This article covers the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and the Kyrgyz Republic, the high-level visits and meetings between the two countries, and the dialogue mechanisms and agreements that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) records. It is based on the MEA bilateral brief of June 2026, and events are described as that brief gives them.

Establishment of relations

According to the MEA brief of June 2026, India and the then Kyrgyz Republic had limited political, economic and cultural contacts during the Soviet era. Following the independence of the Kyrgyz Republic in 1991, India was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with it, on 18 March 1992.

Political ties

The brief describes political ties between the two countries as having traditionally been warm and friendly, bound by historical and civilisational links. It states that India and the Kyrgyz Republic are Strategic Partners.

The Kyrgyz Republic supported India in securing full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and has also supported India's bid for permanent membership of the UN Security Council. The brief adds that relations have expanded in recent times in several areas of bilateral engagement, including defence, security, trade and investment. Both countries also share common concerns on the threat of terrorism, extremism and drug-trafficking.

High-level visits

Since diplomatic relations were established, the two countries have exchanged several visits at a high political level. The brief lists the following visits from India:

  • Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi (31 August to 01 September 2026, for the 26th SCO Summit in Bishkek, a visit after the brief)
  • Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi (13-14 June 2019)
  • Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi (11-12 July 2015)
  • Former Vice President Shri Krishan Kant (August 1999)
  • Former Vice President Shri K.R. Narayanan (September 1996)
  • Former Prime Minister Shri Narasimha Rao (September 1995)

It lists the following visits to India from the Kyrgyz Republic:

  • Former President Mr. Sooronbay Jeenbekov (30 May 2019)
  • Former President Mr. Almazbek Atambayev (December 2016)
  • Former President Mr. Askar Akaev, who visited four times, in March 1992, April 1999, August 2002 and November 2003
  • Former Prime Minister Mr. Apas Jumagulov (May 1997)

Prime Minister's visit of June 2019

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi attended the Summit meeting of the Heads of States of the SCO, which was followed by an official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic on 13-14 June 2019. The Prime Minister and the then Kyrgyz President, Mr. Sooronbay Jeenbekov, met in both narrow and extended formats.

Fifteen bilateral agreements and documents were signed during the visit. The brief names among them a Bilateral Investment Treaty, a Protocol amending the Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Fiscal Evasion, and MoUs on cooperation in Health, Information and Communication Technology, and Defence Cooperation. A Joint Statement on Strategic Partnership and a five-year roadmap for Trade and Economic cooperation were also adopted.

Leader-level meetings since 2019

President of the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Sadyr Zhaparov met Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of COP26 at Glasgow in November 2021, where the two leaders discussed a broad range of bilateral and multilateral cooperation issues. Prime Minister Modi had a brief interaction with President Zhaparov in Tianjin on 31 August 2025, on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. They held a bilateral meeting in Bishkek on 31 August 2026, on the sidelines of the 26th SCO Summit.

At the initiative of Prime Minister Modi, the 1st India-Central Asia Summit (ICAS) was held in virtual mode on 27 January 2022. All five Presidents of the Central Asian Republics participated, including President Zhaparov, and a Declaration was adopted at the Summit.

Foreign minister level visits and meetings

Then External Affairs Minister (EAM) Smt. Sushma Swaraj visited the Kyrgyz Republic on 3-4 August 2018, during a three-nation tour of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. She visited Bishkek again on 21-22 May 2019 to attend the Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of SCO Member States. In between, Mr. Chingiz Aidarbekov, then Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, visited India on 29 January 2019 and held bilateral meetings with the then EAM and with Minister of State for Finance Mr. Shiv Prakash Shukla.

EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar met the then Kyrgyz Foreign Minister, Mr. Ruslan Kazakbaev, on the sidelines of the SCO Foreign Ministers Meeting in Dushanbe in September 2021. EAM then paid an official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic on 10-11 October 2021, when he held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Kazakbaev and called on President Zhaparov. Mr. Kazakbaev took part in the 3rd Meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue, held in Delhi on 18-19 December 2021.

Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs and Culture Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi visited the Kyrgyz Republic from 9 to 12 June 2022. She called on the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Akylbek Zhaparov, and held a meeting with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Mr. Zheenbek Kulubaev.

EAM met Mr. Kulubaev on the sidelines of the SCO Foreign Ministers Meeting in Tashkent on 29 July 2022. Mr. Kulubaev then participated in the 23rd meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the SCO, held in Panaji, Goa, from 4 to 5 May 2023, and had a bilateral meeting with EAM on 5 May 2023.

EAM visited Bishkek on 25-26 October 2023 and led the Indian delegation to the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of the SCO, held under the Chairmanship of the Kyrgyz Republic. On 25 October 2023 he called on President Zhaparov and met Foreign Minister Kulubaev.

Mr. Kulubaev participated in the 4th Meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue, held in New Delhi on 5-6 June 2025. On the sidelines he held a bilateral meeting with EAM and also met Minister of Finance Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman. On 06 June 2025, the Foreign Ministers of the Central Asian Republics, including Mr. Kulubaev, called on Prime Minister Modi.

MoS for External Affairs and for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sh. Kirti Vardhan Singh visited the Kyrgyz Republic from 1 to 7 June 2025. He met Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Temirbek Erkinov and the Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Technical Supervision, Mr. Meder Mashiev. He also participated in the IX Steering Committee Meeting of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme.

Voice of the Global South Summits

The Kyrgyz Republic participated in all three Voice of the Global South Summits, which were held in virtual format:

  • At the 1st Summit on 12-13 January 2023, the First Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision, Mr. Kanatbek Sadykov, took part in the Session of the Environment Ministers on "Balancing Growth with Environment Friendly Lifestyles (LiFE)".
  • At the Second Edition on 17 November 2023, a video address by President Sadyr Zhaparov was played at the inaugural Leaders' Session hosted by Prime Minister Modi. Deputy Finance Minister Mr. Ruslan Tatikov represented the Kyrgyz side in the Finance Ministers' session.
  • At the Third Edition on 17 August 2024, First Deputy Minister of Health Mr. Meder Ismailov represented the Kyrgyz side in the Health Ministers' Session, and Mr. Askar Shaikidinov, Head of the Youth Policy Department of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth Policy, did so in the Youth Ministers' Session.

Parliamentary cooperation

The brief refers to a decision to set up an India-Central Asia Parliamentary Forum (ICAPF) for interaction between the Parliaments of India and the Central Asian Republics. The Lok Sabha has proposed to set up the ICAPF, which may meet once every two years, with the Chair rotating in alphabetical order. The first meeting of the ICAPF is yet to be convened.

The Jogorkyu Kenesh had constituted a three-member India-Kyrgyz Parliamentary Friendship Group. It was chaired by Mr. Bakyt Tentishev, and its other members were Ms. Elvira Surabaldieva and Mr. Chingiz Aidarbekov, a former Foreign Minister.

Foreign Office Consultations

The 12th round of India-Kyrgyz Republic Foreign Office Consultations was held in Bishkek on 14 November 2022. The Indian delegation was led by Shri Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), MEA, and the Kyrgyz delegation by Mr. Aibek Muhtarovich Artykbaev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. During the visit, Secretary (West) also met Ms. Indira Sharshenova, Deputy Minister of Digital Development of the Kyrgyz Republic.