This volume constitutes an overview of the emerging and deepening relations between India and Central Asia in both the political and economic fields. The stability and security of Central Asia is of prime importance for India, which it considers part of its extended neighborhood. Intertwined with Indian concerns is the stability of Afghanistan, where it is vigorously involved in reconstruction activities. So far, India has been active mainly in infrastructure, trade, education, health and technology in the region. With enhanced economic engagement, India can help build capacities in areas such as agriculture, Information Technology, service industries, science & technology and media. Conversely, India’s increasing need for energy can be addressed by the energy-rich Central Asian countries, while improved transportation networks could provide a boost to continental trade across the region, benefiting India. Integrating South and Central Asia would result in vast economic benefits to all the stakeholders involved, leading to a positive outcome for stability and security in the region.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nirmala Joshi
Professor Nirmala Joshi of the Centre for Russian, Central Asian and East European Studies in the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University has been teaching and guiding research on Russia and Central Asia for a number of years. She was the Chairperson of the Centre for two years (1997-99) and later was appointed the Director of the University Grants Commission’s Programme on Russia and Central Asia for three years. She has contributed several articles to scholarly journals and books covering a wide range of issues on Russia and Central Asia. her major areas of research are foreign and security policy, democratization and energy security of Russia, Central Asia and the South Caucasus. Professor Joshi is the author of Indo-Soviet Relations: Unofficial Attitudes and Contacts: 1917-47 and has edited India and Hungary: Perspectives on the Changing World Order. Presently, she is working on Central Asia’s Security Concerns: Implications for India. Professor Nirmala Hoshi has been the member of the Indo-Russian Joint Commission for Co-operation in Social Sciences. She was nominated a member of the Executive Council of the Indian Council of World Affairs. She is member of the Standing Committee of the UGC’s Area Studies Programme. Professor Joshi has widely traveled to Russia, Europe and the United States of America
There are no reviews yet.