India, Central Asia must reconnect: Narendra Modi at Dushanbe

Dushanbe (Tajikistan)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India and Central Asia must reconnect – through surface, digital and air connectivity.

“Today I complete my tour of Central Asia. I return to India convinced that India and Central Asia must reconnect. It is important for the future that we seek for our countries and our region,” the prime minister said.

“So, we will improve our surface connectivity, as well as our digital and air connectivity. We will reach you through Iran and other Central Asian countries,” he said and hoped India and Tajikistan can connect directly, “as we once were in history”.

Modi also assured all cooperation to Tajikistan in the field of agriculture.

In his remarks at the Workshop of Agriculture Cooperation in Dushanbe, Modi said India’s agricultural experiences and solutions would be more relevant to Tajikistan than what more advanced nations may have to offer.

“Nothing will give us more joy than the opportunity to share all that we have with our friends. We would be happy to open the doors of our institutions to your scientists and experts,” he said at the event attended by President Emomali Rahmon.

Modi said India was self-sufficient in food grains and one of the major exporters of farm produce and animal products.

“We are the world’s largest producer of milk, one of the top producers of fruits and vegetables and one of the three leading producers of fisheries. Along the way, we have created a resource base that will be of great value to our friends in Tajikistan,” Modi said, addressing an audience of more than 2,000 people.

He said India has world class institutions of research and training in agriculture, dairy and livestock under every possible climatic condition.

“We have developed farming techniques and farm equipment that are affordable and effective. We have created the most successful cooperative movement in dairy and one of the best dairy processing industries in the world.

“We have good seeds and processing technology and equipment. Some of these might be especially useful for cotton farming. And, we have done well with micro irrigation systems.”

He said India has still a lot of challenges in agriculture, but there were many new initiatives to make farms yield more and farmers more prosperous.

He suggested many ways in which India can help Tajikistan in agriculture.

“We can help in increasing the range of crops you produce and the number of crops you get in a year. Greenhouse cultivation is a process that will be well suited for Tajikistan.”

He proposed that India could collaborate in developing hybrids of cotton and wheat, share the experience in contract farming and developing the dairy industry, including dairy processing plants.

Modi proposed that India could work with Tajikistan in water conservation and micro-irrigation, in improving the health of the farm soil, and also using space technology for better resource management.

“India and Tajikistan are strategic partners. This is one of our closest and most important relationships in the region. Our cooperation in agriculture is central to the shared vision and aspirations of India and Tajikistan,” Modi said.

Modi later unveiled a bust of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in Dushanbe.

President Rahmon said “India’s success is based on following ideals of great thinkers like Rabindranath Tagore”.

IANS

India, Tajikistan to intensify cooperation agains terror

Dushanbe

India and Tajikistan today pledged to intensify cooperation against terrorism with Prime Minister Narendra Modi noting that the two countries are located in the “proximity of the main source” of the menace, an apparent reference to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Modi and Tajik President Emomali Rahamon also agreed to step up defence cooperation as the Indian leader reiterated the country’s commitment to supporting the development of Tajikistan?s defence capacities to enhance stability and security.

Boosting trade and investment and connectivity were the other major issues of the talks that the two leaders held as part of efforts to take their ties to newer heights.

The two sides signed two agreements in the fields of culture and skill development. A bust of Rabindranath Tagore was also unveiled by the two leaders.

“We are located in the proximity of the main source of terrorism,” Modi said after the talks at a joint media appearance with Rahamon.

Though he did not elaborate, the reference was clearly to Pakistan and Afghanistan which are seen as the countries from where international terror emanates.

“Combating terrorism and extremism has always been an important and productive area of cooperation.. At a time of growing threat of terrorism, we have resolved to intensify our cooperation further,” said Modi, who was here on the last leg of his eight-day six-nation tour.

A joint statement issued later said “The two leaders noted the rising trend of extremism and terrorism in many parts of the world and in their immediate neighbourhood, posing a threat to India and Tajikistan as well as the region.”

They decided to reinvigorate official-level interactions in the framework of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter Terrorism for strengthening cooperation in the fight against terrorism and instructed that the JWG meet at an early date.

The leaders emphasized the need for continued cooperation between their security agencies including information sharing mechanisms to counter the growing menace of extremism and terrorism, the statement added.

