The Indian Subcontinent faces several crisis with many countries struggling with many issues internally and externally.
The region of South Asia, also known as Indian subcontinent has been exposed to chaos in internal affairs and lot of mayhem lately. India's immediate neighbourhood, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and now Nepal, has been an area of unrest and instability. This regular disturbance is due to a complicated mix of historical grievances, political turmoil, economic vulnerability, and geopolitical competition, creating both direct and indirect threats to India's security and regional leadership. The string of incidents also seems sponsored by either US-led West or China-Russia forces. Either way, the subcontinent transforming into proxy battleground have led to many vulnerabilities for India to take care of.
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A number of issues drive the instability in these nations. Pakistan's long-standing dispute with India over Kashmir, combined with domestic political instability and terrorism issues, continues to be a major driver of regional instability. The army acting as the political top-brass adds to the problem. Afghanistan, having been under Taliban control since 2021, still struggles with issues of governance and humanitarian crises, which affect the security dynamics.
Sri Lanka's economic breakdown recently has shook its political system, leading to social unrest and governance problems, while Bangladesh witnessed severe political turmoil characterised by student movements and leadership crises which even led to the political leadership to vacate and a regime change. Nepal's recent political crisis, which was initiated by protest against the ban on social media and mass protests, ended with the resignation of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, demonstrating underlying political dysfunction.
Experts also refer to structural factors like poverty, joblessness, ethnic cleavages, and fragile institutional arrangements as underlying factors that fuel social unrest and regime instability throughout South Asia. External interference and the increased role of China and the U.S. are further factors that create a climate of competition and distrust and complicate regional dynamics further.
The instability of the neighbourhood immediately affects India's national security, economic interests, and diplomatic stand. Cross-border terrorism, refugee flows, interrupted trade lines, and the spillover of extremist ideologies tax India's resources and strategic attention. In addition, pending border disputes and geopolitical competition, especially by China's deep presence, further complexing security issues.
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Experts suggest a mature, multi-dimensional approach for India to navigate through this volatile regional environment:
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The Indian subcontinent faces unrest is rooted in interlinked historical, political, socio-economic, and geopolitical reasons. Theorists underpin India's strategic role as a regional anchor based on calibrated diplomacy, economic consolidation, and security partnership. Adopting a balanced, patient, and inclusive neighbourhood policy based on collective respect and common development can shift India's neighbourhood from a region of turbulence into an arena of stability and growth. This strategic policy is the key to achieving India's national interests as well as promoting peace in one of the most intricate and densely populated areas in the world.
