Connect central asia policy’ factor in India's soft power initiatives in cars: problems and prospects

It is seen that, after having a successful experience from its Look East Policy, India has now started think ways to develop its relations with the energy rich region of Central Asia which would give boost to its foreign policy on various aspects. Irrespective of the difficulties like the presence of great powers in the region, limited trade and limited size of markets, Central Asia has gained valuable place in the foreign policy of India for more than a decade. The ‘Connect Central Asia Policy’ is a concrete indication of this growing interest, which is based on pro-active political economic and people to people connectivity with the region both individually and collectively. The growing role of major powers in the region for making their influence is another side of the Central Asian coin. It is in such a context, the present research is attempting to explore how far geo-political calculation is a factor in India's new policy ‘Connect Central Asia’ and its implications for India. Side by side, it also tries to explore the evolving relations with the region having common interests on many issues in South and Central Asia regions from geopolitical, geo-economic and geo-strategic perspectives.