India, Uzbekistan sign nine pacts at virtual summit, to widen counterterror coops - Business Journal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Friday agreed to widen their counter-terror partnership, and “underlined the need for every country to ensure that its territory is not used to launch terrorist attacks against other countries”.

New Delhi and Tashkent at a virtual summit also decided to explore connectivity routes via International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) – a 7,200-km multi-mode ship, rail, and road freight route connecting India, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia – and Chabahar port in Iran, according to a joint statement issued after the summit.

Modi and Mirziyoyev strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reaffirmed the determination of their countries to combat this menace by destroying terrorist safe-havens, networks, infrastructure and funding channels, the statement said.

The two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation between the law enforcement agencies and special services, including under the framework of the Uzbekistan-India Joint Working Group on Counterterrorism, officials said.

Uzbekistan is a key partner of India in Central Asia. The countries signed nine pacts across development and economic sectors at the summit.

They agreed to intensify cooperation under the bilateral intergovernmental agreement concluded in October 2018 on mutual cooperation in combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors as well as an Interagency Agreement signed in November 2019 on cooperation in the field of combating transnational organised crime and international terrorism.

The leaders discussed the situation in Afghanistan and noted that establishment of peace and stability in that country is of great importance to the security and stability of the entire region. They called for the settlement of the Afghan conflict on the principle of Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace process. India and Uzbekistan expressed their unanimity in their support for a united, sovereign and democratic Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, according to the joint statement.

Modi welcomed the Uzbek proposal to hold a trilateral dialogue among India, Iran and Uzbekistan to promote connectivity through the Chabahar port. India also requested the Uzbek side to consider joining the international North-South Transport Corridor which would add to the overall improvement of connectivity in the larger Eurasian space.

India also confirmed approval of $448 million line of credit for four developmental projects in Uzbekistan in the fields of road construction, sewerage treatment and information technology.

It may be noted that Delhi has established an India Room in the Armed Forces Academy of Uzbekistan. India is currently assisting development of an IT Room in the academy.

Modi and Mirziyoyev agreed to fast-track conclusion of ongoing joint feasibility study that will pave the way for negotiations on a preferential trade agreement.

The leaders also agreed that both sides should work towards an early conclusion of a bilateral investment treaty to facilitate investment promotion and protection for further improvement of trade and economic cooperation.

“The sides noted the prospects for greater opportunities in the free economic zones of the two countries, including in the Uzbek-India free pharmaceutical zone in the Andijan region,” the joint statement said. “The Uzbek side welcomed the opportunities in India for investing/manufacturing under the ‘Make in India’ flagship programme.”

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are India’s key partners in Central Asia where China has made major inroads. India needs to increase its footprint in the resource-rich region to balance China’s overarching presence in Eurasia.