two&nbsp;years, establishment of a&nbsp;secretariat for practical coordination, more ministerial level engagement will be among the key outcomes of the upcoming India-Central Asia summit that will take place on January 27.

The meet, which will happen virtually, will be the first such summit between India and the five&nbsp;Central Asian countries--Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan as they set to increase engagement to a higher level.&nbsp;India and the Central Asian countries already have a foreign minister-level mechanism that has met two&nbsp;times on an annual basis so far, the last being in December 2021.

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The "India-Central Asia Centre", which is expected to be established in Delhi will act as the secretariat for the India-Central Asia Summit coordination, which henceforth becomes a permanent fixture as ties are taken to a higher level. The suggestion for the establishment of such a secretariat was given by India and will&nbsp;provide an institutional framework&nbsp;for the development of relationships.

Another key outcome will be the establishment of ministerial-level platforms for engagement in 4 key areas--political issues and development cooperation, trade and connectivity, culture and tourism and, most importantly defense and security.&nbsp;At the non-governmental level increased&nbsp;interaction is being proposed between business chambers, think-tanks.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-russia-exchange-non-paper-on-engagement-in-central-asia-439953">Also read |&nbsp;India, Russia exchange 'non-paper' on engagement in Central Asia</a>

A special emphasis will be on enlarging engagement when it comes to Information technology sector.&nbsp;India has already assisted in the establishment of IT park in Uzbek capital Tashkent, the first phase being inaugurated in 2019. In Tajikistan, with a grant of $ 0.6 million, an Information and Technology Centre (Bedil Centre) was commissioned in 2006 by Indian support and the&nbsp;​project trained almost all the first-generation IT experts in government sector of the country.

New Delhi has been pitching for an Iran-based India-built Chabahar port to increase connectivity and trade from landlocked central Asia to the wider Indian Ocean region. Uzbekistan, a doubly landlocked country, Kazakhstan have been enthusiastic supporters of the use of ports to increase connectivity. The continuous focus has been on the share civilizational connect, which also remains the much-celebrated aspect of the ties.&nbsp;As part of defense industrial cooperation, India has offered a Line of Credit of &nbsp;40 million to Uzbekistan. Indian, Uzbek armies had undertaken 10 day-long joint military exercises at Ranikhet, Uttarakhand last year in which 45 soldiers from each side participated.

The announcement of the summit came last week and comes even as both sides, this year mark the 30th year of establishment of formal diplomatic ties. Ministry of external affairs in a statement said, "During the first India-Central Asia Summit, the Leaders are expected to discuss steps to take forward India-Central Asia relations to newer heights. They are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues of interest, especially the evolving regional security situation."

Afghanistan naturally will be one of the main points of discussion, given 3 Central Asian countries--&nbsp;Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan share direct land border with the country. The Taliban takeover of Kabul last year has complicated the situation, with many of these countries fearing a spillover into their territories.&nbsp;The National security advisors (NSAs) of the central Asian countries had last year visited Delhi for a meeting on Afghanistan in which Russian, Iranian NSA level counterparts had also participated.

The summit comes as New Delhi has been expanding depth of its commitments with all central Asian capitals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited all the central Asian countries in 2015, which was the first of its kind tour by any Indian Prime minister. EAM Jaishankar had last year visited two Central Asian countries - Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. India has in the past announced a $ 1 billion line of credit for priority development projects in fields such as connectivity, energy, IT, healthcare, education, agriculture, etc for the entire region also known as "the stans" since all the countries in the region end with suffix stan, which in Persian means "land of".

Summit level meet once in two years, establishment of a secretariat for practical coordination, more ministerial level engagement will be among the key outcomes of the upcoming India-Central Asia summit that will take place on January 27.

