18 February 2014

Central Asia: Democracy, Instability and Strategic Game in Kyrgyzstan

Author

2014

Publisher: Pentagon Press

ISBN 978-81-8274-752-4

Price: Rs.995/- [Download Book]

About the Book


Central Asia remains both stable and unpredictable after 20 years of its reemergence. The states here continue to undergo complex nation-building process, which is far from complete, but they firmly remain insulated by Russia and but more increasingly so by China. Only Kyrgyzstan has so far uniquely followed a liberal polity, but this young country had to cope with two revolutions before achieving a parliamentary democracy in 2010. However, the institution of democracy remains weak because of some difficult and intricate internal and external challenges i.e., economic, ethnic, Islamic, narcotic along with convoluted strategic games played by major powers in Kyrgyzstan. It is the only country in the world that hosts military bases of both Russia and the United States. The country retains strong Chinese economic influence. The book is an attempt to provide an overview of political and strategic processes at work in the region by taking the case of Kyrgyzstan – tracing the events erupted since 2005 and more after 2010. It contains aspects of India’s engagement in Kyrgyzstan and throws light on India’s newly launched ‘Connect Central Asia’ policy.
About the Author


Ambassador (Prof) P. Stobdan is a distinguished academician, diplomat, author and national security expert. He is a specialist on Asian affairs covering China, Central Asia and High Asia. He served in Central Asia twice. His last diplomatic assignment was in Bishkek where has served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Kyrgyzstan. He also served as Joint Director in the National Security Council and Director/Professor of the Centre for Strategic and Regional Studies at the University of Jammu. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies & Analysis, New Delhi.

Contents


Preface


Introduction 
The Kyrgyz Revolution 
The Tulip Revolution
The Key Factors
Not a Genuine Revolution
The July Election
The External Dimension
The Challenges Ahead
Reverse Tulip Revolution
New Challenges 
Ethnic Divide: The Osh Riots 
Strategic Dimension: Role of Russia?
The Aftermath
The Kyrgyzstan Inquiry Commission (KIC)
Kyrgyz Bellicose Response
The Parliamentary Commission (PC)
First Anniversary
Conclusion 
Parliamentary Democracy
Kyrgyz Parliament (Zhogorku Kenesh)
Parliamentary Election
Formation of New Government
Role of Roza Otunbayeva
Regional Impact
Conclusion 
First Democratic Presidential Election 
The Election
New History
Atambayev’s Agenda
Russia: Main Strategic Partner
US Airbase: Dangerous Target for Iranian Missiles
Challenges Ahead
Conclusion 
Islamic Extremism 
Extremism and Politics
Islamisation of Kyrgyzstan 
National Security Concept 
External Threats
Internal Threats 
Politics of Hydropower 
Multilateral Mechanisms
Geo-Political Issues
Kambar-Ata Projects
CASA 1000 (Central Asia-South Asia): Exploring Export Potentials
Who will Control CASA 1000? 
External Relations 
Kazakhstan
Uzbekistan
Tajikistan
Pakistan
Iran 
Russian Interests in Kyrgyzstan 
Kambar-Ata
Joint Russian Military Base (JRMB)
Kyrgyz Debts to Russia
Transnational Corporation Dastan OJSC
The post-2014 Security Scenario
10. Kyrgyz-US Relations: Politics of Airbase
Politics and Diplomacy over Manas Transit Centre
New Challenge for the US
Military Base to Fuel Supply Contract
Fresh Diplomacy over Transit Centre
Beyond the Transit Centre
Profiting from the Drawdown 
The Chinese Forays
Railway Connectivity
Energy Deals
Selling Soft Power
Security Nexus
Kyrgyz Resentment
China-Eurasia Trade Initiative
Conclusion 
The Indo-Kyrgyz Relations 
Historical Relations
Contemporary Relations
Institutional Relations
Trade
Investments
Line of Credit
Assistance Programmes
Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Aid
Potato Processing Plant
Technical Cooperation
Civil Aviation
Education and Culture
Defence Cooperation
The Kyrgyz-India Mountain Bio-Medical Research Centre (KIMBMRC)
Ties with Kyrgyz Defence Industry
ULAN Open Joint-Stock Company
Future Prospects 
India’s “Connect Central Asia” Policy 


Conclusion: Emerging Trends in Central Asia 


Annexures

1. Kyrgyzstan Inquiry Commission (KIC)

2. Kyrgyz Response to Story by the Economist

3. Non Paper : The Candidature of the Kyrgyz Republic for a Non-permanent Seat of the United Nations Security Council

4. Blake’s Testimony on U.S. Engagement in Central Asia

5. Keynote address by MOS Shri E. Ahamad at the First India-Central Asia Dialogue


Index

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