THE NEW GREAT GAME AND INDIA’S INTERESTS IN CENTRAL ASIA

Abstract

The disintegration of the Soviet Union and the formation of the Central Asian states in 1991 have increased the geostrategic significance of the region, which attracted the major powers. The region is a transit route between Europe and South and East Asia. Even though India had historical ties to Central Asia during the Kushan and Mughal periods, it failed to recognise the region's geopolitical importance for its growing global ambitions until recently. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to five Central Asian republics in 2015 indicates India's foreign policy shift towards the extended neighbourhood. The India-Central Asian cooperation can potentially significantly boost India's position in the global order. The paper's primary objective is to understand the region's strategic importance and the new 'great game' played by the global powers for their geopolitical and geo-economic interest. It also examines the regional interests of global powers such as the United States, Russia, and China. This paper also focuses on India's relationship with Central Asian states through the Connect Central Asia Policy.