On February 28, 2017, senior Indian policymakers and experts visited the International Science Complex «Astana».
The Indian delegation included:
- Arvind Gupta –Deputy National Security Advisor (DNSA) – ex officio Secretary, National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS);
- Harsh Kumar Jain – Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of India to the Republic of Kazakhstan;
- Gulshan Rai – National cybersecurity coordinator;
- Rakesh Marwaha – Director of the Secretariat of Government of the Republic of India;
- Baidya Bikash Basu – Director of National Security Council Secretariat of the Republic of India;
- Lakhbinder Singh Lidder – Defense attaché of Embassy of the Republic of India in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Colonel.
The Kazakh side was represented by:
- Tukumov Yerkin Valitkhanovich – Head of the Analytical Center of the Security Council of Kazakhstan;
- Sarsenbayev Bulat Sergazyuly – Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of India;
- Muldakhmetov Marat Zainullovich – Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Science Complex «Astana»;
- Skakovskiy Leonid Raingoldovich – Head of the Center for geopolitical and military-strategic studies of the Institute of international relations and security.
Deputy Director of Kazakhstan Institute for strategic studies under the President of Kazakhstan Kushkumbayev Kanat Kaуrslyamovich and Director of the Research and Analytical Center on religious issues under the Ministry for religious affairs and civil society of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aynur Abdrasilkyzy also took part in the meeting.
The consultations and discussions covered a wide range of issues related to the cooperation between India and Kazakhstan, India and Central Asia, as well as the situation in Afghanistan.
The Indian side presented their vision of global and regional processes, outlined the role of the leading world powers in the contemporary international relations, and noted the rapidly changing balance of power in the world and Central Asia. The special attention was paid to the issue of cyber security and the fight against international terrorism and religious extremism.
The Indian side emphasized the successful development of Kazakhstan-Indian relations on a bilateral level and in the format of «India + Central Asia» dialogue. According to Indian delegation, the current visit of Mr. Arvind Gupta to Kazakhstan and ISC «Astana» will give a new powerful impetus to the Kazakh-Indian relations.
The Kazakh side noted that the gradual rapprochement between India and Kazakhstan, India and Central Asia is an objective process; however, if New Delhi and Astana demonstrate the necessary political will, the process can significantly accelerate.
It was emphasized that given the changes in the global and regional architecture of international relations, as well as the forthcoming full membership of India in the SCO, the Republic of India can become an important part of the new formula of security and balance of power in Central Asia.
According to the Kazakh side, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of India can deepen and expand cooperation in trade and investment, in the spheres of high-tech and «green» energy, aerospace and military-technology, in the fight against international terrorism and religious extremism, as well as through the leading expert and analytical structures of the two countries.
In general, Kazakhstan and Indian delegation commended the prospects of bilateral cooperation, including International Science Complex «Astana», within the framework of joint scientific and educational projects.