New Delhi: In a bid to regain strategic foothold in Central Asia and amid symbolism of visiting Islamic countries during Ramazan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave for a tour of five Central Asian countries–Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan– on next Monday.Â
Modi is also scheduled to attend the BRICS (the grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summits in the Russian city of Ufa from July 9 to 10.
Before arriving in Ufa, Modi will visit Tashkent, the Uzbekistan capital, and Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
After his engagement in Russia, Modi will visit Bishkek, Askhabad and Dushanbe, the capitals of Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan respectively.
Tajikistan is strategically important for India’s strategic depth in Afghanistan and Pakistan. India spent $70 million to built a military air base at Ayni in Tajikistan, but could not deploy fighter aircraft there under Russian pressure. The base has turned into a medical mission.
Modi, who focused on optics and packages in his foreign visits will ensure that terrorism and economic diplomacy be high on his agenda during his visit.
At the SCO summit in Russia, where Pakistan and India are likely to become member countries (currently, both nations have observer status), Modi will have an opportunity to meet his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif, whom he has kept in touch with regularly in recent months. It is here that he is expected to send another tough message to Islamabad on the issue of terrorism and tardy progress on 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
India and China are also likely to discuss bilateral issues on the sidelines at Ufa, and boundary issue may come up.