Speech by Ambassador Y. K. Sailas Thangal at the Kazakh National Defence University (KNDU)
(Astana, 28 May 2026)

Dear Deputy Head of the National Defence University, Colonel Talgat Zhumanuly Azhibayev, 

Esteemed faculty members,  and officers at the National Defense University of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Al Salam aleykum, Salemetsiz be and Namaskar 

It is both an honour and a privilege for me  to address this distinguished gathering today at the KNDU, an institution of national importance where future operational and strategic leaders are groomed. I extend my sincere gratitude to the University for its warm hospitality and for the opportunity to share India’s perspectives on a subject of profound strategic importance, -India’s evolving engagement with Central Asia and its implications for regional security. I must admit that I am not an expert on security issues but would try to present India’s perspectives.

At the outset, allow me to convey warm greetings from the people and Government of India to the friendly people of Kazakhstan. India and Kazakhstan are bound not only by diplomatic ties, but by history, geography, civilizational linkages, and a shared strategic outlook. The ancient Silk Route connected our peoples centuries before the emergence of modern geopolitics. Today, that historic connectivity is being re-imagined through contemporary partnerships in trade, energy, tourism, security cooperation, education, and culture.

India–Kazakhstan Strategic Partnership: The relationship between India and Kazakhstan has evolved into a robust Strategic Partnership. Our ties have steadily deepened across political, economic, defence, and cultural domains, since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992. These relations has been nurtured through regular high-level exchanges, growing trade, expanding defence cooperation, and convergence in multilateral forums reflecting the maturity and trust in our relationship.

Kazakhstan occupies a special place in India’s engagement with Central Asia. As the largest economy and a key stabilising force in the region, Kazakhstan plays a vital role in promoting regional stability and connectivity. India deeply values Kazakhstan’s balanced foreign policy and its commitment to sovereignty, dialogue, and multi-polar cooperation.

Central Asia in a Changing Global Order: Excellencies and dear colleagues, Central Asia today stands at the crossroads of major geopolitical transformation, shaped by shifting global power dynamics, economic integration, and growing strategic competition among major powers. The region, which connects China, Russia, the Middle East, and Europe, has gained increasing importance due to its geography, along with vast natural resources, energy reserves, which is positioned along the key trade and transportation corridors of modern Silk Road. 

Three key dynamics defined the strategic environment of Central Asia today. First, the region has emerged as a vital geopolitical bridge linking Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the wider Eurasian space, making it central to global trade, energy transportation, and connectivity initiatives. Major infrastructure and transit projects, including railways, pipelines, and economic corridors, are reshaping regional equations and increasing the strategic value of Central Asia in the international politics. 

Second, the regional security environment remains highly complex and fragile. Challenges such as instability and the spread of terrorism and religious extremism, narcotics trafficking, cyber-security threats, and transnational organised crime continue to threaten long-term stability and governance across the region. These security concerns require stronger regional cooperation and coordinated international responses.

Third, the changing global order and the gradual shift toward multi-polarity have strengthened the role of middle powers in international affairs. In response, Central Asian states are increasingly adopting multi-vector foreign policies that emphasize strategic autonomy, balanced diplomacy, and diversified economic and political partnerships with major powers centres such as China, Russia, the United States and the European Union, and the other regional actors. 

India and Central Asia, a natural partners: My dear friends, For India, Central Asia is not merely a neighbouring region of strategic interest, but a natural partner. Therefore India’s engagement with Central Asia is neither episodic nor transactional; rather, it is grounded in deep historical affinity, and a shared vision for ensuring regional security, stability, and prosperity—objectives that are deeply interconnected and inseparable for both regions. For centuries, India and Central Asia remained closely connected through ancient trade routes, intellectual exchanges, and vibrant cultural interactions that flourished along the Silk Road. Buddhism spread from India into Central Asia and further beyond, while Sufi traditions, along with Central Asian influences on language, literature, art, and scholarship, fostered enduring civilisational bonds between the peoples of the two regions. Historic cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara, Tashkent, and Turkestan served as important centres of commercial and cultural exchange with the Indian subcontinent. These deep-rooted historical connections continue to shape and strengthen India’s contemporary engagement with the region. This growing interdependence can be understood through five major strategic dimensions.

First, India and Central Asia share an indivisible security environment. Instability in Central Asia has direct consequences for South Asia, just as insecurity in South Asia affects the wider Eurasian region. Threats such as terrorism, religious radicalisation, violent extremism, narcotics trafficking, cyber threats, and transnational organised crime transcend national borders and cannot be addressed in isolation. As a result, both sides increasingly view counter-terrorism cooperation, intelligence sharing, cyber-security coordination, border management, and defence capacity building as collective security priorities essential for regional peace and stability.

