<span style="color: #222222;">External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will be hosting the third meeting of the India Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi from 18th to 20th December. Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan will participate in the meeting. The second meeting was organized by India in October last year via video conferencing.<br />'' <br />'' Briefing media in New Delhi this evening, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said there has been an ongoing engagement between India and the five Central Asian countries over the last few years. India considers Central Asia as part of its extended neighborhood. Dr. Jaishankar visited Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan and he also met Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan in October this year.<br />'' <br />'' As part of the third meeting of the India Central Asia Dialogue, the ministers are expected to discuss further strengthening of relations between India and Central Asian countries with a particular focus on trade, connectivity, and development cooperation. They will also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. The Ministers are also likely to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.<br />'' <br />''<br />''Replying to a query, the spokesperson said India will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. He said India is committed to sending 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan. He also added that New Delhi is in touch with Pakistan authorities on modalities of shipment of this wheat to Afghanistan through land route.</span><br />