PM Modi on 4-day visit to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Republic - what's on agenda
The Prime Minister undertook a four-day visit covering Uzbekistan (bilateral leg) and the Kyrgyz Republic, from August 29 to September 1, marking his fourth visit to Uzbekistan
In Tashkent, discussions covered trade and investment, critical minerals, defence, healthcare, energy, digital connectivity, education, and technology with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev
In Bishkek, the Prime Minister attended the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, marking the grouping's 25th anniversary, and set out India's priorities of security, connectivity, and opportunity
The visit included the opening ceremony of the sixth World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, and security grouping that evolved from the "Shanghai Five" (1996) into a formal organisation, functioning as one of the largest regional blocs by population and combined GDP, and a key platform for India's outreach to Central Asia and the wider Eurasian space.
Key Details
- Founded in 2001 in Shanghai by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; evolved from the Shanghai Five (1996)
- India and Pakistan became full members on 9 June 2017 at the Astana summit; Iran joined in 2023 and Belarus in 2024, taking membership to 10 states
- Covers roughly 40% of the world's population and about 25% of global GDP
- Key institutional bodies: the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS, headquartered in Tashkent) and the SCO Secretariat (Beijing)
- India hosted the SCO Summit in 2023 (virtual format) and the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in 2023 (New Delhi)
The Bishkek summit is the 26th annual SCO Summit and coincides with the grouping's 25th anniversary since its 2001 founding, with India using the platform to project its "security, connectivity, opportunity" framing for the region.
India-Central Asia Bilateral and Regional Engagement
India's Central Asia policy has moved from ad hoc bilateral visits toward institutionalised summit-level engagement, formalised through the India-Central Asia Summit format launched in 2022, reflecting the region's importance for connectivity, energy, and critical minerals.
Key Details
- The first India-Central Asia Summit was held virtually in January 2022, involving the five Central Asian republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan)
- India-Uzbekistan ties were elevated to a "Special Strategic Partnership" during a 2024 visit by the Uzbek President to India
- India's connectivity initiatives to the region include the Chabahar Port (Iran) and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), both aimed at bypassing Pakistan for overland access to Central Asia
- Central Asia holds significant reserves of uranium, rare earths, and other critical minerals relevant to India's clean-energy and defence supply chains
The Tashkent agenda's focus on critical minerals and connectivity reflects this broader strategic push to institutionalise India-Central Asia ties via bilateral visits and the 2022 summit framework, using Chabahar/INSTC as the logistical backbone.
- Visit dates: August 29 to September 1, 2026 (Uzbekistan, then Kyrgyz Republic)
- SCO founded: 2001; India and Pakistan admitted: 9 June 2017 (Astana)
- SCO current membership: 10 full member states (as of 2026, post Belarus's 2024 entry)
- Bishkek summit: 26th SCO Summit, marking SCO's 25th anniversary
- First India-Central Asia Summit: January 2022 (virtual)
- World Nomad Games (Kyrgyzstan): 6th edition, opening ceremony attended