External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday expressed gratitude to Central Asian nations for their solidarity in condemning the April 22, 2025, terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. He said this during his opening remarks at the 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue. "I appreciate that your countries stood by India and condemned the heinous terrorist attack that took place in April in Pahalgam," Jaishankar stated. He underscored the shared commitment to countering terrorism.

Jaishankar also highlighted the deep historical and cultural connections between India and Central Asia. He noted that these ties, spanning millennia, had evolved into a robust partnership. "India deeply cherishes its millennia-old civilisational and cultural ties with Central Asia. These age-old bonds forged through trade, exchange of ideas, and people-to-people contacts have strengthened over time," he said. He traced the modern diplomatic relationship to 1992, with a significant boost following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visits to all five Central Asian capitals in July 2015.

He emphasised the growth in trade and economic ties over the past decade. Enhanced connectivity through direct flights and increased two-way tourism and business exchanges supported this growth. He also highlighted the popularity of Central Asian countries as destinations for Indian students pursuing higher education, which further strengthened people-to-people ties.

Jaishankar underscored India’s role as a trusted development partner. He pointed to initiatives such as I-Tech training programs, ICCR scholarships, and High-Impact Community Development Projects. These included equipping schools with computers and hospitals with medical equipment. He said these efforts reflected India’s commitment to supporting socio-economic development in Central Asia.

He recalled that India-Central Asia cooperation elevated to the leaders’ level with the first virtual summit in January 2022. The summit expanded collaboration in areas such as trade, culture, security, and diplomacy. He also referenced productive discussions held on Thursday at the India-Central Asia Business Council. These discussions focused on digital technology, fintech, and inter-bank relations to unlock the full potential of economic cooperation.

Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s commitment to advancing mutually beneficial partnerships across sectors. These included trade, investment, defense, agro-processing, textiles, pharmaceuticals, regional connectivity, security, education, culture, and emerging technologies. "I am sure that these deliberations would help us in forging even closer, deeper, stronger, and wider partnership which would serve the interest of the people of our countries," he concluded. He expressed optimism about the outcomes of the dialogue.