India and Kyrgyzstan strengthen defence and trade ties

India’s Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic, Birender Singh Yadav, has highlighted the strengthening of bilateral defence and trade relations between India and Kyrgyzstan. According to the Ambassador, defence and security cooperation has entered a structured format following a Memorandum of Understanding that established a Joint Working Group on defence cooperation. This framework includes regular meetings to create annual action plans and institutional mechanisms for bilateral military exercises, with the next edition expected in the coming months.

To address geographical connectivity challenges, both nations are promoting the use of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). The corridor is intended to streamline the flow of goods and services between the two countries and the broader Central Asian region. This diplomatic activity precedes Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan to reinforce strategic partnerships in Central Asia.