India’s “Look West” Policy: Why Central Asia Matters

An article by Teresita C. Schaffer and Vibhuti Haté on India’s foreign policy and economic interests in Central Asia, a market that had been largely inaccessible during the existence of the Soviet Union.

India has had its eye on Central Asia for a long time. Its primary interests there are in energy, minimizing Pakistani influence, and establishing itself as a significant player in the interplay of outside powers that is taking shape. The main difficulties lie in connecting Central Asian resources to the Indian market – a familiar problem for the Central Asians. U.S. and Indian interests overlap, but the U.S. is more focused on sustaining the independence of the Central Asian states.

Originally published in the Center for Strategic & International Studies‘ South Asia Monitor on September 5, 2007. Read the entire article.

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