Prime Minister Modi Begins Two Nation Visit to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyz Republic

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Saturday to begin a four day official visit to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic. Upon his arrival, he was received by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The Prime Minister is scheduled to hold delegation level talks with President Mirziyoyev to review cooperation in sectors such as digital connectivity, energy, trade, investment, education, and defence. He also plans to visit the Shastri Memorial and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.

Following the Uzbekistan leg of the trip, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Bishkek to participate in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov. His itinerary includes a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and attendance at the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games.

Reporting on the visit varies by political lean. Center right sources focus on the strategic partnership and the official agenda of the bilateral talks. A center left source frames the visit as a high stakes effort to reverse perceptions that New Delhi has lost interest in Central Asia. This source notes that geopolitical shifts, including the rupture in ties with Pakistan and U.S. sanctions on Iran, have hindered connectivity projects. It also highlights the Prime Minister's need to navigate competition with China and Russia for influence in the region, as well as a potential conflict with Tajikistan over a UN Security Council seat.