Second, connectivity has emerged as a strategic necessity linking the futures of India and Central Asia. Owing to geographical constraints and the absence of direct access, India views Central Asia as its natural gateway to Eurasia, while Central Asia sees India as a major economic and maritime partner connecting the region to the Indian Ocean and global markets. This mutual interdependence makes connectivity a shared strategic objective rather than a unilateral policy choice. India therefore supports transparent, inclusive, and economically sustainable connectivity initiatives that respect sovereignty and territorial integrity. Projects such as the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) are not merely infrastructure ventures; they represent strategic corridors that integrate the economic and geopolitical interests of India and Central Asia by enhancing trade, mobility, digital connectivity, energy cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.

Third, energy security has created a strong foundation of long-term strategic interdependence between India and Central Asia. Central Asia’s vast reserves of oil, natural gas, uranium, and critical minerals are vital for India’s growing developmental and industrial requirements, while India offers Central Asian economies a large and reliable market, investment opportunities, technological expertise, and diversified economic partnerships. In this sense, the energy security of India and the economic security of Central Asia are interconnected. Cooperation in renewable energy, rare earth minerals and emerging technologies further strengthens this mutually beneficial partnership which will in turn contributes to regional economic resilience.

Fourth, India and Central Asia share a common interest in preserving a balanced, stable, and multi-polar regional order. In an era of intensifying geopolitical competition, both seek a regional architecture that is inclusive, cooperative, and free from domination by any single power. India’s balanced diplomacy and multi-polar foreign policy align closely with the Central Asian states’ emphasis on sovereignty, strategic autonomy, and diversified partnerships. Through institutions such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the India-Central Asia Dialogue, India and the Central Asian countries are deepening political, economic, and security coordination to collectively shape a more stable Eurasian order that protects their shared strategic interests.

Fifth, the civilisational dimension gives India–Central Asia relations a unique depth that reinforces their strategic partnership. The relationship is rooted in centuries of shared historical experiences, cultural affinities, spiritual traditions, trade routes, and intellectual exchanges. From the spread of Buddhism across Central Asia to the influence of Sufism and centuries of scholarly and commercial interaction, both regions have long been connected through ideas and people. Today, India continues to strengthen these civilisational ties through cultural diplomacy, education, tourism, information technology cooperation, and developmental partnerships. This enduring cultural interconnectedness creates a strong societal foundation for strategic cooperation and reinforces the perception that the destinies of India and Central Asia are closely linked in both historical and contemporary terms.

Taken together, these dimensions demonstrates that India and Central Asia are no longer connected merely by geography or diplomacy, but by a growing recognition that their security, stability, connectivity, and prosperity are fundamentally interdependent and mutually reinforcing.

International and Cross-Border Terrorism:

Distinguished participants, let me now turn to one of the gravest threats confronting the modern world which is international and cross-border terrorism. Terrorism have evolved into highly sophisticated networked and have moulded into transnational systems that deliberately exploit porous borders, digital platforms, and fragile governance spaces.

Cross-border terrorism is not merely a regional challenge — it is a direct assault on the very foundations of civilized society and the international order. It threatens peace, undermines sovereignty, destabilizes nations, disrupts economic development, and spreads fear and radicalization among vulnerable populations.

No country, regardless of its strength, geography, or military capability, remains immune from terrorists reach.

What makes the terrorist threat particularly alarming today is its dangerous convergence with emerging technologies, illicit financial networks, cyber capabilities, and extremist propaganda. Terrorist organizations have evolved into sophisticated, decentralized, and transnational entities that exploit porous borders, global financial systems to recruit, finance, and coordinate attacks across continents.

Therefore, traditional security measures alone are no longer sufficient to confront such a complex and adaptive threat.

The international community must therefore respond with unity, resolve, and unwavering commitment. India and Central Asia must work together not only to combat terrorism operationally, but also to dismantle their ideology, financial and logistical ecosystems that sustain them. We must deny terrorists safe havens, eliminate their sources of funding and counter their narratives.

There can be no justification, no tolerance, and no selective approach toward terrorism in any form or manifestation. A threat to one nation is ultimately a threat to all humanity. The fight against terrorism is not simply a security imperative — it is a collective responsibility to protect peace and preserve human dignity.

The questions is then how can India–Central Asia Cooperate to counter Terror Financing? We all know that terrorism cannot survive without financing. Weapons, recruitment, propaganda, radicalisation networks, cross-border movement, and digital operations all depend upon the sustained financial support. Therefore, defeating terrorism requires not only dismantling terrorist networks on the ground, but also systematically destroying their financial ecosystems that sustained them. In this context, India and Central Asia must view cooperation against terror financing as a core pillar of their shared security architecture. A strong and strategic cooperation can be strengthened through:

• enhanced real-time intelligence sharing on terror financing networks and facilitators 
• joint monitoring of illicit financial flows, suspicious transactions, and cross-border money movement 
• strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks in line with international standards and  Financial Action Task Force (FATF) mechanisms. 
• coordinated action against narcotics trafficking, which remains one of the principal sources of funding for terrorist and extremist organisations 
• preventing the misuse of informal value transfer systems, shell entities, crypto-currencies, and digital platforms for terror financing 
• expanding cooperation in financial investigation, cyber forensics, and counterterror financing technologies 
• deeper coordination within multilateral platforms, particularly the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, to develop collective regional responses against emerging financial threats 

Financial isolation of terrorist organisations is as important as military and operational countermeasures. When terrorist networks are denied access to money, logistics, recruitment channels, and financial safe havens, their ability to spread violence are fundamentally weakened. Cutting off financial support strikes at the very core of infrastructure and survival.

