The third meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue (India -CAD) was held in New Delhi on 18-20 December 2021. Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan- the five Central Asian Republics (CARs) participated in the Dialogue at the invitation of the Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar. The dialogue was held a month after the crucial “Regional Security Dialogue” hosted by India’s security Advisor Ajit Doval to discuss Afghanistan with his CAR counterparts and there are reports that leaders of all five CARs are expected to visit Delhi to take part in India’s Republic Day celebrations[i] as chief guests on 26th January 2022.
Among other issues, the situation in Afghanistan and the mounting economic and humanitarian crisis there took center stage at the meeting. Speaking at the meeting External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar said, “We all also share deep-rooted historical and civilisational ties with Afghanistan. Our concerns and objectives in that country are similar: a truly inclusive and representative government, the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, ensuring unhindered humanitarian assistance and preserving the rights of women, children and the minorities. We must find ways of helping the people of Afghanistan.”[ii] Three of the five Central Asian countries — Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan — share borders with Afghanistan.
According to a joint statement[iii], the Ministers reiterated their “strong support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan while emphasising the respect for sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and non-interference in its internal affairs”. All of them “unequivocally” stated their support for the UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2593, which demands that Afghan territory not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing terrorist acts and calls for concerted action against all terrorist groups. The joint statement also referred to the outcome document of the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue and noted that there is a broad ‘regional consensus’ on the issues related to Afghanistan – which includes “formation of a truly representative and inclusive government, combating terrorism and drug trafficking, central role of the UN, providing immediate humanitarian assistance for the Afghan people and preserving the rights of women, children and other national ethnic groups”.[iv] However, unlike India, most of the CARs have been maintaining bilateral talks with the Taliban regime; Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have reopened their missions in Kabul.[v]
Apart from Afghanistan, issues of connectivity, COVID-19 and trade dominated the discussions at the Dialogue. In his opening remarks, EAM Jaishankar exhorted the ministers to take the already robust ties to the next level by focusing on the “4Cs – commerce, capacity enhancement, connectivity and contacts.”[vi] It is noteworthy that the Foreign Ministers of the five countries travelled to India at a time when the threat of the new variant of coronavirus -Omicron is intense around the world. This is not just a testimony to the importance they accorded to the agendas and issues of the dialogue with India, but also to the historic friendship shared between Central Asian countries and India. In addition to strengthening bilateral cooperation and promoting regional security, through their engagement with India, the Central Asian countries would like to balance the growing dominance of China in the region. CARs, over the years have become active partners of China through its Belt and Road Initiative, which has resulted in rapidly expanding Chinese footprint in their economic and political system. These have resulted in anti-China protests in these countries.[vii] Trade between India and CARs has lagged below $2 billion, and all sides have expressed their eagerness to increase this. Additionally, India’s $1 billion Line of Credit for Projects in central Asia and connectivity initiatives such as Chabahar port, the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline were important components of the dialogue.
While the India-CAD was being held in Delhi, Islamabad played hosts to the 17th extraordinary session of the OIC of Foreign Ministers on the Afghanistan situation in Islamabad. The CARs are among the 57 OIC nations whose Foreign Ministers were invited by Islamabad. Although the conference was attended by envoys from 57 Islamic nations and about 70 observer delegations from US, China, Russia, European Union and the United Nations;[viii] what is important to note here is that; the Foreign Ministers of CARs chose to be in New Delhi in person and decided to send their representatives to take part in the OIC meeting held in Islamabad. According to reports, UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths, US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Thomas West, and European Union Special Envoy for Afghanistan Tomas Niklasson held separate meetings with the Taliban delegation on the sidelines of the OIC meet.[ix] So far, none of the 57 OIC nations have accorded formal recognition to the Taliban regime that usurped power in Kabul on 15 August.
The situation is dire in Afghanistan and there is a unanimous recognition within the international community about the need to address the looming economic and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan to help Afghan people. On December 22, 2021 the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution proposed by the United States that facilitates humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, while keeping funds out of the Taliban hands.[x] The resolution stated that such assistance supports “basic human needs in Afghanistan” and is “not a violation” of sanctions imposed on entities linked to the Taliban.[xi] Since the developments in August this year, the international community has struggled over how to avert a humanitarian catastrophe amid an economic meltdown in Afghanistan. While this resolution promises to bring some respite for the Afghan people, yet how the aid and assistance will be delivered to them with limited coordination with the regime in power, which the international community has not recognized; remains to be seen. As Afghanistan continues to remain volatile, it is certain that regular consultations and discussions about the situation in the country will be required among the key stakeholders within the international community, including India.
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* Dr. Anwesha Ghosh is a Research Fellow at the Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi.
Disclaimer: The views are of the author.
Endnotes
[i] “Five Central Asian leaders invited as R-Day chief guests”. The Hindu, December 14, 2021. Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/five-central-asian-leaders-invited-as-r-day-chief-guests/article37947174.ece(Accessed on 21. 12.21)
[ii] “Opening Remarks at the 3rd meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue 19 December 2021”. Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India, December 19, 2021. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg8tVBhW5O8 (Accessed on 21. 12.21)
[iii] “Joint Statement of the 3rd meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue”. Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India, December 19, 2021. Available at: http://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral- documents.htm?dtl/34705/Joint+Statement+of+the+3rd+meeting+of+the+IndiaCentral+Asia+Dialogue (Accessed on 21. 12.21)
[iv] Ibid.
[v] “Six nations call for ‘immediate’ aid for Afghans”. The Hindu, December 19, 2021. Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jaishankar-external-affairs-minister-india-central-asian-dialogue/article37990024.ece (Accessed on 21. 12.21)
[vi] “Opening Remarks at the 3rd meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue 19 December 2021”. Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India, December 19, 2021. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg8tVBhW5O8 (Accessed on 21. 12.21)
[vii] “Anti-China Protests Staged Across Kazakhstan; At Least 20 Detained,” RadioFreeEurope,,March 27, 2021. Available at: https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-china-influence-protests/31172596.html (Accessed on 22. 12.21)
[viii] “Pakistan-Saudi rift widens after OIC Foreign Ministers Summit”, ANI, December 24, 2021.
Available at: https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/pakistan-saudi-rift-widens-after-oic-foreign-ministers-summit20211224205549/(Accessed on 22. 12.21)
[ix] Ibid
[x] “UNSC adopts resolution to provide aid to Afghanistan.” Al Jazeera, Dec24, 2021. Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/22/un-security-council-afghanistan-aid-resolution (Accessed on 23.12.21)
[xi] Ibid.