The document discusses concerns and opportunities for India in Central Asia. Key concerns include internal security threats within Central Asian countries like border security, crime, extremism, and economic issues. External threats include influence from Pakistan, Russia, and China that limits India's influence. Opportunities for India include building historical, cultural, educational, medical, and tourism ties. India could also help develop democratic institutions, conduct joint military exercises, and engage in intelligence cooperation and border security collaboration. The strategic intent is for India to promote 'Vasudev Kutumbakam' through alliances and involvement in regional organizations to increase its influence.

1. Concerns and Opportunities in
Central Asia
Dr. Mansi Mehrotra

2. Concerns
Internal Security Threat
– Border Security
– Crime and Corruption
– Chemical, Biological and
Nuclear Material availability
– Extremism and Terrorism
– Energy and Water Issues
– Ethno-regional Tensions due
to Underdeveloped
Democratic Institutions and
Exclusivist Political Culture.
– Economic security
External Security Threats
– Pakistan’s policy of creating
‘zone of strategic depth’
– Russia’s influence in security
and politics and China’s
economic clout puts the
Central Asian Countries in a
spot where they have to
make difficult choices and
makes it difficult for India to
find a foothold in the region.
– Threats from Afghanistan
• Drugs and arms trafficking

3. Opportunities
India is already involved in building institutions in the region for example in Afghanistan.
• Explore and propagate Historical linkages
• Build Cultural ties
– Indian Fashion & Food Industry
– Film industry
– People-to-people contact
• Field research
• Develop Educational & skill development Institutions
in CAR’s
• Medical Connectivity
• Develop medical tourism
• Work with the governments to create suitable
environment for opening private and Alternative
therapies (AYUSH centres) hospitals in CAR’s
• Media presence
– (Doordarshan, AIR, PTI) to prevent information
asymmetry and build confidence
• Developing tourism
– International youth hostels / cheep hostels or guest
houses similar to Indian Dharmshalas
• Financial contact for easy trade and commerce
– Rupay enabled cash-points.
• Share our experience and expertise of e-
governance and digitisation of government
services
• Help in building democratic institutions
• Co-develop R&D and utilise resources to
the optimum
• Co-develop intelligence
• Border Security
• Conduct joint Military exercise
• India can get into bilateral and multi-
lateral agreements with the border nations
to reach Central Asia.
• India can join with Iran, Japan and the US
to balance China and Pakistan

4. Strategic Intent
• Branding and promoting ‘Vasudev Kutumbakam’ will help India engage with the world
constructively and influentially.
• India is in the process of building strong strategic alliances along with presenting itself
as a determined and responsible leader nationally, regionally and globally.
To be the ‘Vishwa Guru’ requires us to be proactive in:
– Find ways to overcome irritants that are hampering bilateral, trilateral or
multilateral relations
– Orchestrate to be eminent member of principal regional and international
organisations and associations.
– Identify academic, social, cultural, technical, media, holistic health and economic
‘evangelists’, entrepreneurs and institution builders.
– Involve these experts in framing Foreign, Cultural and Economic Policy
– Build conducive environment to enable these evangelists, entrepreneurs and
institution builders to build a strong network of bridge institutions.

5. Profile
Dr. Mansi Mehrotra completed her PhD on “Ethnicity, Religion and Politics in Tajikistan”
from School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. As an Associate
Fellow at Centre for Land Warfare Studies, she worked on South Asian Security.
She was invited to be teaching and training faculty for Conflict Transformation Across
Cultures - SAARC by School of International Training post her completion of the
Graduate Certificate on “Conflict Transformation Across Culture” from School of
International Training, Vermont, United States.
Her research interests are Central and South Asian Security. She wants to be part of
building institutions, that architects the peaceful co-existence of ethnically diverse
groups globally, which she believes will enrich our quality of life.