Building peace in South Asia   Author: Ashraf Jehangir Qazi

The article highlights South Asia’s fractured journey toward peace, tracing the dashed hopes of SAARC’s regional cooperation dream. Four decades on, political rivalries, India’s hegemonic tendencies, and the Kashmir dispute have turned that dream into a mirage. While ASEAN soared, SAARC stumbled, bogged down by mistrust, limited trade, and institutional weakness. The rise of China as a military, economic, and strategic player has thrown India off balance, opening new possibilities for smaller states but also heightening geopolitical tensions. The author argues that peace will remain a pipe dream as long as India clings to dominance rather than cooperation, and as long as regional politics are entangled with US-China rivalry.

From Pakistan’s perspective, the road to regional credibility runs through better governance, stronger democracy, human rights protections, and a clear-eyed foreign policy. Balancing between the US and China is portrayed as a dangerous illusion, especially in a post-Operation Sindoor landscape where Washington views Pakistan through the prism of its China-containment strategy. The author urges Pakistan to mend fences with India where possible, revive SAARC’s spirit, and craft a robust “Rest of South Asia” policy to counterbalance Indian dominance. Only through wise diplomacy, domestic reform, and consistent strategic alignment can Pakistan hope to play a leading role in shaping a peaceful and prosperous South Asia.

Overview:

This article gives vision into regional diplomacy, SAARC’s structural failure, China’s strategic inroads and the US-China rivalry’s impact on South Asia. It also gives a nuanced view of Pakistan’s foreign policy dilemmas, governance deficits, and strategic priorities.

NOTES:

The article is a comparison between SAARC and ASEAN. It shows how the former has failed to achieve meaningful regional cooperation despite having similar objectives. India’s hegemonic approach and unresolved disputes particularly over Kashmir have discouraged smaller South Asian states from genuine collaboration. Meanwhile, China’s strategic footprint through the Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC, and BRICS offers alternative development opportunities, challenging India’s dominance. The US-Indo-Pacific strategy directly clashes with China’s integration vision, creating a complex geopolitical environment for the region. For Pakistan, improving governance, safeguarding human rights, and ensuring democratic strength are just as critical as military capabilities for earning regional credibility. The article also proposes that a well-structured “Rest of South Asia” policy could act as a strategic counterbalance to Indian influence, helping to revive cooperation in the region.

Related CSS syllabus topics:

• International Relations: Regional Cooperation and Conflicts
• Current Affairs: South Asian Politics, US-China Rivalry
• Pakistan Affairs: Foreign Policy, Governance, SAARC’s Role
• Political Science: Hegemony vs Cooperation in International Politics

Notes for Beginners:

SAARC, formed as South Asia’s version of ASEAN, has been largely unsuccessful due to deep-rooted political conflicts among its members, especially between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. Unlike ASEAN countries that resolved disputes to promote trade and economic integration, SAARC has remained stagnant, with intra-regional trade still minimal. China’s involvement through CPEC has given smaller South Asian nations more leverage, much like a skilled new player joining a struggling sports team to boost performance. However, Pakistan’s attempts to balance relations between the US and China are risky, similar to trying to serve two rival masters, eventually one will question your loyalty.

Facts and figures:

• SAARC founded: 1985, with 8 members
• ASEAN’s economic success contrasts with SAARC’s low intra-regional trade (less than 5%)
• China’s Belt and Road Initiative spans 150+ countries, including South Asian states
• Pakistan’s governance rankings among the lowest globally
• Operation Sindoor reshaped regional perceptions of India-Pakistan dynamics

To sum up, the article reminds us that military muscle alone won’t win friends or influence nations — sound governance, principled diplomacy, and an unwavering vision for regional cooperation are the true game changers. In the chessboard of South Asia, those who master both internal stability and external strategy will call the shots, while others will be left moving pawns in someone else’s game.