India-Uzbekistan Relations: Why PM Modi’s Tashkent Visit Matters for India’s Central Asia Strategy
- Devesh
- 10 hours ago
- 13 min read
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s August 29–30, 2026 state visit to Uzbekistan has given fresh momentum to India’s engagement with Central Asia, with New Delhi and Tashkent deciding to elevate their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
During talks between Prime Minister Modi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent, the two countries agreed to expand cooperation across trade, investment, defence and security, energy, uranium, critical minerals, digital technologies, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education, tourism and connectivity.
The two leaders also set a target of increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2030, while agreeing to establish a Foreign Ministers-led mechanism to oversee implementation of bilateral agreements.
The significance of the visit, however, extends beyond India-Uzbekistan relations.
Uzbekistan lies at the heart of Central Asia — a strategically important region connecting South Asia, Russia, China, West Asia and Europe. For India, deeper engagement with Uzbekistan and the other Central Asian republics is closely connected with energy security, critical minerals, connectivity, Afghanistan, counter-terrorism and the wider geopolitical balance in Eurasia.
For UPSC aspirants, the development is particularly relevant for GS Paper II — International Relations, while its energy, connectivity and mineral-security dimensions also overlap with GS Paper III. |
Why Is PM Modi’s Uzbekistan Visit in News?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Uzbekistan on August 29–30, 2026 at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
During official talks at the Kuksaroy Presidential Palace in Tashkent, the two leaders reviewed the India-Uzbekistan relationship and discussed cooperation across a wide range of sectors.
The biggest diplomatic outcome was the decision to elevate the existing India-Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The two sides identified several priority areas for deeper cooperation, including:
Trade and investment
Defence and security
Digital Public Infrastructure
Artificial Intelligence
Information technology
Cybersecurity
Space
Energy
Uranium
Critical and strategic minerals
Healthcare and pharmaceuticals
Agriculture
Education and research
Tourism
Culture and people-to-people relations
The two countries also agreed on a bilateral trade target of $5 billion by 2030.
A Foreign Ministers-led mechanism will be established to provide high-level coordination and monitor the implementation of agreements between the two countries.
India-Uzbekistan Relations: Historical Background
India and Uzbekistan share connections that extend much further back than modern diplomatic relations.
Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent were historically connected through trade routes, migration, scholarship, culture and political interactions.
The Silk Road and related trading networks facilitated movement between the regions for centuries.
Uzbekistan occupies an especially significant position in this historical relationship because cities such as Samarkand and Bukhara were major centres of commerce and culture.
India formally recognised Uzbekistan following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and diplomatic relations were established in 1992.
Over subsequent decades, relations expanded across political, economic, defence, cultural and educational fields.
A major acceleration came in July 2015, when Prime Minister Modi visited all five Central Asian republics — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
India's engagement with the region has since expanded through bilateral relationships as well as mechanisms such as the India-Central Asia Dialogue, India-Central Asia Summit and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Why Is Uzbekistan Important for India?
Uzbekistan's importance comes from a combination of geography, resources, population, political influence and its location at the centre of Central Asia.
Unlike some of its Central Asian neighbours, Uzbekistan shares borders with all four other Central Asian republics as well as Afghanistan.
This makes the country an important geographical link within the region.
For India, cooperation with Uzbekistan can therefore support several strategic objectives.
1. Strategic Location
Uzbekistan is located in the heart of Central Asia.
The region sits between major geopolitical spaces involving Russia, China, Afghanistan, Iran, the Caspian region and South Asia.
A stronger partnership with Uzbekistan gives India an important diplomatic relationship in continental Eurasia.
2. Afghanistan and Regional Security
Uzbekistan shares a border with Afghanistan.
Developments in Afghanistan therefore have direct implications for Central Asian security.
India and Uzbekistan share concerns over terrorism, extremism and regional instability.
