In the nineteenth century, The Great Game was played
between two major colonial powers of the time ¾ Tsarist Russia and Great Britain. The prize was “The
Jewel in the Crown” ¾ India,
and the pathway to it ran through Afghanistan. Today, the pathway still runs
through Afghanistan but the players are different ¾ the United States of America, Russia and China, with
Iran, India, Pakistan on the periphery. The prize is the oil and mineral wealth
of Central Asia and its geo-political and strategic positioning.
Over the years, particularly after
the Soviet invasion in 1979 and the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union in
1991, Afghanistan has emerged as the hub of religious extremism and
international terrorism. In the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the US in
September 2001, this region has become the field of intense competition among
the major powers. The resultant American military presence in Afghanistan and
some of the states of Central Asia, a new dimension has been added to the
geo-politics of the region. The possibility of Russia finding common cause with
China to contain the US hegemonic influence is almost inevitable. Iran feels
equally uncomfortable with its arch enemy America’s presence in its
neighbourhood.
While India does not share a direct
boundary with any of the states of Central Asia, nevertheless, because of its
geographical proximity and historical cultural ties, and its interest in the
sources of energy, India considers Central Asia as part of its extended
neighbourhood .
This book provides an in-depth
analysis of the Indian perspective on the Great Game as it unfolds and its
geo-political ramifications for this country.
Edited by Professor Nirmala Joshi of
the Centre for Russian and Central Asian and East European Studies of
Jawaharlal Nehru University, the study includes contributions by leading Indian
experts on the area, geopolitical affairs, strategic concerns, economic and
cultural connections between Central Asia and India.
