PM Modi’s 4-day Central Asia visit: From high-stakes diplomacy in Tashkent to SCO Summit in Bishkek

**Prime Minister Narendra Modi Begins Four‑Day Central Asian Tour, Heads to SCO Summit in Kyrgyzstan**

*Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – 29 August 2026* – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed New Delhi on Saturday for a two‑nation, four‑day diplomatic tour of Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic. The visit, which begins with a state visit to Uzbekistan on 29–30 August, will conclude with Modi’s participation in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek from 31 August to 1 September.

**State Visit to Uzbekistan**

Invited by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Modi is scheduled to hold delegation‑level talks in Tashkent aimed at deepening the bilateral strategic partnership. The agenda includes cooperation in trade, investment, digital connectivity, defence, energy, education and people‑to‑people exchanges. In a statement released before his departure, Modi said, “I look forward to my discussions with President Mirziyoyev on further deepening our cooperation in trade and investment, digital connectivity, defence, energy, and on advancing our shared visions of Viksit Bharat and Yangi Uzbekistan.”

The visit marks Modi’s fourth official trip to Uzbekistan. He is also slated to visit the Shastri Memorial and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, underscoring cultural ties between the two countries.

**Attendance at the SCO Summit**

Following the Uzbekistan leg, Modi will travel to Bishkek at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov to attend the SCO summit, which commemorates the organisation’s 25th anniversary. The summit will bring together leaders from the ten‑member SCO bloc—Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan—along with 15 dialogue partners and two observer states, Afghanistan and Mongolia.

Key priorities for the summit, as outlined by the Indian delegation, include security cooperation, regional connectivity, and economic collaboration. Modi has previously urged member states to adopt unified multilateral measures against terrorism, radicalisation and external threats, and to avoid “double standards” in addressing entities that fund or support terrorism. Ahead of the summit, he said, “I look forward to advancing the vision for the region, anchored in security, connectivity and opportunity, and to working with fellow members for a region free from the scourge of terrorism, separatism and extremism, which continue to threaten peace and stability in our neighbourhood and beyond.”

India, a full SCO member since 2017, will also emphasize transport and trade routes across Central Asia, technological cooperation, and cultural exchanges, including heritage dialogues and youth initiatives. Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Sibi George, noted that India’s SCO priorities are “security, economy and trade, connectivity, unity, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and environment.”

In addition to summit sessions, Modi is expected to attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games in Bishkek.

**Context**

The visit underscores India’s continued engagement with the SCO and its broader strategy to maintain influence in Eurasia despite challenges to regional connectivity. By combining bilateral talks in Uzbekistan with multilateral participation in the SCO summit, the Indian government aims to reinforce strategic partnerships and promote stability across Central Asia.

Article and image source: afghanistansun.com