Problems with security throughout South Asia region

 South Asia, which is home to nearly a quarter of the world's population, has a complicated historical context, a vast diversity of regions, and contested national borders. The fact that this region faces some of the most difficult conventional and non-conventional security challenges in the world today should not come as a surprise.

The effects of colonization on South Asia are hard to deny. The region's colonial past continues to be a major source of tension. India and Pakistan have been at odds for a long time due to the bloody partition of the Indian subcontinent. It proved to be completely impossible to form two wings of Pakistan that were separated by a hostile neighbor in the middle. Bangladesh's bitter separation from the rest of Pakistan was made worse by the hegemonic tendencies of West Pakistan.

Demarcations that were problematic during the colonial era also laid the groundwork for an unresolved border dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Naturally, the threat posed by nuclear weapons makes Kashmir a major source of rivalry and stress for the entire region.

Both Pakistan and India have experienced significant ethnic and communal strife in addition to disputes over the border. Pakistan faces a significant obstacle in Balochistan's agitation as well as the persecution of religious minority groups. The Indian state has been able to defeat the Sikh separatist insurgency, but it continues to face serious challenges from Maoist rebels in various states and several other insurgent elements in India's northeastern states. Indian tensions between Hindus and Muslims have also significantly increased under Modi.

Despite the political hegemony of the Awami League, which is led by Sheikh Hasina, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman's daughter, religious intolerance remains a significant issue in Bangladesh today, despite the country's secular and democratic aspirations.

Over a decade ago, the Sinhalese takeover of Sri Lanka by post-colonial Tamils was brutally crushed. However, ethno-nationalist Buddhist majoritarianism remains a threat to Tamils and other minorities, including Christians and Muslims, which may worsen given the country's socioeconomic turmoil.

Afghanistan's situation is far from stable. International support and recognition have become more difficult as a result of the Taliban's growing repression. Other issues compromising human security in this conflict-ridden nation include regional struggles for influence and the Islamic State's growing threat.

The current state of regional conflict in South Asia and throughout the region is exacerbated by China's expanding influence. The Sino-Indian border war of the early 1960s may have signaled the beginning of their ongoing rivalry. China has developed increasingly closer military and economic ties with Pakistan, particularly since the launch of CPEC, in addition to wooing Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Pakistan, which is having a difficult time balancing its relations with China and the US, has joined the fray as a result of the shifting impact of US policies toward India to counterbalance China. This is not only fueling a rivalry between China and India but also drawing Pakistan into the fray.

Large and small states in South Asia share vital natural resources that are threatened by climate change, despite differences. A major concern is how stresses brought on by the climate will interact with the tensions that already exist in the region.

To better address climate-related challenges in the region and unlock the economic potential of the entire region, all states in South Asia must work together. On the other hand, mutual suspicion and the narrow goals of populist national leaders will make it easier for outside powers to control regional states in order to establish their own strategic dominance.