Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

Central Asia

Kyrgyzstan, a small, landlocked and mountainous republic in Central Asia, is less known to the world because of its remote location and tiny population (about 6 million). The country borders China on the east and three Central Asian Republics (CARs...

May 9 , 2018

Commentary: India Joins Ashgabat Agreement

Background India has recently joined the Ashgabat Agreement, which envisages creation of an International Transport and Transit Corridor connecting Central Asia with the Persian Gulf. This corridor is set to facilitate connectivity, trade and...

February 19 , 2018

Russian, Chinese and American interplay in Central Asia and Afghanistan

India’s Interest in Central Asia In the evolving dynamics of the global order in the twenty first century there has been a fundamental shift in International Politics from Europe to Asia, and particularly to the huge Eurasian landmass. In this...

August 29 , 2017

Belt and Road Initiative: Implications for Central Asia

The Belt and Road Forum (BRF) sought attention of the international community and made headlines everywhere in mid-May. The event was organized by China in Beijing on 14-15 May 2017 with the purpose of promoting its ambitious project called the Belt...

June 14 , 2017

Kazakhstan: Emerging Player on the World Stage

Kazakhstan has assumed non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the tenure of 2017-18. It is the first Central Asian Republic (CAR) to join this supreme body. Kazakhstan is a young nation that gained independence...

May 17 , 2017

ISIS and Radicalization in the Central Asian Republics

The pristine Hanafi school of Islam that prevails in the Central Asia is under severe threat of being displaced by a highly intolerant and violent version of Islam adopted by the likes of the IS. Increasingly marked by poverty and radicalization,...

October 28 , 2016

Changing Dynamics in Central Asia and Afghanistan

Introduction In recent months, security situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated and relations between Kabul and Islamabad are tense. Although Afghanistan has signed a peace agreement with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s Hezb-i-Islami, the overall peace...

October 6 , 2016

Chabahar – The Gains for Afghanistan from Strategic Competition

The Indian quest for trade route to Iran and Afghanistan extending to Central Asia is about to be realised as the technical teams agreed after negotiations took place among countries in April, 2016 have been finalised. India, Iran and Afghanistan...

June 1 , 2016

Workshop on Silk Road Trade and Connectivity in Central and South Asia

The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), in collaboration with the Royal United Service Institute (RUSI) and the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), organised a two-day workshop on ‘Silk Road Trade and...

April 4 , 2016