Remarks by Ambassador at the 2nd Meeting of the Termez Dialogue on Connectivity between Central and South Asia
Azimut Grand Hotel, Tashkent; June 4, 2026
I want to thank our Uzbek friends and partners particularly the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies for organising this. It’s also timely that we discuss connectivity candidly and honestly particularly in these times of troubled geopolitics and incertitude.
I think the challenge for all of us here is to decouple geopolitics with connectivity especially as it impacts economies, markets and lives of people. Imagine a scenario with uninterrupted surface connectivity and no disruptions, wherein trade between India-Central Asia flourished naturally and thoughts and ideas exchanged seamlessly. Now this is not a figment of imagination but an event rooted in history, a time when the ancient Silk Route was the world’s economic powerhouse. May I say that our ancestors fared better than us in the area of connectivity.
This trade was so massive that it created a huge trade surplus and millions of Roman gold coins got pulled directly into the Asian markets. Roman actually complained about their gold supply shrinking because their citizens loved Indian cotton and Central Asian horses way too much. This worked very well as it was built on mutual trust and respect and of course the geopolitics was different!
When it comes to India and Central Asia and particularly Uzbekistan with which we have shared age-old ties, I have often wondered would the philosophical thoughts of Buddhism and Sufism have travelled if there had been connectivity disruptions?
Would we be talking of naan- non, samosa – Samsa, pulao-pilaf, shashlik- kebab, sariyok-ghee or the Mughal connection. Would we have had felt instinctively at home in each other’s countries.
Fast forward to present. We see connectivity important for the betterment of the lives of the people, not just for trade investment, tourism and education. Both India and Uzbekistan have young demographics and are deeply committed to sustainable growth.
India’s approach on connectivity is guided by a very simple mantra. It must be built on the bedrock of financial sustainability, local priorities, should not bypass national sovereignty, should be transparent, must be fair and benefit the person on the ground.
Just to give you an example, see how BIMSTEC around the Bay of Bengal have been able to make progress. It was felt that a diverse group of nations wouldn’t agree on basic infrastructure. But things progressed. Countries could build sustainable partnership and move forward on connectivity, energy, etc. It worked on trust, respect and regard. That is exactly the same approach India brings to the Central Asia.
We recognize connectivity as a key driver of economic growth, development and regional stability. To turn this vision into reality, we must look at multi-modal solutions. India is actively participating in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). By synchronizing INSTC nodes with the Zaranj-Delaram highway and connecting it upward to the International Trade Center right in Termez, there is a direct, secure, and unhindered access to the Indian Ocean. For our partners here in Central Asia, this is one such corridor to connect with a wider global marketplace and we cannot afford to put all economic eggs in one basket.
Secondly as someone mentioned a while back, connectivity is not just material. It is not just about roads and rail – it is also cultural, spiritual, financial and digital. Back home, we have been able to build a massive digital payment network. Today, India’s system accounts for nearly 50% of all real-time digital payments on the planet. We process an average of 660 million transactions every single day.
Let us match these digital tools with economic modernization in Uzbekistan. Also useful, as we have increasing number of students and tourists choosing Uzbekistan as their destination. Bilateral efforts are underway towards addressing the issue of complicated customs clearances and slow trade logistics.
Friends, building infrastructure takes time and sometimes it’s best not to wait. India has already reactivated its dedicated Kabul–Delhi and Kabul–Amritsar air freight corridors. If the land borders are blocked by politics or instability, sometimes we may have to take to the skies. It keeps high-value trade moving.
We are also of the view that India is Central Asia’s natural and high-consumption market. We have a population of 1.4 billion and a massive appetite for what Central Asia produces, yet our trade numbers look like an unnatural mistake caused by fractured transit routes.
We want to buy more from you but the issue of connectivity needs an honest discussion. In fact, experts have noted that the trade between India and Central Asia can increase between 5 to 10 times if connectivity hurdles are resolved.
India is eager to buy critical industrial metals, agriculture inputs and fertilizers and premium horticulture. Your fresh peaches, apricots, melons, grapes, and world-class dry fruits shouldn’t stop at the regional borders. We want them directly on Indian supermarket shelves.
When it comes to Afghanistan, India’s commitment to the Afghan people is deep, non-transactional and aimed at addressing humanitarian and development needs. In our efforts towards greater connectivity, peace and stability will remain a critical factor.
Friends, our physical and digital connectivity is premised on a safe planet. Climate change is for real and can impact the water and food security of each one of us. If we are to build the infrastructure for tomorrow, it must survive the climate of day after tomorrow. India warmly invites our Central Asian friends to join the global platforms like our Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the International Solar Alliance.
Excellencies, we all would agree how Uzbekistan has done a commendable work in transforming itself and how it is becoming a thriving economy and a modern hub. As a friend and Strategic Partner of Uzbekistan, India supports its multi vector foreign policy and its endeavours to secure viable connectivity options – one such I have mentioned earlier. We also appreciate their commendable efforts towards peace in the region including in Afghanistan. India is confident that Uzbekistan will continue to scale newer heights and be a powerful global bridge.
Friends, finally, we can build roads, bridges and railways and establish digital connectivity but the most powerful infrastructure we share is the connectivity of the hearts. For thousands of years, our people have shared music, culture, and deep civilizational trust. India is not a fair-weather friend. We are a predictable, reliable and committed partner for the long haul. We, like our partners in Central Asia including Uzbekistan, not just advocate but also practice the values of peace, friendship and harmony as is reflected in our age old core philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – World is one family.
As we look towards shaping the foundation for shared prosperity, I want to conclude by saying Agar ko‘ngil rishtasin bog‘lasa sevgi va vafo, Masofalar yo‘qolur, dillar topishur doimo. If the thread of the heart is bound by love and loyalty, distances disappear, and hearts will always find one another.
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