India and Central Asian states will boost cooperation

Significance

The Central Asian leaders were due to be chief guests at India’s Republic Day celebrations a day earlier, but Delhi cancelled that plan in view of the latest surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.

Impacts

• The Afghan situation could become a sore point in relations between Tajikistan and Pakistan, given the latter’s links with the Taliban.
• Indian tensions with China and Pakistan could be disruptive to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
• China will step up investment in Iran, especially in relation to infrastructure development.