What happened
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (West) Sibi George attended Uzbekistan’s National Day celebrations as the Chief Guest in New Delhi, hosted by the Embassy of Uzbekistan. During the event, George extended warm greetings to the people and government of Uzbekistan and highlighted the deep-rooted civilizational ties between the two nations, reaffirming India’s commitment to its strategic partnership with Uzbekistan.
Why it matters to India
The visit underscores India’s efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in areas of strategic importance. Earlier, the 9th meeting of the India-Uzbekistan Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism was held in Tashkent on September 30, 2025. Co-chaired by Vinod J. Bahade, Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism), MEA, and Gulomjon Pirimkulov, Head of the Department for Cooperation with South Asia, Middle East, and Africa, Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry, the two sides discussed global and regional terrorist threats, countering extremism and radicalisation, combating financing of terrorism, and sharing best practices. Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to multilateral cooperation through forums like the UN, SCO-RATS, and EAG, highlighting India’s proactive engagement in regional security and counter-terrorism initiatives.