ABSTRACT
Due to its economic growth and the expanding defence sector India after the end of the Cold War re-oriented its foreign policy. From the existing South Asian neighbourhood, India expanded it to the ‘Extended Neighbourhood,’ including East, Central and West Asia in it. After the Cold War, five Central Asian countries that emerged as an independent state have a tremendous strategic significance due to their geographical location, huge hydrocarbon reserves and the potential economic opportunities. Since then, India has been engaging with the region considering the growing geo-strategic and geo-economic significance of the region in India’s foreign policy.
