PM Modi heads to Uzbekistan, SCO; meet with Putin on the cards | India News - Hindustan Times

**New Delhi –** Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to begin a four‑day diplomatic tour of Central Asia on 29 August, with scheduled visits to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The trip coincides with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand, where Modi will lead the Indian delegation and participate in high‑level talks on regional security, trade and connectivity. Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov have been invited to bilateral meetings that will focus on expanding cooperation in sectors such as energy, pharmaceuticals, information technology and tourism.

A key point of interest for the Indian side is the prospect of a one‑on‑one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which “is on the cards” according to officials briefing the media. The potential encounter would be the first between the two leaders since the SCO summit’s inception and could address lingering issues from the Ukraine conflict, Moscow’s growing engagement with Central Asian states, and the broader geopolitical balance in the region. Analysts note that India’s participation in the SCO, alongside China, Russia and other member states, underscores New Delhi’s intent to diversify its strategic partnerships while reinforcing its role in regional counter‑terrorism and stability initiatives, especially concerning Afghanistan’s future.

Commentators such as C. Raja Mohan have urged a more pragmatic approach to India’s Central Asian outreach, warning against “romantic” expectations and calling for a strategy grounded in realistic assessments of economic and security interests. The Modi government appears to be aligning its Central Asian policy with this counsel, emphasizing concrete projects—such as the development of transport corridors linking India to the Belt and Road Initiative—and a calibrated diplomatic engagement that balances ties with Russia, China and the United States. The outcomes of the Uzbekistan‑Kyrgyzstan visits and the SCO summit are likely to shape India’s long‑term posture in a region where great‑power competition is intensifying.

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