Historical Context of India-Central Asia Relations

India's interaction with Central Asia is much older than the modern nation-state system. Ancient trade networks broadly associated with the Silk Routes linked the Indian subcontinent with Bactria, Sogdiana and other Central Asian regions. The Kushanas established political and commercial networks connecting northern India with Central Asia.

Buddhism travelled through these networks towards Central Asia and China. Archaeological sites in present-day Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and neighbouring regions preserve evidence of this interaction.