PM Modi’s Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan Visit: SCO Summit, Putin-Xi Talks and India’s Central Asia Strategy

The Prime Minister will be in Uzbekistan from August 29-30 and then again come back to Uzbekistan on August 31 and September 1. It will be the fourth visit of the Prime Minister to Uzbekistan. The SCO summit will be convened on the 25th anniversary of the formation of the organization.

Since 2017 India has become a full-fledged member of the SCO and Prime Minister Modi will be putting forward India's interests in the organization, which consists of the issues of security, connectivity, and opportunity. Also Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will be present in the SCO Summit.

However, no bilateral meeting between the two leaders is being reported. On the contrary, Modi is likely to meet with several other leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin. Talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping are also possible.

The Iranian President will also participate in the meeting. All eyes will be on the joint statement issued by the SCO. It is very likely that this statement will openly condemn the US attack on Iran.

The reason is that there is no significant member country supporting the US. The presidents of Russia, China, and Iran are also visiting New Delhi in two weeks, where they will participate in the BRICS summit. In this context, the Bishkek meeting is also being considered a preparation for future diplomacy.

It is also noteworthy that Pakistan will be given the presidency at the Bishkek summit. This means that the SCO summit in 2027 will be held in Pakistan. Previously, India held the presidency in 2023, and Pakistan's then-Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto traveled to Goa to participate.

The summit was held online at that time. When Foreign Ministry Secretary (West) Sibi George was asked whether India would participate in the SCO under Pakistan's chairmanship, he replied, "A decision will be made at the appropriate time."