Central Asia in Indias security policy in the 21st century

Central Asian republics hold tremendous importance to India's emerging regional aspirations and it is a major challenge to create more effective and full­‍‑fledged interactions with them. Lack of direct land connection with Central Asia, protracted conflict and unchangeably hostile relations with Pakistan, instability in Afghanistan remain the most significant obstacles for developing the relations. India's 'extended neighbourhood' policy faces many challenges but at the same time it has enormous potential to reconstruct the historical connections and open the new ones. Dynamically evolving geostrategic realities call for the formulation of the new strategy regarding India's Central Asia strategy. The major aim of this chapter is to analyse India's security policy towards Central. India's policy is based on the strategic significance of CAR's to India's geopolitical interests regarding the New Delhi's quest for 'strategic depth' in its 'extended neighbourhood'. India presents itself as an aspiring superpower with no revisionist agenda and with huge cultural and civilizational heritage. Its strategy is focused on promoting peace, stability and development and acting as regional stabilizer and democracy promotor. The major question is, whether BJP­‍‑ruled India, where Hindu majoritarian nationalism along with structural and legal disenfranchisement of minorities is on the rise, will be capable of successfully supporting and introducing a values­‍‑based vision of the international order. India's rising need for energy resources and potentially mutually beneficial trade exchange should count as crucial factors motivating the decision makers on both sides. Apart from the need for boosting the trade relations, there are plenty of issues of common concern which India and CAR's share, such as radicalism, terrorism, separatism, drug trafficking. Consequently, the relations between India and Central Asian Republics and the prospects for strengthening the ties have to be analysed in the broader context of regional security complex, multidimensional geostrategic challenges, and internal challenges in India and in Central Asian republics. It will be a challenging task to enhance India's engagement in the region, which struggles to build its more independent identity on the international scene, but still remains the traditional sphere of Russia's influence and where China has largely strengthened its presence.