Summit level meet once in two years, establishment of a secretariat for practical coordination, more ministerial level engagement will be among the key outcomes of the upcoming India-Central Asia summit that will take place on January 27. The meet, which will happen virtually, will be the first such summit between India and the five Central Asian countries--Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan as they set to increase engagement to a higher level. India and the Central Asian countries already have a foreign minister-level mechanism that has met two times on an annual basis so far, the last being in December 2021. Also read | Despite crisis, Kazakh President Tokayev's India visit on schedule The "India-Central Asia Centre", which is expected to be established in Delhi will act as the secretariat for the India-Central Asia Summit coordination, which henceforth becomes a permanent fixture as ties are taken to a higher level. The suggestion for the establishment of such a secretariat was given by India and will provide an institutional framework for the development of relationships. Another key outcome will be the establishment of ministerial-level platforms for engagement in 4 key areas--political issues and development cooperation, trade and connectivity, culture and tourism and, most importantly defense and security. At the non-governmental level increased interaction is being proposed between business chambers, think-tanks. Also read | India, Russia exchange 'non-paper' on engagement in Central Asia A special emphasis will be on enlarging engagement when it comes to Information technology sector. India has already assisted in the establishment of IT park in Uzbek capital Tashkent, the first phase being inaugurated in 2019. In Tajikistan, with a grant of $ 0.6 million, an Information and Technology Centre (Bedil Centre) was commissioned in 2006 by Indian support and the project trained almost all the first-generation IT experts in government sector of the country. New Delhi has been pitching for an Iran-based India-built Chabahar port to increase connectivity and trade from landlocked central Asia to the wider Indian Ocean region. Uzbekistan, a doubly landlocked country, Kazakhstan have been enthusiastic supporters of the use of ports to increase connectivity. The continuous focus has been on the share civilizational connect, which also remains the much-celebrated aspect of the ties. As part of defense industrial cooperation, India has offered a Line of Credit of 40 million to Uzbekistan. Indian, Uzbek armies had undertaken 10 day-long joint military exercises at Ranikhet, Uttarakhand last year in which 45 soldiers from each side participated. The announcement of the summit came last week and comes even as both sides, this year mark the 30th year of establishment of formal diplomatic ties. Ministry of external affairs in a statement said, "During the first India-Central Asia Summit, the Leaders are expected to discuss steps to take forward India-Central Asia relations to newer heights. They are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues of interest, especially the evolving regional security situation." Afghanistan naturally will be one of the main points of discussion, given 3 Central Asian countries-- Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan share direct land border with the country. The Taliban takeover of Kabul last year has complicated the situation, with many of these countries fearing a spillover into their territories. The National security advisors (NSAs) of the central Asian countries had last year visited Delhi for a meeting on Afghanistan in which Russian, Iranian NSA level counterparts had also participated. The summit comes as New Delhi has been expanding depth of its commitments with all central Asian capitals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited all the central Asian countries in 2015, which was the first of its kind tour by any Indian Prime minister. EAM Jaishankar had last year visited two Central Asian countries - Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. India has in the past announced a $ 1 billion line of credit for priority development projects in fields such as connectivity, energy, IT, healthcare, education, agriculture, etc for the entire region also known as "the stans" since all the countries in the region end with suffix stan, which in Persian means "land of".

India, Central Asia to hold summit once in two years, establish secretariat for coordination

Russia, Iran and Central Asian countries have confirmed presence at the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan on November 10.

India is hosting the meeting this year which will be chaired by India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Sources told WION that "there has been an overwhelming response to India's invitation", calling the "high-level participation" in the meet hosted by New Delhi reflective of "widespread and growing concern of regional countries about the situation in Afghanistan and their desire to consult and coordinate with each other. India has an important role to play in this process."

In a first, all central Asian countries will be present at the meet, not just countries like Uzbekistan and Tajikistan who share land border with Afghanistan. "The enthusiastic response is a manifestation of the importance attached to India's role in regional efforts to promote peace and security in Afghanistan," sources explained.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-supreme-leader-akhundzada-issues-a-warning-against-infiltrators-in-the-ranks-426859" hreflang="en">Taliban supreme leader Akhundzada issues a warning against infiltrators in the ranks</a>

For central Asian countries, concerns of a spillover from Afghanistan have been increasing, and they have been raising the matter in multiple ways. Last month, Russia hosted a meet on Afghanistan in which India was invited. The "Moscow format" meet on Afghanistan has been taking place for last few years and this was the first since the collapse of Afghan republic under President Ashraf Ghani.&nbsp;

