India is establishing a foothold in Central Asia.

Оn March 4. A trial shipment of 12 20-foot containers was arranged by JSC NC KTZ's subsidiary, JSC Kedentransservice, JSC Uztemiryulcontainer (Uzbekistan), and JSC TLCT (Turkmenistan).
The train will transport ceramic tiles from India to Kazakhstan, covering 1,585 km by sea and 4,300 km by rail through Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, as stated in the KTZ report.

Depending on the congestion at the port of Bandar Abbas (Iran), where containers will be transferred from vessels to railway platforms, the delivery time is expected to take approximately 25-30 days. "The transportation is being carried out as part of the expansion of container services along the eastern route of the North-South International Transport Corridor (ITC). This corridor allows for faster delivery times, reduced transportation costs, and greater opportunities for exporters and importers in different countries," the statement says.
India's keen interest in establishing railway connections with Central Asian countries is evident. In February, it was reported that a trial train was sent from India to Afghanistan through the reconstructed Khaf-Herat railway. In August 2024, Uztemiryulcontainer began multimodal shipments from India to Uzbekistan. A 20-container cargo train completed its journey from Mundra port to Sergeli station via Bandar Abbas in 20 days.
"We see India further deepening its presence in the Central Asian region (CAR)," said Alexander Karavaev, an expert at the Caspian Institute for Strategic Studies. For New Delhi, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Kazakhstan are the main targets in its Central Asian strategy. This strategy was first outlined in 2012 and gained significant momentum in 2018, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited several Central Asian countries and the Chabahar Port project was launched, which Indian companies began developing under a concession agreement.
India became one of Uzbekistan's top five foreign trade partners last year, with a trade volume of around $870 million. India's trade turnover with Kazakhstan amounted to approximately $880 million.
Beyond merely the economic perspective, India's presence in Central Asia has a geopolitical angle, marked by competition with China for a region important for its resources and security. "While Central Asia serves as a region of integration for Russia, for India and China, it is a zone of foreign economic and strategic influence. However, China began its push into Central Asia in the mid-2000s, while India is roughly a decade behind," observes Alexander Karavaev.
He also points out that, for its advancement in the region, Delhi is currently relying not on Chabahar but on the infrastructure of the North-South Transport Corridor, with all deliveries routed through Bandar Abbas, which is part of it. This may indicate that India has its own vision of the role of this corridor. In any case, India's presence in Central Asia will continue to grow, and this will be a positive factor for the region's development, the analyst says