Interaction with the Visiting Delegation from Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (ISRS) of Uzbekistan

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On 13 November 2019, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) hosted an interaction with a visiting Delegation from ISRS, Uzbekistan, led by Mr. F. Djuraev, Head of Department ISRS. The Delegation also included Mrs. D. Mamatkulova, leading research fellow, ISRS. The Delegation was accompanied by Mr. Azamjon Mansurov, First Secretary, Uzbek embassy to India and Major Muhammad Tukhtanazarov, Defence Attache, Uzbek embassy to India.

The VIF’s panel of speakers led by Amb. D. P. Srivastava included Amb. Ashok Sajjanhar, Amb. Vinod Kumar, Prof. Nirmala Joshi and Brig. Vinod Anand among others. The agenda for the discussion broadly centered on India-Uzbekistan bilateral relations, regional security, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Afghanistan, connectivity issues and energy security.

Amb. D. P. Srivastava in his opening remarks emphasized that contemporary India-Uzbekistan relations were based on increased cooperation in trade, connectivity and investment apart from historical and cultural links. The economic and political reforms and transformations that Uzbekistan is undertaking under President Shawkat Mirziyoyev has not only stabilized Uzbek economy but also developed a level of mutual trust between the Central Asian Republics (CARs).

Mr. F. Djuraev, while drawing the attention towards the Uzbek President’s efforts to address the issues of water management and border settlement with its Central Asian neighbours, said that regional cooperation in Central Asia is an effort to bring CARs economically and politically together. Uzbekistan’s importance in realizing the INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor) and Chabahar port in bridging the gap between the two countries was also discussed.

The two sides also discussed Afghan situation and emphasized the need for international community to remain engaged. The Uzbek side explained Uzbek initiative in hosting the conference on Afghanistan in Tashkent. Both Indian and Uzbekistan have made significant contribution to the development and the reconstruction of the country. The Indian side mentioned progress in operation of Chabahar port. Uzbekistan, being a double landlocked country could look at opportunities offered for trade through Chabahar.

Indian side talked about the significance of SCO providing a common platform to both India and CARs to discuss the progress of their bilateral relations and also to discuss the issues of regional importance. Uzbek delegation suggested various avenues of developing cooperation with India including cooperation in the fields of Information Technology, defence manufacturing, agriculture and solar energy, among others. Recent visit of Indian defence Minister’s to Uzbekistan and India-Uzbek first ever joint military exercise (Dustlik-2019) has heightened the level of defense cooperation between the two countries.