NSA’s meeting with Central Asia

Topic- International Relations [GS Paper-2]

Context- The National Security Advisor (NSA) of India, for the first time, has hosted a special meeting with his counterparts from Central Asian countries i.e. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Key Highlights 

• In January 2022, the Prime Minister of India hosted the first India-Central Asia Summit in a virtual format.
• This was the first time that NSAs of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan were in India for a high-level security meeting.
• The meeting was held on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and the Central Asian countries.
• The focus was mainly on the security situation in Afghanistan and the threat of terrorism rising from the country under the Taliban.
• The NSAs supported India’s proposal to include Chabahar port within the framework of the INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor) that connects Iran to Russia via Central Asia.
• Other Deliberations over the need for collective and coordinated action against the “misuse of new and emerging technologies, arms and drugs trafficking, abuse of cyber space to spread disinformation and unmanned aerial systems”.
• During the summit, the leaders agreed to institutionalise the Summit mechanism by deciding to hold it twice a year.
• An India-Central Asia Secretariat in New Delhi would be set up with an objective to support the new mechanism.

National Security Advisor in India

• The National Security Advisor (NSA) serves as the primary advisor to the Prime Minister of India. 
• He presides over the National Security Council (NSC). The current NSA is Ajit Doval.
• The NSC of India is a three-tiered organisation which oversees political, economic, energy and security issues of strategic concern.
• It was formed in 1998, with all aspects of national security deliberated upon.
• NSC operates within the executive office of the Prime Minister, liaising between the government’s executive branch and the intelligence services.
• The Ministers of Home Affairs, Defence, External Affairs and Finance are the members of NSC.

India’s Relations with Central Asia

• Historic Relation: 
  • Central Asia is a zone of India’s civilisational influence; the Ferghana Valley was India’s crossing-point of the Great Silk Road.
  • Buddhism found inroads in several Central Asian cities in the form of Stupas and Monasteries.
  • Men of prominence such as Amir Khusrau, Dehlawi, Al-Biruni etc. having Central Asian roots came and made their fame in India.
• Diplomatic Ties– 
  • India considers the Central Asian nations as the “heart of Asia” and they are also members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
  • Central Asian countries are well “aware” of Pakistan’s support to cross-border terrorism and its links to various terror groups.
  • Hence India and the Central Asian nations have similarities in approach in countering terrorism and the threat of radicalisation.
  • The latest meeting called for the early adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, that India had first proposed in 1996, but has been held up for decades, primarily over differences on the definition of terrorism.
• India’s Role in Afghanistan Situation: 
  • India and the Central Asian countries have raised concerns over terrorism emanating from Afghanistan and its implications for regional security. India has been a strong proponent for re-establishing peace in Afghanistan.
  • In November 2021, India had hosted a regional dialogue on the situation in Afghanistan, which was attended by NSAs of Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
• Regarding Chabahar Port: 
  • India has registered essential progress recently through renovation of Chabahar port. 
  • It is a member of the Ashgabat Agreement.
  • The port played an important role during the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan by delivering humanitarian goods to the Afghan people by certain international organisations.
  • Before the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, India delivered 100,000 tonnes of wheat and medicines to Afghanistan via the port’s Shahid Beheshti terminal developed by India.

Challenges in Robust India-Central Asia Ties

• There are hurdles of physical connectivity due to Pakistan’s hostility and Afghan instability.
• Politically, Central Asian countries are highly fragile and prone to threats such as terrorism & Islamic fundamentalism making the region a volatile and unstable market.
• Involvement of China in the region by the Belt and Road Initiative has  undermined India’s influence in the region.
• Porous border and unbridled corruption along with the proximity with regions of soaring opium production (Golden Crescent and Golden Triangle) marks the region a powerhouse for drug and money trafficking.

Way Ahead

• When other countries engage with Central Asia from their own perspectives; China from economic, Turkey from ethnic, and the Islamic world from religious – it would be befitting for India to give a cultural and historical perspective to the region through a summit-level annual meet.
• A value-driven cultural policy can help in strengthening India-Central Asia bonds.
• India’s increasing global visibility and key contributions to multilateral forums like the SCO have catapulted India from an observer into a critical stakeholder in the region.
• Central Asia also provides India with the right platform to leverage its political, economic and cultural connections to play a leading role further in Eurasia.

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