India and Kyrgyz Republic Relations

Context: Recently, the 10th Session of the India-Kyrgyz Republic Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation (IKIGC).

Historical ties:

• Historically, India has had close contacts with Central Asia, especially countries that were part of the ancient Silk Route, including Kyrgyz Republic.
• During the Soviet era, India and the then Kyrgyz Republic had limited political, economic and cultural contacts.

Anniversary of Diplomatic relations:

• India was among the first Nations to establish a diplomatic relationship with the Kyrgyz Republic in March 1992
• The 2022 marked the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relationships between the two nations.

Strategic relationship:

• The visit of the Indian Prime Minister to the Kyrgyz Republic in June 2019 had raised the relationship between two nations to the level of strategic partnership.
• The 10th India- Kyrgyz Republic Foreign Office Consultations took place in Bishkek on 20 April, 2019.

International ties:

• Political ties with the Kyrgyz Republic have been traditionally warm and friendly.
• Kyrgyz Republic supported India in securing full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and also supports India’s bid for permanent seat at UNSC.
• Both countries share common concerns on threats of terrorism, extremism and drug–trafficking.

Trade and Commerce Cooperation:

• The India- Kyrgyz Republic Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation was set up in 1992.

Connectivity:

• Connectivity remains one of the biggest challenges for trade between India and Kyrgyz Republic.

Technical assistance:

• Technical assistance under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Program, particularly in terms of human resources development, is an important component of India’s economic involvement in Kyrgyz Republic.

Defence Cooperation:

• Agreement on Defence Cooperation, signed in July 2015, has been an important milestone that has laid the framework for defence cooperation between the two sides.
• Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR has now become an annual affair.
• The sixth ‘Khanjar’ exercise was conducted between Indian and Kyrgyz Special Forces in March, 2019 in Bishkek.
• Fifth exercise was conducted in India in CIJW School, Varaingte (Mizoram) in 2018.

India – Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise, 2022:

• The 9th Edition of this exercise was recently concluded in April 2022.
• Besides sharing special skills and techniques between participating Special Forces contingents, the joint training further strengthened the existing bond between India and Kyrgyzstan.

Cultural ties:

• There is a great appreciation for Indian culture.
• Kyrgyz Republic has established an India Study Centre in the prestigious National Library of Kyrgyz Republic on 14 November 2014.
• The Centre is running with the help of volunteers and imparts training in English and Hindi languages, Yoga and Kathak.
• Another centre has been opened in Kara Balta, near Bishkek. Numerous Kathak, yoga, Indian dance, fusion music and Bollywood workshops/concerts have been organized to propagate and popularise Indian culture and traditions.

Indian Community:

• About 4500 Indian students are studying medicine in various medical institutions in Kyrgyzstan. A few businessmen are engaged in trade and services in Kyrgyzstan.

Significance India- Kyrgyzstan relations:

• Kyrgyzstan is important for India’s Central Asian policy and connectivity plans and the India-Central Asia Dialogue forum.

INDIA-CENTRAL ASIA DIALOGUE:

• It is a ministerial-level dialogue between India and the Central Asian countries namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
• All these Central Asian countries gained independence after collapsing of USSR.
• All the countries participating in the dialogue, except for Turkmenistan, are also members of the SCO.
• The dialogue focuses on several issues including ways to improve connectivity and stabilize war-ravaged Afghanistan.
• Recent Development between India and Central Asia Relations:
  • India has a USD 1 billion Line of Credit for projects in Central Asia.
  • To improve connectivity by using the Chabahar Port for enhancing trade between the two sides.
  • The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline.
  • International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) in combination with Ashgabat Agreement on International Transport and Transit Corridor (ITTC) is enhancing connectivity between India and the Central Asian countries.
  • India assisted by supplying Covid-19 vaccines and essential medicines during the early stage of the pandemic.
• In January 2022 the Prime Minister of India hosted the first India-Central Asia Summit in virtual format.

Source: PIB