The wider India-Central Asia relationship has increasingly included discussions on Afghanistan and counter-terrorism.
3. Energy Security
Central Asia possesses substantial reserves of hydrocarbons, uranium and other natural resources.
For a rapidly growing economy such as India, diversification of energy and strategic-resource suppliers is important.
Uzbekistan possesses significant uranium and mineral resources, making energy cooperation an increasingly important part of the bilateral relationship.
4. Critical Minerals
Critical minerals have become an important geopolitical issue because they are required for technologies ranging from renewable energy and batteries to electronics and advanced manufacturing.
During the 2026 visit, India and Uzbekistan agreed to explore deeper cooperation in geology, mining, nuclear energy and critical and strategic minerals.
The two countries also expressed interest in processing mineral resources and producing higher-value products.
This gives the relationship a strategic economic dimension beyond conventional trade.
Uranium: An Important Dimension of India-Uzbekistan Relations
One of the most significant outcomes of the 2026 visit concerns nuclear-energy cooperation.
Prime Minister Modi welcomed progress on a long-term arrangement for the supply of uranium from Uzbekistan to India.
The two sides also expressed interest in extending cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Why does this matter?
India's electricity requirements are expected to grow substantially as the economy expands. Nuclear energy forms one component of India's strategy to increase electricity generation while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Reliable uranium supplies are therefore strategically important.
Central Asia already plays an important role in India's uranium security, with Kazakhstan being an important supplier.
Deeper cooperation with Uzbekistan can further diversify India's access to nuclear fuel.
India-Uzbekistan Trade: $5 Billion Target by 2030
Economic relations were another major focus of the Tashkent talks.
India and Uzbekistan agreed to work towards increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2030.
The two countries acknowledged that existing trade and investment remain below their full potential.
To address this, the two sides agreed to work on:
Diversifying bilateral trade
Removing non-tariff barriers
Promoting industrial cooperation
Expanding manufacturing
Strengthening export capacity
Increasing e-commerce cooperation
Digitalising trade procedures
Supporting small and medium enterprises
Improving market access
A Joint Working Group is also expected to address non-tariff issues and investment barriers.
Another potentially important development concerns a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
Following the completion of a Joint Feasibility Study on an India-Uzbekistan Preferential Trade Agreement, the two sides directed their ministries to explore the next steps on a time-bound basis.
If taken forward, such an arrangement could provide another mechanism for expanding bilateral commerce.
Digital Technology, UPI and Artificial Intelligence
The India-Uzbekistan relationship is also expanding into newer areas of strategic cooperation.
The two leaders discussed Digital Public Infrastructure, UPI, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, IT and space.
This reflects a broader element of India's contemporary foreign policy: exporting digital capabilities and public digital infrastructure alongside traditional diplomatic and economic cooperation.
India's experience with digital identity, payments and public-service platforms has increasingly become an instrument of international cooperation.
Digital connectivity can also support trade, tourism, financial transactions and people-to-people relations between India and Central Asia.
Defence and Security Cooperation
Defence and security form another important pillar of India-Uzbekistan relations.
Both countries have an interest in preventing terrorism and extremism from destabilising the region.
This assumes particular significance because of Uzbekistan's proximity to Afghanistan.
India's broader Central Asian engagement includes defence training, military exercises, counter-terrorism cooperation and security dialogue.
Security cooperation with countries such as Uzbekistan therefore supports India's objective of remaining strategically engaged in its extended neighbourhood.
What Is India's Connect Central Asia Policy?
India announced its Connect Central Asia Policy in 2012 as part of an effort to build deeper and more structured engagement with the region.
The five Central Asian republics are:
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyz Republic
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
The policy sought to expand India's engagement beyond traditional diplomatic relations.
Its broad dimensions include:
Political engagement
Strategic and security cooperation
Trade and investment
Energy cooperation
Connectivity
Education
Healthcare
Information technology
Capacity building
Cultural and people-to-people relations
Prime Minister Modi's visit to all five Central Asian republics in 2015 provided additional momentum to this engagement.
