This article covers the political relationship between India and Tajikistan: the establishment of diplomatic relations, visits and messages between leaders, recent ministerial engagement, the bilateral consultative mechanisms, and cooperation in international forums. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of June 2026, which states its position as on 15 June 2026.

Establishment of relations

India and Tajikistan established diplomatic relations on 28 August 1992. According to the MEA brief of June 2026, relations "have traditionally been close and cordial", and high-level visits since 1992 have helped expand bilateral ties. In August 2022 the two countries marked 30 years of diplomatic relations with a series of special events.

Visits by Presidents and Prime Ministers

The then President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, paid a State Visit to Tajikistan from 7 to 9 October 2018. Eight bilateral agreements were signed during the visit, and President Kovind announced a USD 20 million grant for development projects.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tajikistan on 12-13 July 2015, when the two sides agreed to enhance cooperation in defence, connectivity and counter-terrorism. He has also met President Emomali Rahmon several times on the sidelines of SCO Summits, most recently on 31 August 2025 in Tianjin, China.

President Emomali Rahmon has visited India six times, in 1995, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2012 and 2016. During his last visit, in December 2016, he met President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President Hamid Ansari. He also took part virtually in the first India-Central Asia Summit in January 2022.

Messages between leaders

On 10 June 2024, President Rahmon sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Modi on the parliamentary elections and the formation of his government for a third consecutive term. In the message he emphasised joint efforts to strengthen friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries.

On 12 June 2024, Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin sent a congratulatory message to Dr. S. Jaishankar on his re-assumption of charge as External Affairs Minister. Both President Rahmon and Foreign Minister Muhriddin took part in the Voice of the Global South Summit 3.0, hosted virtually by India on 17 August 2024.

Condolences and counter-terrorism

Following the Pahalgam terror attack, President Rahmon conveyed condolences to the President and Prime Minister of India on 23 April 2025. The brief records that he condemned the act of violence in Jammu & Kashmir and reaffirmed Tajikistan's commitment to joint counter-terrorism efforts.

On 19 November 2025, Foreign Minister Muhriddin conveyed condolences to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar after a terrorist incident near the Red Fort in Delhi. He condemned the attack and reiterated Tajikistan's opposition to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Foreign Ministers

The brief states that the External Affairs Minister and the Tajik Foreign Minister meet regularly. Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Tajikistan several times, including in March, July and September 2021 for SCO-related meetings. As of the brief, their most recent meeting was on the sidelines of the 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi in June 2025.

Visits and meetings in 2025-26

The brief lists the following high-level visits and meetings in 2025-26:

  • India's Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, visited Dushanbe from 29 to 31 May 2025 for the High-Level International Conference on Glacier Preservation.
  • Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin attended the 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi on 5-6 June 2025 and, with other Central Asian ministers, called on Prime Minister Modi.
  • Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh met Tajik Defence Minister Lieutenant General Sobirzoda Emomali Abdurahim on the sidelines of the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting in June 2025.
  • Tajikistan's Deputy Secretary of the National Security Council took part in the 3rd India-Central Asia Meeting of National Security Advisers in October 2025.
  • Tajikistan's Minister of Health and Social Protection, Prof. Jamoliddin Abdullo Abdullozoda, visited New Delhi in December 2025 for the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine.
  • Tajikistan's Minister of Industry and New Technologies, Sherali Kabir, attended the India AI Impact Summit in February 2026 and held bilateral meetings with several Indian ministers.
  • Tajikistan's Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Juma Daler Shafoqir, visited New Delhi in March 2026 for the Bharat Electricity Summit and held discussions with Indian ministers and industry leaders.
  • Kirti Vardhan Singh visited Dushanbe again on 12-13 June 2026 for the SCO international conference organised by the Tajik side to mark the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Bilateral mechanisms

The two countries have the following bilateral consultative mechanisms:

  • Foreign Office Consultations
  • Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism
  • Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation
  • JWG on Defence Cooperation
  • JWG on Peaceful Use of Space Technology
  • JWG on Cooperation in the Field of Renewable Energy
  • Bilateral Consular Consultations
  • Dialogue between the National Security Councils of both countries

The 5th round of Foreign Office Consultations was held on 1 April 2026, and the 12th round of the Joint Commission Meeting on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation on 12 June 2026. The brief states that these meetings reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and explored new avenues for cooperation. The 5th meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism was later held in Dushanbe on 24 June 2026.

International forums

Tajikistan supported India's bid for permanent membership of the UN Security Council in the joint statement issued on 8 October 2018, during President Kovind's State Visit.

The brief states that India has consistently supported Tajikistan's multilateral initiatives on climate change, including the International Water Conference and the International High-Level Conference on Glacier Preservation. India has been represented at Ministerial level at several of these conferences in Dushanbe.