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This research article argues that the China's intention and contention to maintain stronghold in Xinjiang through different policies from time to time reflects the views of Realist theory of international relations, which gives primacy to 'national interest' and 'national security.' Furthermore, the article argues that the Chinese emphasis on national security and stability in Xinjiang negates the 'interests and aspirations' of minority groups in Xinjiang (especially Uyghurs), which form the basis of constructive approach of international relations. While elaborating Chinese policies of assimilation of Uyghurs in Xinjiang from Mao Zedong to Xi Jinping, this article tries to examine how China's bid to pursuing a kind of hardcore realism in preserving and protecting its interests in Xinjiang (stringent policies) has been contradicting and disregarding the essence of constructivist perspective (aims, and aspirations interests of Uyghurs).

India's Xinjiang connection is age old. Since the first century bc, linkage between the two regions has been established through historical, sociocultural and economic relations and mutual exchanges. However, with the establishment of People's Republic of China in 1949 and incorporation of Xinjiang as one of the Chinese provinces, this linkage met an obvious end. Now with the end of Cold War in 1991 following the disintegration of former Soviet Union and emergence of five independent republics of Central Asia and the endeavours to revive the Silk Route, there has emerged a glimmer of hope for the renewal of relationship between strategically located Central Asia, Xinjiang and India. In this context, this article discusses the 2500-year-old India–Xinjiang historico-cultural cooperation and believes that perhaps it could act as a catalyst in promoting and strengthening overall relationship between India and China.

The emergence of five Central Asian Republics (CARs) following Soviet collapse in 1991 created a new geopolitical situation, with the USA, Russia and the People's Republic of China (PRC) emerging as key players. China has become one of the strongest forces to take advantage of this new opportunity, be it trade, energy, or to safeguard its volatile Xinjiang region that shares border with three CARs: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Further, inimical forces such as terrorism, religious extremism, transnational drug trafficking, smuggling of arms and ecological disaster have dealt a body blow to regional peace and stability, thereby creating a shattered security zone in and around Central Asia. Given this backdrop, this article argues that security issues, which have so far been important, are going to pose serious challenge in the coming years. It describes Xinjiang as the main geopolitical anchor in Central Asia's security structure with all its potential for a possible conflagration in the region.

Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- List of Contributors -- Acknowledgements -- List of Abbreviations -- 1 Introduction -- Part I Inner Asian Issues -- 2 Buddhist Heart of Asia in the Works of Nicholas Roerich: A Study -- 3 Harmonizing Ethnicity at the Contested Borderlands: A Case Study of Uyghurs of Xinjiang -- 4 Inner Asia in the "Geopolitical Game" of the Early 20th Century: Impact on the Trajectory of Mongol-Seeking Independence -- 5 Socio-Economic Impact of Climate Change: Experience From Inner Asia -- Part II Geopolitics and Geo-Economics -- 6 Contemporary Geopolitical and Geo-Economic Significance of Inner Asia -- 7 The Region and Ideational Security: The Geopolitical Belonging of Central Asia in Inner Asia -- 8 Regional Cooperation and Sustainable Stability in Central Asia -- 9 New Foreign Policy Discourse on Silk Road in the Post-Cold War Period -- 10 Silk Road Shenanigans -- 11 Afghanistan as the Belt and Road Pivot for Asia -- Part III Indian Connection -- 12 India and Its Inner Asian Neighbourhood in the Post-Cold War Era -- 13 India's Connectivity With Eurasia: INSTC and India-Iran-Afghanistan-Central Asia Transport and Transit Corridor -- 14 Indian Trade Along Afghan Routes From 6th Century BCE to 19th Century CE -- 15 India's New Diplomacy in Central Asia: Analysing the First India-Central Asia Summit -- 16 Conclusion -- Index.