Update: After talks at the Kuksaroy residence on August 30, Modi and Mirziyoyev raised ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and set a target of more than $5 billion in bilateral trade by 2030, IANS reported. Documents signed included a joint statement and agreements or memoranda on geology and mineral resources, including critical minerals, Ayurveda and traditional medicine, higher education, environmental protection, archaeological work at Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa in Termez, and a Samarkand–Gujarat partnership, Zamin.uz listed. India’s Ministry of External Affairs said a long-term uranium supply deal was close to being signed. Trade was $1.3 billion last year, up 33%, so our calculation is that reaching $5 billion by 2030 would need trade to grow about 3.8 times, or roughly 31% a year. Modi then went to Bishkek; see our Bishkek SCO summit report.
Tashkent, August 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tashkent on Saturday, where President Shavkat Mirziyoyev received him at the airport. Delegation-level talks on Sunday are set to cover trade, investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy and education; no outcomes had been officially announced by the morning.
According to official information from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office, Modi will be in Uzbekistan on August 29 and 30 and in the Kyrgyz Republic from August 31 to September 1. In Tashkent the focus will be India–Uzbekistan relations, while in Bishkek regional security, connectivity and economic cooperation are likely to dominate the SCO meeting.
The visit comes as Central Asia grows in importance for Indian foreign policy because of energy, minerals, trade routes and security challenges linked to Afghanistan. For New Delhi it is not just attendance at a summit but a chance to strengthen lasting partnerships in a region where China and Russia have deep influence and where India wants to build independent ties.
Key highlights
- August 29–30: official visit to Uzbekistan and talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
- August 31–September 1: visit to the Kyrgyz Republic and the 26th SCO summit in Bishkek.
- Talks in Tashkent on trade, investment, defence, digital technology, energy, education and people-to-people ties.
- At the SCO, India will set out its approach on security, connectivity and economic opportunity.
The latest
The Uzbek President’s office confirmed Modi’s arrival and that the main programme is on Sunday. According to PIB, the two leaders will review their strategic partnership. This article does not present the agenda as a confirmed outcome; agreements or joint statements will need a separate verified update once released.
The itinerary
| Dates | Country | Main focus |
|---|---|---|
| August 29–30 | Uzbekistan (Tashkent) | Bilateral talks with President Mirziyoyev; trade, investment, defence, digital, energy, education |
| August 31–September 1 | Kyrgyz Republic (Bishkek) | 26th SCO summit; security, connectivity and economic opportunity |
The agenda in Uzbekistan
This will be the Prime Minister’s fourth visit to Uzbekistan. In talks with President Mirziyoyev the two sides will review their strategic partnership. The official programme covers trade and investment as well as defence, digital technology, energy, education and cultural ties, which means the talks will go beyond diplomatic messaging to projects, institutional cooperation and business opportunities.
Uzbekistan is Central Asia’s most populous country and holds a key position for regional connectivity. India can expand cooperation there in pharmaceuticals, health care, information technology, education and training, while Uzbekistan sees India’s market, technical capacity and investment as useful. The Uzbek President’s office has described the visit as a step forward for the two countries’ long-term partnership.
The Prime Minister’s programme is also expected to include events linked to the Lal Bahadur Shastri memorial and a Gandhi centre, underlining the historical and cultural ties between the two countries.
India’s priorities at the SCO summit
The 26th SCO summit in Bishkek coincides with the organisation’s 25th anniversary. India has long framed its SCO priorities as “Security, Connectivity, Opportunity”: security covers terrorism, radicalisation and organised crime; connectivity means reliable routes that respect sovereignty; and opportunity covers trade, innovation, culture and people-to-people contact.
Leaders may also hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines, but no particular meeting beyond the officially announced programme should be treated as certain until the Indian government or the other country confirms it. The SCO puts India at the same table as countries with which its interests overlap in some areas and diverge in others; Afghanistan, cross-border terrorism, Central Asian transport routes and energy security are subjects on which India needs to keep its position clear.
Why Central Asia matters to India
Central Asia is part of India’s extended neighbourhood. The region is rich in oil, gas and critical minerals, but India has no direct land route. With no access through Pakistan, projects such as Iran’s Chabahar port and the International North–South Transport Corridor become important to Indian strategy. Better connectivity could cut trade costs, but it needs political agreement among several countries and sustained investment.
Security is the second big issue. Instability linked to Afghanistan, extremism and drug trafficking can affect the whole region, and India has long worked with Central Asian countries on defence training, counter-terrorism and capacity building. The third dimension is education and culture: Indian universities, medical institutions, films and digital services extend India’s soft power in the region.
A test of diplomatic balance
China’s economic influence and Russia’s historic security role in Central Asia are strong. India does not have matching resources, so its strategy rests on building credible, long-term partnerships in selected areas such as digital public infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, health, training and small development projects. The visit also signals that India does not want its foreign policy limited to the West or the Indo-Pacific.
What to watch
- The joint statement, memoranda of understanding and project announcements after the Tashkent talks, the first sign of what the visit achieved.
- The declaration adopted at the SCO summit, which will show how much common language members find on terrorism, regional conflicts and economic connectivity.
- Official confirmation of any additional bilateral meeting or agreement before it is treated as final.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Prime Minister Modi’s visit?
The visit runs from August 29 to September 1, 2026: the first two days in Uzbekistan and the next two in the Kyrgyz Republic.
Where is the SCO summit being held?
The 26th SCO summit is being held in Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic.
What is India’s main agenda?
Bilaterally, trade, investment, defence, digital, energy and education; multilaterally, security, connectivity and economic opportunity.
This article was first published in Hindi and has been translated. The Press of Asia now publishes in English only.
Sources
- Press Information Bureau: official visit programme
- Prime Minister of India: visit and SCO participation
- President of Uzbekistan: official visit details
- IANS: PM Modi highlights key outcomes from talks with Uzbek President in Tashkent
- Zamin.uz: full list of documents signed in Tashkent
The National Desk covers India's politics, governance, security and public-interest news. Stories are checked against at least two credible sources before publication.
