Krishna leaves for Tajikistan to boost ties

Against the growing strategic importance of Eurasia and Central Asia, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna headed to Tajikistan on Monday on a two-day visit to expand diplomatic and strategic ties with the strategically located country and region.

In capital Dushanbe, Krishna is expected to hold comprehensive discussions with his Tajikistan counterpart and the Tajikistan leaders on India-Tajikistan bilateral relations and on the situation in the region.

Given the growing strategic importance of the Eurasia region, including Central Asia, in India's foreign policy, Krishna is expected to outline India's policy priorities in this region, the external affairs ministry said here.

Krishna is expected to outline a roadmap to accelerate India's engagement with the energy-rich region in all spheres, including political, economic and people-to-people relations.

He is also expected to discuss enhanced defence cooperation with Tajikistan. India has its only overseas military base in Tajikistan, which is operated by the Indian Air Force in collaboration with the Tajikistan Air Force.

With the new focus on people-centric diplomacy, Krishna will also address a regional conference of Indian ambassadors and heads of missions in the Eurasian region.

During this year, Krishna has held such meetings of the Indian heads of missions on a regional basis in Singapore, Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Madrid and Havana.