India increasingly describes Central Asia as part of its extended neighbourhood.
What Is the India-Central Asia Dialogue?
The India-Central Asia Dialogue is a ministerial-level platform bringing India and the five Central Asian countries together to discuss regional and international issues.
It provides an institutional mechanism for cooperation in areas including:
Trade
Connectivity
Energy
Security
Afghanistan
Healthcare
Education
Digital connectivity
Capacity building
Regional cooperation
The First India-Central Asia Summit was held virtually in January 2022.
The summit elevated India's engagement with the five countries to the leadership level.
At the Fourth India-Central Asia Dialogue in June 2025, the participating countries again emphasised the importance of increasing trade, improving financial connectivity and making greater use of the International North-South Transport Corridor.
Why Is Central Asia Strategically Important for India?
Central Asia's importance to India can be understood through five major factors.
Energy and Natural Resources
The region possesses significant reserves of oil, natural gas, uranium and minerals.
Kazakhstan is particularly important for uranium and also possesses hydrocarbons and mineral resources.
Turkmenistan possesses major natural-gas reserves.
Uzbekistan possesses uranium, gold, natural gas and other mineral resources.
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have substantial hydropower potential.
For India, access to these resources can support energy security and supply-chain diversification.
Connectivity With Eurasia
India faces a fundamental geographical challenge in its engagement with Central Asia: it does not share a direct land border with the region.
Pakistan lies between India and much of continental Central Asia, limiting India's direct overland connectivity.
As a result, alternative connectivity corridors are strategically important.
This brings projects such as Iran's Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) into the picture.
What Is the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)?
The International North-South Transport Corridor, or INSTC, is a multimodal transport network involving combinations of sea, rail and road routes.
Its broader objective is to improve connectivity between India and markets across Iran, the Caspian region, Russia, Central Asia and beyond.
For India, INSTC has strategic importance because it can provide alternative access towards Eurasia without depending entirely on traditional routes.
India and the Central Asian countries have repeatedly discussed greater utilisation of the corridor.
At the Fourth India-Central Asia Dialogue in 2025, the participating countries emphasised the importance of optimising INSTC for connectivity between India and Central Asia.
India also reiterated support for Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan joining the INSTC framework.
Connectivity, however, remains one of India's biggest challenges in translating political goodwill with Central Asia into much larger economic relations.
The China Factor in Central Asia
Any assessment of contemporary Central Asian geopolitics must also consider China.
China has developed significant economic and infrastructure links across Central Asia, including through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Its geographic proximity gives Beijing substantial advantages in trade, infrastructure and investment.
India cannot realistically approach Central Asia simply as an arena for competing with China.
Instead, India's strategy has increasingly focused on building its own relationships through:
Political trust
Connectivity
Development partnerships
Education
Healthcare
Digital technology
Defence cooperation
Cultural relations
Energy partnerships
For the Central Asian states themselves, diversified relationships can also provide greater strategic options rather than excessive dependence on any single major power.
The Russia Factor
Central Asia was part of the Soviet Union until 1991, and Russia continues to maintain deep political, economic, cultural and security links with the region.
The Russian language remains widely used in several Central Asian countries, while migration and economic relationships continue to connect the region with Russia.
India's long-standing relationship with Russia can sometimes provide useful strategic context for its engagement with Central Asia.
At the same time, the region is becoming increasingly multipolar, with China, Türkiye, Iran, the European Union, Gulf countries and other actors seeking deeper engagement.
India therefore needs an active regional strategy if it wants to maintain influence in this changing geopolitical environment.
Afghanistan: A Common Security Concern
Afghanistan sits between South Asia and Central Asia and remains central to the region's security calculations.
