India's relation with turkmenistan: Perspectives and challenges

Abstract

The relation between India and Turkmenistan is very ancient, from the time of Silk Road the relation flourished and reached at its zenith during the medieval times. For a long time Turkmenistan was a pass for long trade and commerce, also it was the region for various Indo-European-Iranian tribes those travelled and shared their cultural capital through this region. Indian culture was spread to this region by the expansion of Buddhism in ancient times and from that period of time the Turks and Indians come together to know each other. For a long time Turkmenistan was a part of USSR and after its independence from it became a sovereign state on 27 October 1991. From the emergence of Turkmenistan as an Independent state, India is having friendly relations with it. From the Indian point of view Turkmenistan is very important for our energy security as well. The TAPI gas pipeline project is one of the examples of our mutual ties between both of the countries. In order to strengthen our defence and security in relation to Pakistan and Taliban, Turkmenistan is geo-strategic location for India. In terms of economy and culture both the countries are having strong people to people connect with is a real capital for both of them. In the early 18th century the Persians annexed Khivan and Bukharan territories, but Bukhara regained its power in the latter half of the century and retook Merv and deported its entire population to Bukhara.