For India and the Central Asia, the threat of terrorism extends far beyond a law-and-order concern; it constitutes a critical strategic challenge that directly impacts regional stability, economic progress, connectivity, and the prospects for enduring peace and prosperity. A fragmented response will only create loopholes for transnational terrorist networks to exploit. What is required is sustained regional coordination, institutional trust, and collective political resolve. India firmly believes that a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism must also mean zero tolerance towards terrorist financing - whether direct or indirect, overt or covert, state-sponsored or privately facilitated. There can be no justification for terrorism or selective approach when it comes to financing terror groups.

Operation Sindoor stands as a strong demonstration of India's unwavering commitment to combating terrorism and safeguarding national security. The operation was launched with the only objective of targeting terrorist hideouts, infrastructure, and operational facilities that posed a direct threat to peace and stability. It reflects India's firm policy of zero tolerance toward terrorism and sends a clear message that acts of terror will not go unanswered. Through precise and determined action, India has reaffirmed its resolve to dismantle terrorist networks and protect innocent lives while upholding regional security and stability.

India-Kazakhstan Defence and Security Cooperation: In this regard, India and Kazakhstan enjoy strong and steadily expanding defence and security cooperation built upon mutual trust and growing strategic convergence. Regular high-level defence dialogues, military training exchanges, and institutional partnerships have significantly strengthened bilateral confidence and interoperability between our armed forces. The joint military exercise KAZIND has emerged as a visible symbol of this deepening partnership and reflects our shared commitment to counter-terrorism preparedness and regional stability. Our cooperation today spans a broad and evolving security agenda, including:

• military training and professional military education 
• defence capacity building and institutional cooperation 
• counter-terrorism coordination  
• cyber-security and information security 
• defence technology and strategic exchanges 
• and emerging domains of regional and non-traditional security cooperation 

India highly values Kazakhstan’s constructive role within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, particularly in advancing collective efforts against the “three evils” of terrorism, separatism, and extremism, which continue to pose serious threats to regional peace and stability.

At the same time, the evolving situation in Afghanistan remains a matter of shared and enduring concern for both India and Central Asia. Afghanistan must never again become a sanctuary for terrorism or a source of regional instability. While the humanitarian needs and aspirations of the Afghan people must remain central to international engagement, it is equally essential to ensure that Afghan territory is not exploited by terrorist organisations to threaten neighbouring countries or undermine regional security.

Emerging Security Challenges: Dear friends, security today is no longer confined to traditional military domains. It is increasingly shaped by cyber warfare, artificial intelligence, space security, energy resilience, and climate-induced vulnerabilities. India believes that our future security frameworks must be, comprehensive, technology-driven, cooperative and rooted in mutual trust. 

Indeed, this emerging security challenges opens vast opportunities for India–Central Asia cooperation in digital governance, cyber-security, disaster management, space applications, and counter terrorism and anti-radicalisation efforts.

People-to-People Connectivity: India also places strong emphasis on human connectivity. Thousands of Central Asian students study in India and vice versa thousands of Indian students studies in Central Asian countries, cultural exchanges continue to deepen mutual understanding through yoga, cinema, traditional medicine, and tourism.

For institutions like this University, P2P interactions and cultural engagement are of paramount importance particularly for future military leaders who would not only be a master strategy and tactics, but also develop deep cross-cultural understanding of the regions they engage with.

In Conclusion,  Dear Officers, Central Asia’s importance in global geopolitics will continue to grow. India will remain a committed partner in promoting peace, stability, and development in the region. India does not view Central Asia through the prism of rivalry or competition. Our approach is anchored in partnership, mutual respect, sovereign equality, and shared prosperity. 

To close my remarks, I am reminded of the timeless wisdom of the great Kazakh thinker Abai Kunanbayev, who said: in the Book of Words, the pursuit of knowledge and self-improvement is essential for both individual and societal progress.

In the spirit of Abai Kunanbayev wisdom, let our partnership be rooted in knowledge, strengthened by trust, and guided by a shared vision of peace and progress. I am confident that India and Kazakhstan will continue to deepen their friendship, and that institutions such as this esteemed University will play a vital role in shaping that future.

I thank you once again for your kind attention.

Khup Rakhmet  &  Dhanyavaad.

Long live India–Kazakhstan friendship.

*****