The Journal of Central Asian Studies

Central of Central Asian Studies

University of Kashmir

ISSN: 0975-086X

The strategic location of Afghanistan at crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia is itself defining the importance of Afghan factor in India-Central Asia relations. Afghanistan, one time a buffer state between British India and Soviet Union, has shaped the post-9/11 India foreign policy to stabilize Afghanistan through Low Politics Approach (LPA) for regional integration and stability. India’s growing interest in CARs through the embedded policy of economic, energy and strategic synergy benefitting both, has further enhanced the Afghan factor in relation between the two for common interests and concerns in the region. The focus of this paper is to understand the common concerns both India and Central Asia have on Afghanistan as well as importance of Afghan peace for the regional stability. The argument is further elaborated to explain India’s policy towards Central Asia.

China which is emerging as a significant regional power with the phenomenal growth in its economic and other security sectors, is trying to take the potential advantage of its locational benefit. Opening up its economy, improving bilateral and multilateral relations, resolving disputes amicably, assisting others by way of investments etc. and trying to keep up with peaceful co-existence principle, are some of its image building initiatives. Apart from this, China has been focusing on to invest in and access to Central Asian resources, particularly, hydrocarbon in view of its growing energy demand. In addition to re-drawing its regional policy and strategy owing to some recent developments on its western borders, Beijing is trying its best to strike a balance between the fast changing developments and its strategic interests in Central Asia which is seen as one of the best alternative for its energy accomplishments. This article focuses on China’s strategic engagements with Central Asian states, particularly, in the aftermath of the disintegration of the Soviet Union. After analysing various compulsions and threat perceptions caused by the un-accounted nuclear fissile materials and nuclear weapons in Central Asia, particularly, in Kazakhstan, the paper talks about bilateral military and security cooperation, confidence-building measures within the framework of SCO, bilateral economic engagements and energy cooperation.

During a recent survey of North-West Kashmir six Neolithic sites were found. The artefacts found in Baramulla District of Kashmir Valley when analysed were as varied and distinctive as had earlier been found at many other Neolithic sites like Burzahom, Gufkral and Kanispora in Kashmir. The analysis of material culture suggests affinities and parallels beyond Kashmir, with relative comparators in northern Pakistan (Swat) and Central Asia. The interpretation of material culture reveal that there may have been some common factors at work in Kashmir, northern Pakistan, South and Central Asia leading to a similar set of tools and other material culture in similar or contrasting settings. In this paper an attempt has been made to explore whether the Neolithic material culture indicate similarities and interactions between Kashmir through Baramulla District with northern Pakistan and Central Asia.

The global warming as a result of climatic change is one of the widely discussed environmental issues of the present day world. The environmentalists, policymakers and other concerned national and international agencies as well as other relevant organizations have discussed the problem from time to time with different perspectives. The problem has been linked manly to the issues of desertification, uneven economic growth, problems of human security, loss of biodiversity and unscientific resource development. Being a grave issue having far reaching consequences, there is, therefore, a genuine need to comprehend the problem in a more scientific manner. The proper handling of the subject requires expertise, technological advancement, proper tools and techniques of data collection and analysis as well as resources. There are many pressing environmental issues facing the world today which include the ozone layer depletion, deforestation, land degradation, pollution and global warming. The climate change responsible for global warming, has been caused due to both natural and anthropogenic causes. The natural causes are by and large a universal phenomenon, but anthropogenic causes vary in nature and intensity from continent to continent and region to region. There are many environmental issues in Asia but the problem of Aral Sea desiccation and the resultant climate change in Aral Sea Basin is one of the serious environmental challenges of Central Asia which requires attention by the climatologists, environmentalists and geographers. The present study is an endeavor to examine the climatic change within Aral Sea Basin and the socio-economic impact the region has impulsed.