For India and Uzbekistan, major concerns include:
Terrorism
Radicalisation
Extremism
Regional instability
Drug trafficking
Cross-border security
Economic connectivity
A stable Afghanistan could potentially facilitate greater connectivity between South and Central Asia.
Instability, however, creates serious security and infrastructure risks.
India's Central Asia policy therefore cannot be separated entirely from developments in Afghanistan.
Cultural Relations: From Yoga to Hindi and Sanskrit
India-Uzbekistan relations are not limited to geopolitics.
The two societies share substantial cultural connections.
Yoga has gained popularity in Uzbekistan, and cooperation between the Yoga Federation of Uzbekistan and India's Ministry of AYUSH has expanded.
During the 2026 visit, the two countries also concluded an agreement concerning traditional medicine.
Prime Minister Modi announced the Lal Bahadur Shastri Scholarship for Hindi language for Uzbek students.
An agreement was also finalised for establishing an ICCR Sanskrit Chair at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.
The two countries additionally concluded a Letter of Intent concerning restoration of the Buddhist sites of Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa.
These initiatives demonstrate the role of cultural diplomacy and India's soft power in its Central Asian engagement.
Aral Sea: India Announces $1 Million Support
Another notable outcome of the visit concerned the Aral Sea region, which has experienced one of the world's most severe environmental disasters.
India announced its participation in environmental rehabilitation efforts in the region with a $1 million grant.
The initiative connects Uzbekistan's Yashil Makon green programme with India's Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative.
The development adds an environmental and climate-cooperation dimension to bilateral relations.
India and Uzbekistan in Multilateral Organisations
India and Uzbekistan also interact through several multilateral platforms.
These include:
United Nations
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
BRICS
India-Central Asia Dialogue
Other regional and international mechanisms
Uzbekistan has reaffirmed support for India's candidature for permanent membership of a reformed UN Security Council.
Both countries have also committed to deeper cooperation within the SCO.
Following his Uzbekistan visit, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to travel to Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, for the 26th SCO Summit, which marks 25 years of the organisation.
India has been a full member of the SCO since 2017.
Major Challenges in India-Central Asia Relations
Despite growing political engagement, India faces several structural challenges in Central Asia.
1. Lack of direct land connectivity
This remains perhaps the biggest obstacle.
India does not have direct terrestrial access to Central Asia, making trade more expensive and logistically complicated.
2. China's economic presence
China's geographical proximity and infrastructure investments give it considerable economic influence.
3. Russia's traditional influence
Russia remains a major political and security actor in the region.
India therefore operates in a strategic environment where several major powers already have substantial interests.
4. Afghanistan instability
Persistent instability in Afghanistan complicates potential trans-Afghan connectivity and creates security concerns.
5. Trade below potential
Political relations between India and Central Asian countries have often developed faster than commercial relations.
The new $5 billion India-Uzbekistan trade target reflects an attempt to address this gap.
6. Connectivity projects require implementation
Corridors such as INSTC and access through Chabahar can become strategically important only when they are commercially reliable, efficient and regularly used.
What Should India Do Next?
India's Central Asia strategy needs to move increasingly from diplomatic engagement towards implementation.
First, connectivity must remain a priority. Greater utilisation of Chabahar and INSTC could improve India's commercial access to the region.
Second, India should expand energy and critical-mineral partnerships. Central Asia can contribute to diversification of India's uranium, mineral and energy supplies.
Third, India's strengths in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, digital public infrastructure, education and information technology provide areas where it can offer distinctive partnerships.
Fourth, security cooperation must continue, particularly on terrorism, extremism and Afghanistan.
Finally, India should continue investing in cultural diplomacy and people-to-people ties. Historical connections provide India with a foundation that purely transactional relationships cannot easily replicate.
Why the Modi Uzbekistan Visit Matters
The significance of Prime Minister Modi's 2026 Tashkent visit lies not in a single agreement but in the widening scope of the relationship.
