The India-Central Asia Dialogue, now in its third iteration, will take place in New Delhi starting on Saturday to examine ways to expand ties between member states, with an emphasis on commerce, connectivity, and development cooperation. The three-day event will last through Monday (December 20).
According to the foreign ministry, the meeting will be hosted by EAM S Jaishankar and will be attended by foreign ministers from five countries: Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
This year, Jaishankar has been to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as meeting Turkmenistan’s foreign minister in October.
According to MEA spokeswoman Arindam Bagchi, “the hosting of yearly sessions of the India-Central Asia Dialogue is emblematic of the interest on the part of all member nations for deeper engagement between them in a spirit of friendliness, trust, and mutual understanding.”
“The foreign ministers of Central Asian countries are expected to pay Prime Minister Narendra Modi a joint courtesy call,” he said, adding that they will discuss regional and international matters of global concern.
At the three-day India-Central Asia Dialogue, the current situation in Afghanistan will be a prominent topic of discussion. The recent events in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover have highlighted the importance of Central Asian countries that share borders with Afghanistan, such as Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
