Central Asia in the post-Soviet era has emerged as a region of geoeconomic, geopolitical, and geostrategic significance. The region is endowed with an abundance of natural mineral resources like hydrocarbon and uranium ore deposits and has vast hydropower potential as well, all of which have drawn the attention of the great powers. Central Asia is also a vast market of millions of consumers. The region has become a pivot for intra and intercontinental economic and trade linkages. In this backdrop, India too has been looking increasingly towards Central Asia as a reliable source of oil and natural gas and for furthering its strategic goals. New Delhi’s major interests include energy security, infrastructure development, the fight against Islamic fundamentalism and trade and investment.