In the geopolitical and geo-economic scenario, the strategic position and possession of a state or region remains challenging issue as evident from the evolving strategic scenario of 21st Century international politics. These are the most influencing factors to invite the attention of greater powers in times of war and peace. In the changing paradigm of international politics, strategic position and possession can define the destiny of peace, security and development. This study is about the strategic significance of Central Asia and the theme falls within the realm of Strategic Studies. Central Asia being a landlocked region, has invited the attention of major powers and involved them in competition and conflict from the times of Heartland concept to the era of Global Chessboard. In this framework Central Asian region is considered to be of major strategic significance because of its geo-political position. In addition, the region possesses some of the important energy resources, mainly oil and gas, and access to them is of strategic significance to all involved – regional as well as external players. These strategic dimensions have kept Central Asia alive in the 21st century international politics.

The New Silk Road concept proposes to align the contours of the policy of United States with emerging continental corridors. The contemplated road passes through Afghanistan and Central Asia, and underscores development as the key to a positive long-term outcome of its policies in the region. It brings new option and approach for regional strategy alongwith the possibility of inducting soft power approach while leading the move. As new approach to political chemistry in the region, the New Silk Road initiative stresses the need for non-military cooperation with emphasis on building and developing transregional trade blocks. The strategy will diversify trade routes in one of the least connected parts of world, namely, Central Asia. For this purpose, Afghanistan will be the epicenter in connecting South Asia with Central Asia and then to Europe. This paper is an attempt to bring to light some of the merits likely to accrue from the new vision.

In view of the growing demand of resources in China, it has started looking towards the faraway land to fulfil its needs. The presence of hundreds of skyscrapers in large cities of China show the clear picture of the increased demand for resources, especially the energy resources, in the country. The Central Asian region has become a desired destination for the source of energy in the recent times for China. The proximity to these countries, ethnic connection of Xinjiang region of China to Central Asia, presence of large energy resources and regional stability are some of the reasons behind it. The link between these two regions are there from the times of the presence of ancient Silk Road. The revival of this route in recent years is one of the way to increase the economic benefits of both the regions. So the objective of this paper is to highlight the recent demands of resources in China because of the pressure mounted by inner peripheral regions and the increased need of the country for the new sources of energy security. The policy adopted by the country to deal with the Central Asian nations and the development of new routes will be discussed. The bilateral trade pattern will also be discussed to show the effect of the development of close transport links between China and Central Asian region.

Uzbekistan became a member of the United Nations (UN) on March 1992 at its 46th Session of the General Assembly. In the following year, the UN opened its office in Tashkent. For the last twenty two years close contacts were established with all major branches of the Organisation. Today, there are more UN programmers, funds and agencies operating in Central Asia including Uzbekistan. The UN organization in Central Asian countries works as a collaborating agency to support the national reform efforts. The article is devoted to delve upon partnership between Uzbekistan with the international organization, i.e. UN, for regional security, ecological problems, Afghan issue, nuclear weapon free zone and other concerns related to security and developmental issues of Uzbekistan. At end of 20th century, the Central Asian region witnessed the emergence of a number of sovereign countries. These developments would definitely have an influence on the world political arena. In Central Asia new independent countries like, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan which consists of one subregion having more or less commonalities in resource landscape, initiated their new development strategy and national development models were adopted as sovereign countries, focusing on economic growth, security and peace. Since the sub-region is surrounded by important countries, it naturally attaches a unique geo-strategic importance. The countries of Central Asia eagerly want the region nuclear free and also their neighbour i.e. Afghanistan to be a settled zone. As such, relations established between Central Asian countries, particularly, Uzbekistan and UN have a heavy task to focus these critical issues for making the region safe, secure and prosperous.

Medical Geology, the study of the impacts of geological materials and processes on animal and human health, is a dynamic emerging discipline bringing together the geological, biomedical and public health communities to address a wide range of geo-environmental health issue. In the present review, an attempt has been made to present the toxicity posed by various trace metal exposures, radionuclides, atmospheric dust and smoke, geodisasters, geo-circulation of pesticides, microbes and pathogens along with their implications on the heath of flora and fauna. Depending on the concentration and association of any element with other elements, the same element can induce quite different effects. Kashmir Valley, located in western Himalayas, is characterized by a unique geological history as it bears a complete geological stratigraphic succession of rock formations ranging in age from Meso-Proterozoic (~1600-1000 Ma) to Holocene. Like other regions, the geological rock formations of the valley are continually interacting with the intimate ambient environment and populace. In this review, the possible medical geological issues associated with diverse geological materials are highlighted to undertake further structured and comprehensive studies in the field. Furthermore, an account to understand the sources, distribution, pathways and health effects associated with potentially harmful chemical substances in terms of exposure, mixtures of different substances and dose-response relationships in the immediate geological environment of Kashmir Valley, is also analyzed. Therefore, the geo-scientific data generated can be effectively used by the medical/ other experts for conducting further epidemiological studies on various anticipating health troubles. In this way, the risks and contaminations once identified in the geological environment of the valley can be minimized to safer levels following the established remedial strategies.

