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Uzbekistan greatly values its ties with India and its regular political exchanges have helped in achieving a high degree of political understanding between the two countries. Relations between Uzbekistan and India are based on shared historical and cultural ties. Over the years there has been a steady exchange of high level visits between the two countries. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru accompanied by Smt. Indira Gandhi visited Uzbekistan in 1955 and 1961. Prime Minister Lai Bahadur Shastri visited Tashkent in January 1966. He died tragically in Tashkent. His name has been commemorated - a street and school have been named after him and there are both a statue and a bust in his memory in Tashkent. Consulate General of India in Tashkent was formally inaugurated on 7 April 1987. Indian President R. Venkataraman visited Uzbekistan in 1988, and Prime Minister V. P. Singh in July 1990. As Uzbekistan is integral part of Central Asia, relations of India with Uzbekistan are analysed in this article through a prism of attitudes of India towards Central Asia.
INDIA AND UZBEKISTAN
Legal base of bilateral relations. India recognized the independence of Uzbekistan on 26 December 1991. On 18 March 1992 the Protocol on an establishment of diplomatic relations at the level of Embassies was signed in Tashkent. In September 1992 the Consulate of the Republic of Uzbekistan was opened in New Delhi and it was transformed into Embassy in 1994. The Consulate General of India in Tashkent was upgraded to the level of Embassy through the signing of a diplomatic and consular protocol on 18 March 1992. The two countries share common values such as secularism, tolerance and strong opposition to the forces of fundamentalism and terrorism. Cooperation between the two countries spans many areas such as economic and commercial, cultural, education and technical training in diverse disciplines, information technology, science and technology, agriculture and civil aviation etc. This bilateral relation is underpinned by as many as 42 interstate, inter-governmental and interdepartmental documents and agreements, including the Joint Declaration on Principles of Cooperation, Agreement on Interstate Relations and Cooperation, Agreement on Mutual Encouragement and Protection of Investments, Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion, Treaty on Mutual Legal Aid in Criminal Cases, Treaty on Extradition, Agreement on...