India and Uzbekistan are moving from a conventional bilateral partnership towards cooperation involving:
Trade + Connectivity + Defence + Digital Technology + Energy + Uranium + Critical Minerals + Healthcare + Education + Culture
The decision to establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership indicates that both countries want the relationship to operate across multiple strategic sectors.
For India, Uzbekistan can become an increasingly important partner in its effort to strengthen its presence in Central Asia and wider Eurasia.
For Uzbekistan, India offers a large market, investment, technology, pharmaceuticals, education, healthcare and an additional major strategic partner.
The real test, however, will be implementation.
Achieving the $5 billion trade target, operationalising connectivity, expanding mineral cooperation and translating agreements into investments will determine how significant the partnership becomes over the coming years.
UPSC Prelims Quick Revision
Uzbekistan: Central Asian country and former Soviet republic.
Capital: Tashkent.
Central Asian Republics: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
India's Connect Central Asia Policy: Announced in 2012.
First India-Central Asia Summit: January 2022.
India's SCO membership: India became a full member in 2017.
INSTC: International North-South Transport Corridor.
Key India-Uzbekistan 2026 outcome: Strategic Partnership elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Trade target: $5 billion by 2030.
Important strategic resource: Uzbekistan and India are advancing cooperation involving uranium and critical minerals.
A useful Prelims fact is that Uzbekistan is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world — meaning that it is landlocked and every country bordering it is itself landlocked. The other is Liechtenstein.
Possible UPSC Mains Question“Central Asia is strategically important for India's energy security, connectivity and geopolitical interests, yet India's engagement with the region remains constrained by geography.” Discuss with reference to recent developments in India-Uzbekistan relations. Points to include in an answerIntroduction: Central Asia forms part of India's extended neighbourhood and connects major Eurasian geopolitical regions. Importance: Energy, uranium, critical minerals, connectivity, Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, trade and geopolitical diversification. India's initiatives: Connect Central Asia Policy, India-Central Asia Dialogue, India-Central Asia Summit, SCO, INSTC and Chabahar. Challenges: Lack of direct land access, Afghanistan, China's economic presence, Russia's traditional influence and low trade. Recent development: India-Uzbekistan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and $5 billion trade target by 2030. Conclusion: India needs to convert strong political relationships into commercially viable connectivity, trade, energy and technology partnerships. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why is Uzbekistan important for India?
Answer. Uzbekistan is strategically located in Central Asia and is important for India's interests in regional security, Afghanistan, connectivity, uranium, critical minerals, trade, defence and access to Eurasia.
Q. What was the major outcome of PM Modi's 2026 Uzbekistan visit?
Answer. India and Uzbekistan decided to elevate their Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and agreed to work towards bilateral trade of $5 billion by 2030, alongside deeper cooperation in energy, uranium, critical minerals, defence, technology, healthcare and other sectors.
Q. What is India's Connect Central Asia Policy?
Answer. India announced the Connect Central Asia Policy in 2012 to strengthen political, economic, security, energy, connectivity and people-to-people engagement with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Q. What is the India-Central Asia Dialogue?
Answer. The India-Central Asia Dialogue is a ministerial-level mechanism through which India and the five Central Asian republics discuss trade, connectivity, security, Afghanistan, energy and other areas of regional cooperation.
Q. Why is Central Asia important for India's energy security?
Answer. Central Asia possesses substantial uranium, natural gas, oil, hydropower and mineral resources. Deeper partnerships can help India diversify its sources of energy and strategically important raw materials.
Q. What is INSTC?
Answer. The International North-South Transport Corridor is a multimodal transport network using sea, road and rail links to improve connectivity between India and regions including Iran, Russia, the Caspian area and Central Asia.
Q. What are the main challenges in India-Central Asia relations?
Answer. Major challenges include India's lack of direct land connectivity with the region, instability in Afghanistan, logistical barriers, relatively low trade and the strong presence of other major powers including China and Russia.
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