The India-Central Asia Dialogue is a formal, ministerial-level dialogue mechanism between India and the five Central Asian Republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). It functions as a platform for strengthening multifaceted cooperation and exchanging views on regional and international issues. The Dialogue was launched in January 2019 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, as a step toward institutionalizing India's engagement with the region. Its creation followed India's Connect Central Asia Policy, which was formally announced in June 2012 to re-connect India with the region after the post-Soviet breakup in 1991. The Dialogue was established to address the challenge of limited connectivity due to the lack of a direct land border and to counter the growing strategic presence of other major powers.
The mechanism works by holding regular meetings, initially agreeing to annual meetings, between the Foreign Ministers of the six participating nations. Key provisions and areas of focus include enhancing connectivity through the optimum usage of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Chabahar Port. The Dialogue also promotes cooperation in economic sectors like pharmaceuticals, Information Technology, and critical minerals, and addresses regional security concerns, particularly the situation in Afghanistan. A significant development connected to the Dialogue is the establishment of the India-Central Asia Summit in January 2022, which elevated the partnership to the level of Heads of State/Government. The Dialogue has recently focused on new areas like financial connectivity through digital payment systems and the establishment of an India-Central Asia Digital Partnership Forum. The Dialogue has also seen the Central Asian countries reiterate support for India's aspiration for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.