scorecardresearch
Add as a preferred source on Google
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
TopicCentral Asia

Topic: Central Asia

Distracted Russia is losing central Asia to China

Chinese commentaries highlight the launch of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway and a $1 billion mining deal between China and Kazakhstan, as signs of a quiet pivot toward Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping signs treaty with Central Asia to boost economic ties

Since Russia’s Ukraine invasion, China has deepened economic ties with Central Asian nations, eyeing their strategic location and rich energy resources.

From Kashmir to China—Aurel Stein’s expeditions helped unlock secrets of ancient civilisations

Although the survey of Central Asia is among Stein’s most renowned and celebrated works, he had also successfully surveyed a wide landscape from Jammu and Kashmir to West Bengal.

Doval meets Central Asian counterparts, pushes for ‘transparent’ connectivity, ‘inclusive’ Afghanistan

National security adviser says Afghanistan 'remains a concern for all of us' and terrorism remains one of the most serious threats to international peace & security.

China’s Xi Jinping unveils ambitious development plan to elevate Central Asia’s development

Central Asian nations should oppose ‘external interference’ in internal affairs of regional countries and attempts to instigate ‘colour revolutions,’ said Chinese president.

Dancing Shiva in Samarkand: Central Asian traders spread Hinduism, Buddhism along Silk Road

800 years before Babur, Hindu gods were worshipped by merchant diasporas in Central Asia.

Some Hindus even praised Khilji in Sanskrit texts — Medieval India’s complex power games

When Sanskrit-speaking elites were not well-treated, Muslim kings were decried as mlecchas, accused of killing cows and persecuting Brahmins.

Forgotten story of great Hindu merchants in Central Asia shows enterprise can defeat China

The fortunes Indian merchants built in Samarkand, Bukhara and Tashkent were based on a single, simple thing: Selling all that Central Asian consumers needed.

Modi govt is mastering the art of balancing Quad and SCO, ‘sanctioned’ nations and democracies

None of India’s objectives behind joining SCO seem to have been achieved so far. But Russia's neo-Eurasianist policy and China's economic expansionism are keeping Delhi engaged.

Big brother problem — Unlike India, China’s ties with our neighbourhood not marred by history

In ‘The China Factor’, Shantanu Roy-Chaudhury writes that while China’s strategic interests in India’s neighbourhood have increased, this has not been an entirely unilateral decision.

On Camera

Uttarakhand is turning 25. Here’s what it can be proud of and what it needs to do now

Uttarakhand has the technology, funds, and administrative capacity to become the first zero-poverty state in India, thus fulfilling the first two Sustainable Development Goals.

Niti Aayog CEO flags India’s trade imbalance — ‘we trade in stuff world doesn’t require in large quantities’

According to the Niti Aayog quarter trade watch report launched Monday, India’s total trade in FY 2025 was at US$1.73 trillion—exports at US$823 billion & imports US$908 billion.

Army chief’s big warning to Pakistan: Stop sponsoring terrorism if you want to exist geographically

Amid continued concerns over cross-border terrorism, General Upendra Dwivedi further warned the neighbour that India will not show restraint if there is an Op Sindoor 2.0.

How Pakistan thinks: Army for hire, ideology of convenience

Pakistan’s army has been a rentier force available to a reasonable bidder. It has never come to the aid of any Muslims including Palestinians or the Gazans, except making noises here and there.