The sixth edition of India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise Dustlik-VI was held in Pune from April 16 to 28. This annual exercise is held alternately in each country between the armed forces of India and Uzbekistan. Dustlik means friendship in Uzbek language. Dustlik aims to enhance interoperability and cooperation between Indian and Uzbek armed forces. This year’s exercise was focused on Joint Multi-Domain Sub-Conventional Operations in a semi-urban scenario. This exercise also simulated counter-terrorism missions involving territory capture, raids, search and destroy operations and coordinated use of air assets.

This annual military exercise between India and Uzbekistan is not only an important feature of the bilateral ties between the two countries, it is also important from the perspective of regional security.

Central Asia, which had lesser focused area in India’s foreign policy for a long time, is now gaining traction in India’s external engagements. In India’s quest to expand its outreach to Central Asia, Uzbekistan has emerged as a major partner for India. However, apart from the bilateral dimension, the India-Uzbekistan relations also have a strong regional perspective.

The security situation in South and Central Asia has been deteriorating owing to several factors. While Pakistan-sponsored terrorism continues to be a threat to India’s national security, situation in Afghanistan is also of no lesser concern. It is with respect to Afghanistan that that the India-Uzbekistan cooperation could contribute to regional security to a great extent.

Concerning security situation in Afghanistan could be broadly assigned to two factors. One, since the takeover by the Taliban in 2021, Afghanistan has been frequently at odds with Pakistan. Two, a greater threat is posed by the presence of international terror groups within Afghanistan. The second factor is more relevant to India-Uzbekistan cooperation.

The security situation in Afghanistan is complex not only because of emergence of the Taliban but also the presence of the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP). Emerging in 2014, the ISKP has been expanding its presence across the Khorasan region since 2015 and has an objective of creating a caliphate across this region. Khorasan includes parts of Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia, particularly Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. The ISKP has intensified recruiting Central Asian nationals since last many years. Also since 2021, the ISKP has been translating its publications in Uzbek and Tajik languages to target potential recruits from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.  

Similarly in recent times there has been another concerning development in Afghanistan. Islamists from Syria who are of Central Asian origin have locating to Afghanistan. These Islamists have played a vital role in the regime change in Syria. Since 2015, a large number of Central Asian nationals have participated in the Syrian conflict. These nationals affiliated themselves with different groups like the Islamic State, the Syrian Opposition, the pro-Turkish group etc. These Islamists of Central Asian origin have now been located to Badakshan, Baghlan and Herat provinces in Afghanistan. Presence of these radicals in the Afghan provinces which are situated near the borders with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan pose a threat of terror spilling over to Central Asia. Already the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), a radical Islamic outfit, poses threat to Uzbekistan as well as wider Central Asia.

Amid the uncertain security situation in South and Central Asia, growing convergence between India and Uzbekistan is much-needed to tackle the challenges to the regional stability and security. The previous edition of Duslik was held in the Uzbek district of Termez. If symbolism is a pertinent factor in international relations, the choice of Termez is indicative. Termez is located at the Uzbek-Afghan border and is the main gateway for Uzbekistan to Afghanistan. Not only did this border city serve as an entry point for the Soviet forces in Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989, Termez also played an important role during Northern Alliance’s resistance to Taliban from 1992 to 2001.

For their parts, both India and Uzbekistan have been engaging with the current Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Uzbekistan has actively pursued trade and energy cooperation ties with Afghanistan in the past two years. India continues to engage diplomatically with the political dispensation in Afghanistan for strategic and economic interests like security and connectivity initiatives like the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). Uzbekistan, a landlocked country, has expressed interest to be a part of both these connectivity projects for getting sea access. This economic dimension also warrants closer ties between India and Uzbekistan.

Terror outfits like the ISKP pose a threat to stability of South and Central Asia. In particular the success of projects like the Chabahar Port and the INSTC depends regional stability increases the importance of India-Uzbekistan cooperation.

Defence engagements with Uzbekistan signal India’s growing outreach to Central Asia. At the same time these engagements would allow India to play an important role in the security architecture of South and Central Asia.

Mr. Niranjan Marjani is a political analyst and researcher based in Vadodara, India.