India signs 17 pacts with Uzbekistan

India on Monday signed 17 pacts with Uzbekistan, Central Asia’s biggest military power. The agreements cover defence training and partnership in defence industry as Delhi looks to fully realise its strategic partnerships in Central Asia where China has made inroads.

Both sides agreed to hold joint military exercises in counter-terrorism, cooperate in military education and military medicine, set up a joint working group to support mutually beneficial defence-related activities and a defence wing at Uzbekistan embassy here.

Delhi and Tashkent also agreed to promote peaceful use of nuclear energy as India eyes uranium supplies from Uzbekistan.

These arrangements were put in place after visiting Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met PM Narendra Modi.

India laid down a red carpet for Mirziyoyev’s two-day visit setting the tone for further engagements with the Eurasian region. “We took a long-term view on the regional issues of security, peace and prosperity and cooperation,” Modi said at apress meet with Mirziyoyev.

Delhi and Tashkent also agreed to cooperate in addressing threats to national and regional security.