Energy is one of the Central Asia’s crucial resources and the region intends to accelerate and harness this potential, assigning it top priority in developmental planning. The development of energy sector is expected to usher in enormous economic benefits, attract huge investments and strengthen bilateral and multilateral trade with improving regional cooperation. With the increase in hydrocarbons and generation of hydropower in Central Asian republics, the region aims not only to provide domestic energy at affordable cost, but also turn into a net energy exporters in near future which would have a positive impact on the global energy demand. In this backdrop, the present research paper has been buildup with the main objective to highlight that how and to what extent these republics can transform their economies with the proper management of their available resources, particularly, hydrocarbon and hydropower. Moreover, the paper also examine the demand-supply mechanism which can help in regional integration and the benefits accrued thereof.

The peasant revolts, described as “the weapons of the weak,” were multicausal phenomenon. Some factors sowed their seeds, some nurtured them while some helped in their outburst. The paper is an endeavour to analyze the agrarian factors behind the peasant revolts. Retrieving the data from the historical and revenue records, the paper reveals that the major factor that triggered the revolts, was the exploitative character of the agrarian system. The peasants, as the main source of the income for the state, were subjected to number of unethical and illegal exactions which ultimately brought about economic insecurity to them and, consequently, triggered the revolts. Since the revolts led to loss of income to the state and landlords which forced the rulers to initiate several relief measures. This later proved rhetoric and sounded more to the benefit of state and landlords than the peasants who continued to suffer.

The notion of security widening from traditional to non-traditional threats and the changing geo-economic strategies, has resulted in revamping foreign policies of the contemporary nation-states. Realizing this, India also comprehended new outlooks and orientations to deal with rest of the world. Nevertheless, her foreign policy aspirations for socio-economic development, security and peace are dependent on a peaceful and prosperous neighbourhood. Its ‘Connect Central Asia Policy’ and ‘Peaceful Co-existence Principle’ provides due recognition to the core and peripheral neighbourhood, particularly, Central Asia in relation to geo-economic, geo-strategic and geo-political aspects. In this respect, Afghanistan also provides a suitable route for India to achieve her foreign policy aspirations in the regional and global context, because of the geo-strategic location of Afghanistan in between South, Central, West and East Asia, as well as the involvement of world powers in this war-torn nation since 9/11. India’s assistance to rebuild Afghanistan reaches US $ 2 billion with the recognition of being largest regional and fifth international donor in this process. India has completed various projects in this troubled country regarding socio-economic development, science and technology upgradation, civil infrastructure, human resource development and capacity building in the areas of education, health, agriculture etc. India attempts to work for a stable, secure, peaceful, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan that holds the political, strategic and economic significance for her to assure a strong foothold for regional aspirations as Afghanistan falls in both South as well as Central Asian region. However, there are various constraints before India to meet and promote her interests in Afghanistan. These challenges have become more complex with the resurgence of Taliban, the return of Pakistan factor in Afghan politics and the US-led ISAF withdrawal. Thus, the study is an attempt to explore India’s changing foreign policy aspirations, in general, and her Afghan policy, in particular, to provide an insight towards ‘emerging India’ as a significant regional and global player of current day international politics. With the vision of ‘Asian Century,’ India has a major role to play making this dream a reality where, in addition of investment and assistance, efforts for converting hatred into love, improving the efficacy of regional organizations as well as resolving amicably the international and inter-regional issues – all needs a humane approach.