Concerns and Opportunities in Central Asia

Dr. Mansi Mehrotra

ConcernsInternal 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

OpportunitiesIndia 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

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.

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.