Both sides further emphasized the need for adoption of the long-pending “Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism” by the UN.

Underlining the importance of a stable and secure environment for economic development and prosperity of their countries, the two sides agreed to continue their active engagement and cooperation in the fight against terrorism and extremism. They reaffirmed their determination to act resolutely against organizations and agencies that support terrorism. .

Modi appreciated Tajikistan?s efforts at curbing extremism and radicalism and to ensure secular governance, which is a common ideal of both the countries.

The Prime Minister, who flew into the Tajik capital from Kyrgyzstan last night, said the two sides also decided to further strengthen the defence cooperation, which he described as a “strong pillar of our strategic partnership”.

He reiterated India?s commitment to supporting the development of Tajikistan?s defence capacities to enhance stability and security, the joint statement said, adding the Tajik President welcomed India’s assistance.

Modi visited India-Tajik Friendship Hospital in south of the country, which is a symbol of the bilateral strategic partnership. With Indian doctors and para-medics, the hospital is for treatment of both military personnel and civilians of Tajikistan.

Turning to Afghanistan where India has strategic interests and with which Tajikistan shares border, he said the two countries support the aspirations of the people of Afghanistan for a “peaceful, stable, prosperous country”.

The two leaders also discussed ways to enhance connectivity between India and Tajikistan and in this context, they agreed to promote the International North-South Transport Corridor, which proposes to link Central Asia with South Asia.

“Tajikistan is nearest to India among all Central Asian countries. We are separated by a narrow corridor….

Connectivity is vital for realising the full potential of trade and commerce between our countries,” Modi said.

He said other connectivity measures in the region will strengthen links and mentioned Chahbahar port of Iran which is being built with Indian investments.

They also talked about measures to tap the rich potential in trade and commerce and to encourage joint ventures and investments. “The Joint Commission will meet soon to finalise the roadmap for the future,” Modi said.

The two leaders discussed the prospects of India joining the proposed Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan Trilateral Transit Trade Agreement (PATTTTA) as they noted that it would facilitate trade between Tajikistan and the countries of the South Asian region.

They decided that further consultations would be held on the inclusion of India to this arrangement.

In the energy sector, the Tajik President sought greater Indian engagement in the field of hydropower generation in his country as the two leaders noted the vast untapped hydropower potential.

With regard to connectivity, they asked the authorities to find constructive ways and means to increase the frequency of flights on the Delhi-Dushanbe sector, including the provision of ‘Fifth Freedom’ rights for carriers, to help facilitate trade and economic linkages as well as tourism and greater people-to-people interactions.

They identified cooperation in food processing, mining, pharmaceuticals, textiles, skill development, science & technology, Information Technology, culture and tourism as promising areas for further cooperation.

Identifying agriculture as an important area of cooperation, Modi addressed a workshop on the subject, spelling out seven aspects, including exchange of scientists, experience-sharing in contract farming, exploring credit support for supply of farm and post-harvest processes and collaboration in water conservation, micro-irrigation and improving health of farm soil.

In the health sector, India proposed to implement a tele-medicine project in Tajikistan by connecting reputed multi-speciality hospitals in India with hospitals in Dushanbe and other regions of this country for offering medical consultation and education.

Modi conveyed his appreciation to the Tajik President for his country’s continued support for India’s candidature for permanent membership of UNSC.

Referring to grant of membership to India last week in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) of which Tajikistan is a member, the Prime Minister said it add a new dimension to India-Tajikistan partnership.

He presented Rahamon a specially-commissioned miniature painting of the tomb of the 17th century Indian poet Abdul Qadir Bedil who is regarded, especially in Tajikistan, as one the greatest masters of Persian poetry.

Born in 1644 in Patna, Bedil was influenced by Sufism and wrote 16 books of poetry. Bedil died in Delhi where his tomb, Bagh-e-Bedil is located.

Modi also laid a wreath at the Ismaili Somoni Monument, built in the memory of the founder of Tajikistan.

Earlier, he was accorded a ceremonial reception.

Addressing a function while unveiling Tagore’s bust, Modi said a message was going out that India and Tajikistan are linked only because of cooperation in ‘sampati and shastra’ (wealth and defence) but also ‘shaastra’ (knowledge), as preached by the Indian Nobel laureate.

PTI