Bridging Borders: Can South Asia Build a Shared Future Through Regional Diplomacy?

South Asia is a land of extraordinary diversity—home to nearly a quarter of the world’s population, rich cultural traditions, ancient trade routes, and vibrant democracies. Yet it is also one of the least integrated regions in the world. Despite geographic proximity and deep historical ties, South Asian nations remain divided by political mistrust, border disputes, and unresolved conflicts. The pressing question today is whether diplomacy can chart a new path toward a shared and cooperative future.

The Untapped Potential of Regional Cooperation

South Asia, as a region, has enormous economic and social potential. According to IMF data, the South Asian economy is now valued at more than $5.5 trillion, making it a rising force in the global economy. India is already one of the fastest-growing major economies, Bangladesh has become a hub for textiles and manufacturing, and Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal each hold unique strategic and economic strengths..

Yet, intra-regional trade in South Asia accounts for only 5% of total trade, compared with 25% in ASEAN and nearly 60% in the European Union. The barriers are not due to a lack of opportunity, but a lack of political will and trust. If South Asia were to integrate more deeply—through open borders, harmonized trade rules, and shared infrastructure—the World Bank estimates regional GDP could grow by an additional 30% over the next decade.

Historical Barriers to Diplomacy

The roots of regional disunity go deep. The partition of British India in 1947 created not just two nations, but also decades of mistrust between India and Pakistan. Several wars, territorial disputes over Kashmir, and competing national identities have entrenched hostility.

Beyond the India–Pakistan rivalry, other challenges persist:

• Water disputes, such as over the Indus and Teesta rivers.

• Border tensions, including the India–China standoff that impacts Nepal and Bhutan.

• Ethnic and religious conflicts, often spilling across borders.

• Migration and refugee crises, from Rohingya displacement to Afghan resettlement.

These historical and political disputes mean that South Asian diplomacy often reacts to crises rather than proactively building cooperation.

The Case for a New Diplomacy

In recent years, however, global and regional shifts have created space for a new diplomatic approach. Three key factors stand out:

1. Economic Imperatives

   • Global supply chains are shifting. If South Asia wants to compete with East Asia, it must act as a collective. Connectivity projects like the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) initiative and cross-border electricity trade already demonstrate the benefits of cooperation.

     
     

2. Climate and Security Challenges

   • From melting Himalayan glaciers to rising sea levels, South Asia faces existential climate risks. No single country can manage these alone. Shared strategies on disaster preparedness, water management, and renewable energy are essential.

   
   

3. Geopolitical Pressures

   • The rise of China, strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, and the need for stable sea lanes in the Indian Ocean push South Asian states to seek common ground. Smaller nations like Maldives, Bhutan, and Nepal increasingly leverage diplomacy to avoid being pawns in great-power rivalries.

   
   

Platforms for Regional Diplomacy

South Asia has experimented with institutional frameworks, though with mixed results.

• SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) was founded in 1985 with the dream of South Asian unity. It created useful platforms for cultural exchange, health, and education, but political rifts—especially between India and Pakistan—have paralyzed progress. The last SAARC summit was held in 2014.

• BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) has emerged as an alternative. Linking South Asia with Southeast Asia, BIMSTEC excludes Pakistan and focuses on connectivity, trade, and security cooperation. Many see it as a more pragmatic route to integration.

• Track II Diplomacy—involving academics, civil society, and business communities—has also played a quiet but significant role in keeping dialogue alive when official diplomacy has faltered.

Opportunities for a Shared Future

1. Trade and Economic Integration

   • Lowering tariffs and non-tariff barriers could boost intra-regional trade by up to $44 billion annually. Special economic corridors, joint digital payment platforms, and regional supply chains in textiles, IT, and agriculture could be transformative.

     
     

2. Connectivity and Infrastructure

   • Reviving regional transport links—from the Delhi–Lahore bus to trans-Himalayan railways—would physically bring people and markets closer. Investments in regional highways, ports, and power grids can knit the region together.

   
   

3. Climate Diplomacy

   • Shared river basins, glaciers, and coastal zones demand coordinated management. A South Asian Climate Compact could become a flagship initiative, signaling unity in the face of global climate threats.

   
   

4. Cultural and People-to-People Ties

   • Beyond governments, South Asians share common languages, cuisines, films, and traditions. Cultural diplomacy, student exchanges, and cross-border media collaborations can build goodwill that politics often lacks.

   
   

Challenges Ahead

Despite the opportunities, obstacles remain formidable. Nationalism is on the rise across the region. Governments often use external rivals to consolidate domestic political support. The India–Pakistan standoff continues to overshadow regional initiatives. And smaller states sometimes fear domination by larger neighbors.

Moreover, external powers—China, the United States, and others—often deepen divides by pursuing their own strategic interests in South Asia. The region must find a way to balance these influences without losing its own agency.

Conclusion: A Choice for the Future

South Asia today stands at a crossroads. It can continue along a path of mistrust and missed opportunities, or it can choose the harder but more rewarding road of regional diplomacy and integration.

The region’s people already demonstrate the possibility of unity. South Asian diaspora communities around the world thrive by celebrating shared cultures rather than divisions. Within the region, millions cross borders daily for work, trade, education, and tourism.

The task before South Asian leaders is to match the people’s instinct for connection with political courage. A shared future is possible—but only if diplomacy becomes less about managing rivalries and more about building bridges.

If South Asia can embrace this vision, it will not only unlock its economic potential but also show the world that cooperation is stronger than conflict.