Instability in South Asia and the challenges faced by India
South Asia is currently experiencing political instability. Recent developments in Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and the Maldives have directly impacted India’s security and strategic interests. China and the US are interfering in the region through their respective toolkits. A reactive policy alone is not enough for India; it must strengthen diplomatic activism, economic investment, security cooperation and cultural ties. It is also imperative to maintain internal solidarity. India can no longer remain a mute spectator; it must play a decisive role to secure both regional stability and national security.
The instability that South Asia is going through today is not just a result of local politics, but is also the ill effects of the deep interference of global powers. The emergence of political upheavals and mass movements in countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and the Maldives in recent years has raised questions about the stability of the entire region. The attack on the Parliament by a crowd of youth in Nepal, large-scale violent protests against the government in Bangladesh, the ongoing military rule in Myanmar and the struggle against it, the emergence of an anti-India political stream in the Maldives—all these events are a matter of serious concern for India. The reason for this is clear, because these events have a direct impact on India’s security, economy, and strategic balance.
At the root of these events is the clash between superpowers like the US and China. The US works with its toolkit of democracy and human rights, where youth discontent, electoral fraud, and corruption are used as weapons to put pressure on local governments. On the other hand, China pulls these countries towards itself through its loans, infrastructure, and investment projects. Small countries like Nepal and the Maldives have been caught in the trap of Chinese investment, while the tussle between the US and China is clearly visible in Bangladesh and Myanmar. This scenario is affecting not only the politics of these countries but the entire South Asian geopolitical balance.
India is the most important stakeholder in this entire scenario. If Nepal becomes unstable, the social and political impact from there reaches India’s border. If there is turmoil in Bangladesh, Northeast India becomes insecure. If a civil war-like situation develops in Myanmar, the problem of refugees and smuggling becomes a challenge for India. If China-backed forces dominate in the Maldives, India’s strategic position in the Indian Ocean may weaken. All these events are sure to have a direct impact on Indian security, diplomacy, and economic interests.
India’s policy so far has been mostly reactive. Whenever a crisis deepens in neighbouring countries, India takes temporary steps, but the lack of a long-term strategy is clearly visible. For example, China’s penetration into the political equations of Nepal, taking advantage of the open border with Nepal, weakened India’s position. In the Maldives, too, after taking advantage of the India-first policy for a long time, India became alert when the new government moved closer to China. Similarly, the recent developments in Bangladesh have forced us to think whether India’s foreign policy is limited to short-term cooperation or if it also has a long-term vision.
The biggest challenge today is that India will have to play an active role not only in its borders but in the entire regional scenario. India’s development and security is incomplete without regional stability. Countries like China and America consider South Asia only as a field of their strategic competition, whereas for India, it is a question of existence and future. That is why India will now have to come out of the role of a “mute spectator” and play a decisive role.
Recent steps in India’s foreign policy also show promise. During its presidency of the G-20, India tried to become the voice of the global south and strengthened its identity on the world stage. An attempt was made to establish a strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific region through the Quad. Through the expansion of BRICS, India gave the message that it can maintain balance in multilateral structures. But the question is whether these global initiatives are proving helpful in solving the instability in the neighbourhood? The truth is that India needs to adopt a more active, flexible, and practical approach in neighbourhood politics.
Not just diplomacy, India will also have to strengthen its internal unity. History is a witness that the biggest blows to India came from outside when the society was divided from within. Even today, external forces are trying to destabilize India by inciting issues like casteism, religion, reservation, unemployment and regional inequality. Creating distrust among people through social media and funded movements is an important part of this toolkit. In such a situation, it is important for the citizens of India to understand that political differences are in their place, but national interest and security are paramount.
The way forward for India is clear. First, it will have to increase long-term investment and partnerships in neighbouring countries. Only by cooperation in education, health, and infrastructure can India make a permanent foothold there. Secondly, India will have to strengthen its intelligence and security partnerships so that any external interference or conspiracy can be thwarted in time. Third, there is a need to deepen people-to-people relations, because this is India’s real strength, which China or America can never achieve. Fourth, India will have to make the stability of South Asia a global issue on international forums so that the world community pays attention to it.
The conclusion is that the current instability in South Asia is not just a diplomatic or strategic challenge for India, but a question of existence. If India does not adopt a decisive strategy in time, it may get trapped in the same difficulties that its neighbours are facing. Therefore, the biggest need today is a balance of faith and vigilance. Only the trust of the public and the vision of the leadership together can keep India safe from external threats.
