CONNECTIVITY AS INFLUENCE. INDIA's POLICY IN CENTRAL ASIA IN THE ERA OF THE 'NEW SILK ROAD'

Central Asia has been identified as the emerging economic battleground between the United States, Russia and China. Although Central Asia is a significant part of the Belt and Road Plan India faces connectivity challenges regarding land routes to Afghanistan and Central Asia and is a relatively low-key power even after becoming a formal member of the SCO. It is in the backdrop of these complexities, both in terms of the emergence of transcontinental logistic spaces and numerous 'Silk Road' strategies that India would have to negotiate its own logistical space in Central Asia.