PM Modi to visit Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan: SCO summit, bilateral ties on agenda

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin a four-day visit to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on August 27, 2026, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The visit includes a State visit to Tashkent and participation in the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Bishkek.

During the first leg, Mr. Modi will be in Uzbekistan's capital from August 29 to 30 at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. This will be his fourth visit to Uzbekistan. The two leaders will hold delegation-level talks to strengthen the strategic partnership between the countries.

The talks are expected to cover cooperation in trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education, and people-to-people exchanges. The MEA said the leaders will also share perspectives on advancing their shared developmental visions — Viksit Bharat 2047 and Uzbekistan-2030.

Mr. Modi is also scheduled to visit the Lal Bahadur Shastri memorial in Tashkent and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies. These visits highlight the long-standing cultural and historical ties between India and Uzbekistan.

Following the Uzbekistan leg, Mr. Modi will travel to Bishkek for a two-day visit to attend the SCO summit. The summit will mark the 25th anniversary of the SCO, of which India has been a full member since 2017. According to MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George, the summit will deliberate on the evolving security scenario in the region.

Mr. George also noted that the SCO was established with the primary goal of countering terrorism, separatism, and extremism, which continue to remain challenges. At the summit, Mr. Modi will address the forum, highlighting India's priorities of security, connectivity, and opportunity.

The Prime Minister is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with SCO leaders on the sidelines of the summit. While the MEA did not specify the list, reports suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin is among the leaders with whom Mr. Modi may meet.

The summit is expected to be attended by leaders from SCO member states, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as per reports. The presence of multiple leaders underscores the platform's importance in regional diplomacy.

In addition to the summit, Mr. Modi is set to attend the opening ceremony of the sixth World Nomad Games, a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of Central Asia. The event adds a cultural dimension to the visit.

India's engagement with the SCO and Central Asia is significant for its interests in connectivity and regional stability. The visit comes amid evolving geopolitical dynamics, and the outcomes of the talks and summit will be closely watched for signals on cooperation in security and economic integration.