Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

The Significance of the Fourth India-Central Asia Dialogue

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF

The long-pending India-Central Asia dialogue could not be convened at a more relevant time than now. India has taken a decisive yet measured strike on cross-border terrorism perpetrated by Pakistan in the form of Op Sindoor. Central Asia has...

June 23 , 2025 Article, Central Asia, Chabahar, DPI, INSTC, Medical Tourism, OP Sindoor, Pahalgam, Rare Earth Minerals, Terrorism, VIF Alerts, International Relations and Diplomacy

Eurasian Responses to the Pahalgam Terrorist Attack and Operation Sindoor: An Assessment

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF

The terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of at least 26 civilians, including one Nepalese national, sent shockwaves through South Asia and beyond. The terror attack bore the hallmarks of...

June 13 , 2025 Article, Central Asia, Central Asian Republics, Counter-terrorism cooperation, Cross-border terrorism, De-escalation, Geopolitical cooperation, India-Pakistan relations, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Operation Sindoor, Pahalgam Terrorist Attack, Strategic partners, VIF Alerts, Zero Tolerance Policy, International Relations and Diplomacy

Growing Regional Cooperation in Central Asia: Implications for Major Powers

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF

Introduction

After decades of externally driven agendas and persistent intra-regional fragmentation, the five Central Asian republics (CARs) have taken notable steps toward deepening their mutual regional engagement in the recent past....

May 29 , 2025 Article, Border Settlement, Central Asia, collective security, Economic Development, regional cooperation, Trade facilitation, VIF Alerts, International Relations and Diplomacy

The Kyrgyz-Tajik Border Deal: A Step Closer Towards Regional Cooperation in Central Asia

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF

The recently concluded Kyrgyz-Tajik border demarcation agreement marks a significant milestone in Central Asia’s ongoing efforts to address long-standing territorial disputes. After more than three decades of disputes, violent skirmishes, and...

March 17 , 2025 Article, Border Dispute, Central Asia, Central Asia, Ferghana Valley, land swap, Soviet Union, VIF Alerts, International Relations and Diplomacy

Eurasia: Reflections on 2024 and Outlook for 2025

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF

The year 2024 is shaping up to be a critical juncture for Russia and Central Asia, characterized by significant geopolitical upheavals, economic volatility, and shifting social dynamics. These changes are not merely adjustments; they are...

January 07 , 2025 Article, BRICS, Central Asia, Central Asian Migrants, Green energy, Nuclear Power, regional cooperation, Ukraine War, VIF Alerts, International Relations and Diplomacy

Second Minsk Conference on Eurasian Security: Some Major Takeaways

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF

The II Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security, hosted by Belarus from October 31 to November 1, is believed to have highlighted the shifting stance within Eurasia towards a more multipolar world, with an increasing emphasis on...

November 08 , 2024 Article, Central Asia, Energy imports, EU, Illegal Sanctions, multipolarity, Russia Ukraine war, VIF Alerts, International Relations and Diplomacy

Uzbekistan’s Pragmatic Engagement with Afghanistan: Significant for the Region

Amb Skand Ranjan Tayal

During a recent visit to Tashkent, I had attended the roundtable on ‘Foreign Policy of Uzbekistan: Openness and Prosperity for Peace’ on 25 October 2024. The speakers were some of the prominent policy makers with long experience of diplomacy and...

November 05 , 2024 Afghanistan, Amu Darya, Central Asia, Friendship Bridge, Gas Fields, IMU, railway line, trade, VIF Alerts, Commentary, International Relations and Diplomacy

A Critical Examination of the SCO Council of Heads of Government Summit in Islamabad

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF

The recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) Summit held in Islamabad has garnered significant attention due to the regional dynamics among member countries, particularly between India and Pakistan, as...

October 28 , 2024 BRI, Central Asia, Connectivity, CPEC, Gwadar port, SCO summit, Terrorism and Extremism, VIF Alerts, Commentary, International Relations and Diplomacy

The Fifth World Nomad Games in Kazakhstan: Embracing Tradition Through Sports

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF

Introduction

Kazakhstan hosted the Fifth World Nomad Games (WNG) from September 7–13, 2024, in its capital city Astana. Since its inception in 2012, the World Nomad Games (WNG) have expanded into a notable platform showcasing the...

September 20 , 2024 Central Asia, Central Asia, ethnosports, Keywords- Nomadic Culture, Soft Power, Tourism, Traditional Sports, VIF Alerts, Commentary, International Relations and Diplomacy

The Changing Dynamics of Taliban’s Relations with its Central Asian Neighbours

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF

The Taliban seized control of Kabul in August 2021, overthrowing the democratic government of Afghanistan. It has been three years since their rule, yet they have not gained international recognition. Many assessments have been made regarding how...

September 04 , 2024 Central Asia, Lapis Lazuli Corridor, Qosh tepa Canal. TAPI, Taliban, Trans Afghan railway, VIF Alerts, Commentary, International Relations and Diplomacy