The meet comes months after Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August. Since then, situation has deteriorated in the country and worries mounted over worsening humanitarian situation. In the past&nbsp;two meetings under the current NSA format has met in Iran, in September 2018 and December 2019. The third such meet was to take place in India but could not happen due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/unicef-aiming-to-fund-afghan-school-teachers-without-giving-money-to-taliban-report-426685" hreflang="en">UNICEF aiming to fund Afghan school teachers without giving money to Taliban: Report</a>

China has not yet responded&nbsp;to India's invite while Pakistan's NSA Mooed Yusuf has publicly announced he will not participate, terming India as "spoiler". Asked on Pakistan's decision, sources said, "Pakistan's decision is unfortunate, but not surprising. It reflects its mindset of viewing Afghanistan as its protectorate. Pakistan has not attended the previous meetings of this format", adding the "media comments against India are an unsuccessful attempt to deflect attention from its pernicious role in Afghanistan."

Pakistan has also not yet responded to Indian proposal to send humanitarian aid to Afghanistan via Wagha border. Islamabad has been backing Taliban to the hilt and working on at international floras to get the government&nbsp;under the grouping legitimacy. Pakistan Foreign Minister SM Qureshi had recently visited Kabul and engaged with top Taliban leadership.

Russia, Iran and Central Asian countries have confirmed presence at the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan on November 10. India is hosting the meeting this year which will be chaired by India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

Russia, Iran and Central Asian countries have confirmed presence at the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan on November 10. India is hosting the meeting this year which will be chaired by India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Sources told WION that "there has been an overwhelming response to India's invitation", calling the "high-level participation" in the meet hosted by New Delhi reflective of "widespread and growing concern of regional countries about the situation in Afghanistan and their desire to consult and coordinate with each other. India has an important role to play in this process." In a first, all central Asian countries will be present at the meet, not just countries like Uzbekistan and Tajikistan who share land border with Afghanistan. "The enthusiastic response is a manifestation of the importance attached to India's role in regional efforts to promote peace and security in Afghanistan," sources explained. Also read | Taliban supreme leader Akhundzada issues a warning against infiltrators in the ranks For central Asian countries, concerns of a spillover from Afghanistan have been increasing, and they have been raising the matter in multiple ways. Last month, Russia hosted a meet on Afghanistan in which India was invited. The "Moscow format" meet on Afghanistan has been taking place for last few years and this was the first since the collapse of Afghan republic under President Ashraf Ghani. The meet comes months after Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August. Since then, situation has deteriorated in the country and worries mounted over worsening humanitarian situation. In the past two meetings under the current NSA format has met in Iran, in September 2018 and December 2019. The third such meet was to take place in India but could not happen due to the coronavirus pandemic. Also read | UNICEF aiming to fund Afghan school teachers without giving money to Taliban: Report China has not yet responded to India's invite while Pakistan's NSA Mooed Yusuf has publicly announced he will not participate, terming India as "spoiler". Asked on Pakistan's decision, sources said, "Pakistan's decision is unfortunate, but not surprising. It reflects its mindset of viewing Afghanistan as its protectorate. Pakistan has not attended the previous meetings of this format", adding the "media comments against India are an unsuccessful attempt to deflect attention from its pernicious role in Afghanistan." Pakistan has also not yet responded to Indian proposal to send humanitarian aid to Afghanistan via Wagha border. Islamabad has been backing Taliban to the hilt and working on at international floras to get the government under the grouping legitimacy. Pakistan Foreign Minister SM Qureshi had recently visited Kabul and engaged with top Taliban leadership.

Iran, Russia, Central Asia confirm presence at Delhi NSA meet on Afghanistan

It Was An Action-Packed Day For PM Modi In The SCO Summit At Bishkek. From Calling For Co-Ordinated Action On Terrorism To Enhancing India'S Ties With Central Asian Countries, It Was An Action-Packed Day For PM Modi.

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