Modi kicks off Central Asia tour with Tashkent visit ahead of SCO summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has commenced a significant Central Asian tour, beginning with an official two-day visit to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. The visit underscores India's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Uzbekistan and deepening engagement in the strategically important Central Asian region.

During his stay in Tashkent, the Prime Minister is expected to hold high-level talks with Uzbek leadership, covering areas of mutual interest including trade, connectivity, security, and cultural cooperation. The bilateral engagement aims to enhance the existing framework of India-Uzbekistan relations and explore new avenues for collaboration.

Following the conclusion of his Tashkent visit, Modi will travel to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where he will participate in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. The SCO, a regional bloc comprising India, China, Russia, Pakistan, and Central Asian nations, provides a crucial platform for multilateral dialogue on pressing regional and global issues.

The dual visits demonstrate India's active engagement with Central Asia, a region of growing strategic significance. The summit participation is expected to focus on regional security, counterterrorism, economic cooperation, and other matters of collective interest to member states.