New Delhi: In the third edition of India’s dialogue with five Central Asian countries on Sunday, the main emphasis will be on Afghanistan’s status, connectivity, and promoting development-focused cooperation.
Prior to this dialogue, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Organized a dinner in honor of their Uzbekistan counterparts.
The Foreign Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic, Ruslan Kazakbaev, his Tajik counterpart Siroziddin Muhariddin and the Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tilubardi have already reached Delhi.
Over the past few years, India has been focusing on expanding its overall cooperation with energy-rich Central Asian countries as part of its extended neighborhood.
Recent developments in Afghanistan reinforced the importance of West Asian countries, three of which – Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan share borders with the war-torn country.
Participated in organized regional dialogues. The national security advisers of Russia and Iran also attended.
Officials said that the talks will focus on connectivity and development cooperation as well as developments in Afghanistan.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had told on Thursday that the ministers are looking forward to further strengthening the ties between India and the Central Asian countries.
Discussions are expected with particular emphasis on trade, connectivity, and development cooperation. They are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, they said in a media briefing.
The second meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue was organized by India in a virtual format in October last year.