In the 1990s, when the five Central Asian republics – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – gained independence, India faced the twin challenges of adjusting to the emerging post-Cold War international order and domestic economic reform. In the decades since, India’s ties with the region have developed slowly despite enjoying several advantages. These include being the only non-communist country with a diplomatic presence in the region and being among the first to accord diplomatic recognition to the newly independent countries. In addition to this, as India adjusted to the post-Cold War order, its foreign policy evolved to include a greater emphasis on engagement with India’s extended neighbourhood, which included Central Asia.