Central Asia's oil gets India's attention

"Indian ties with Central Asia reached a decisive phase with the visit to New Delhi of the Uzbek President Islam A. Karimov. The most important pillar of this cooperation is constituted by energy cooperation between two countries, Iran's official news agency noted.

Uzbekistan is the eight-largest producer of natural gas. Santhanam, president of India-Central Asia Foundation, an NGO formed to promote Track II diplomacy said New Delhi-based Asian Age. It said "After West Asia, Central Asia could be a key region for fulfilling our rapidly expanding energy requirements. The region has certainly grown in importance for us. But it's now a new discovery or new interest as India has enjoyed excellent relations with Central Asian republics right from the Soviet days," acccording to IRNA.

Asian Age said "Many in India believe that the country should be quick to consolidate its interest in the region before it is too late. Central Asia is already a crowded place" where the United States and Russia and China have made great investments, IRNA reported.