Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a two-nation tour of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, aimed at strengthening ties with India’s extended neighbourhood and driving regional cooperation.
In his departure statement, Modi said the visit would strengthen India’s strategic partnerships in Central Asia and deepen its civilisational connect with the region. The tour will also advance “our shared pursuit of peace, stability and prosperity, and values that lie at the heart of India’s engagement with the world”, he said.
The prime minister’s tour begins with a state visit to Tashkent on August 29-30 at the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. This is Modi’s fourth visit to the Central Asian country.
The India-Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership has seen significant advancement in recent years, the prime minister noted in his statement.
“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,” he said.
In Tashkent, Modi will also visit the Shastri Memorial and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.
From Tashkent, Modi will travel to Bishkek at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov to attend the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit on August 31-September 1. The high-level gathering marks the 25th anniversary of the SCO, of which India has been a full member since 2017.
“I look forward to advancing India’s 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,” Modi said.
Modi will hold bilateral meetings with President Zhaparov and other SCO leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This would be the first meeting between Modi and Putin since the war in the Middle East began earlier this year, leaving global oil markets in turmoil. The two leaders last met in December 2025, when Putin visited New Delhi for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.
In Bishkek, Modi will also attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games, which the prime minister described as “a celebration of the rich living heritage of Central Asia that India holds in deep respect”.
