Prime Minister Modi embarks on an official four-day visit to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic from August 29 to September 1, 2026, marking a significant step forward in India’s diplomatic, economic, and security outreach to Central Asia. The high-profile tour blends critical bilateral diplomacy in Tashkent with multilateral engagement at the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek.
In the first leg of his tour from August 29 to 30, PM Modi will arrive in Tashkent at the invitation of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. This marks the Prime Minister’s fourth visit to the country, where he will engage in high-level delegation talks to strengthen the India-Uzbekistan strategic partnership across pivotal sectors, including defense, trade, investment, digital connectivity, energy, and education.
The two leaders will review ongoing cooperative frameworks and align their shared forward-looking agendas, specifically mapping synergies between India’s “Viksit Bharat 2047 developmental vision and the Uzbekistan-2030 strategy. Amidst his stay in Tashkent, the Prime Minister will also pay homage to former Indian PM Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at his memorial and visit the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.
Following his bilateral engagements in Uzbekistan, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, from August 31 to September 1 at the invitation of President Sadyr Zhaparov. The focus of this leg will be the 26th SCO Summit, an event carrying profound geopolitical weight as it marks the 25th anniversary of the organisation.
Operating under the anniversary theme, “25 Years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity,” the leaders will hold extensive deliberations on regional stability, trade, and countering the critical security threats of terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
Prime Minister Modi’s address to the assembly will firmly articulate India’s foundational priorities for the region.
On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to hold critical bilateral meetings with other regional heads of state, including a highly anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to review economic, energy, and security partnerships. Additionally, reflecting the deep cultural ties shared with the region, the Prime Minister will attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games, celebrating Central Asia’s rich historical heritage.
This comprehensive tour underscores India’s active, evolving leadership role within the Eurasian landscape and reaffirms Central Asia’s position at the core of India’s long-term geopolitical and economic strategy.
News Edit KV Raman
