India’s strategic cooperation with Central Asian republics in defense and security is rooted in shared history, regional dynamics, and common aspirations for stability.
The partnership focuses on countering terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, and cyber threats, while balancing major-power influence and leveraging geographic and historical links to enhance regional connectivity and integration, The Caspian Post reports via Kyrgyz media.
A major driver of collaboration is the shared concern over terrorism and Islamist radicalization. Central Asia’s proximity to Afghanistan exposes both India and the region to cross-border extremist movements. India engages with its extended neighborhood to mitigate threats, while Central Asian states seek partnerships to strengthen counterterrorism capacities. This has led to joint counterterrorism dialogues, intelligence sharing, and coordinated training initiatives.
Addressing non-traditional security challenges, particularly cyber threats, is closely tied to counterterrorism. The November 2025 Strategic Cyber Exercise hosted by India brought together cybersecurity agencies from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, emphasizing cooperation in cyberspace and AI to build trust and collective defense capabilities.
Geopolitical considerations also drive engagement. Situated at the crossroads of major power competition, Central Asia’s regional frameworks, such as the SCO, provide multilateral platforms. India’s involvement adds a multivector dimension to its strategic autonomy. Initiatives like the joint military exercise Birlik 2025 and national security adviser dialogues enhance interoperability through exercises including KazInd, Khanjar, and Dustlik.
Connectivity and infrastructure projects further reinforce security cooperation. Landlocked Central Asia benefits from corridors like the Ashgabat Agreement and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), linking it with South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. India’s participation strengthens overland connectivity, reduces isolation, facilitates military logistics, and disrupts illicit trade networks.
Enhanced defense cooperation builds trust, reinforces commitments to combat terrorism, extremism, and cybercrime, and safeguards economic and connectivity projects. Through these partnerships, India contributes to a multipolar security architecture, deterring dominance by any single power and preserving the sovereignty of smaller states. Regular dialogues, joint exercises, and shared frameworks form the foundation for long-term stability and predictable regional relations.
