South Asia
Which countries are part of South Asia?
Is China a part of South Asia?
What role does the monsoon play in South Asia’s climate?
What are the main economic sectors in South Asia?
What are the two main regional organizations in South Asia?
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South Asia, subregion of Asia, consisting primarily of the Indo-Gangetic Plain and peninsular India. It includes the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka; Afghanistan and the Maldives are often considered part of South Asia as well, as members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The term is often used synonymously with Indian subcontinent, though the latter term is sometimes used more restrictively to refer to Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.
South Asia is one of the most densely populated regions in the world and has been the site of several early human civilizations and empires, including the Indus valley civilization (2600–1900 bce) as well as the Mauryan and Gupta empires. From the 15th century ce onward, the region increasingly came under the influence of European colonial powers, including Portugal and Great Britain. Much of South Asia was under direct British colonial rule from the 18th century until the mid-20th century, when most countries in the region gained independence. Since then South Asia has consisted of several sovereign states with distinct political systems and foreign policies, with bilateral ties having been influenced by issues of security, economy, and development.
Geography
South Asia is bounded to the north by a series of mountain ranges: the Hindu Kush to the northwest (primarily in Afghanistan and Pakistan), the Karakoram Range in the central north (spanning Pakistan, India, and China), and the Himalayas to the northeast (extending across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China). South of these mountains lies the Indo-Gangetic Plain, formed from the combined alluvial plains of the Indus, Ganges (Ganga), and Brahmaputra rivers, which lie in a deep marginal depression running north of and parallel to the main range of the Himalayas. It is an area of subsidence into which thick accumulations of earlier marine sediments and later continental deposits have washed down from the rising mountains. The sediments provide fertile soil in the Ganges and Brahmaputra basins and in irrigated parts of the Indus basin, whereas the margins of the Indus basin have become sandy deserts.
Peninsular India and Sri Lanka are formed of platform plateaus and tablelands, including the vast Deccan plateau, uplifted in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. The region includes tablelands with uplifted margins, such as the Western and Eastern Ghats, and terraced and dissected plateaus with lava mantles or intrusions.
South Asia is heavily impacted by the effects of climate change. According to the World Bank, the region is experiencing a “new climate normal” of intensified extreme weather events such as floods, landslides, droughts, and cyclones. Erratic rainfall patterns have contributed to floods and droughts in many parts of India and Pakistan. The Himalayan regions of India, including Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, have witnessed intense rainfall, flash floods, and landslides. Rising temperatures and sea levels have heightened the risk for communities living in low-lying areas of coastal and deltaic regions in countries such as Bangladesh, increasing the frequency of strong cyclones and affecting agriculture and human settlements. Warming temperatures have also affected countries located in the Himalayas, such as Nepal and Bhutan. Glaciers are melting at a faster pace, leading to increased flooding, most notably in Pakistan, where glacier-fed rivers contributed to the devastating floods of 2010 and 2022. In island countries such as the Maldives and Sri Lanka, rising sea levels are causing havoc through prolonged flooding, cyclones, and coastal erosion. These trends are estimated to have serious implications for the region’s economy and population. The Asian Development Bank has warned that, unless there is a global effort to stem the causes of climate change, “South Asia will suffer huge economic, social, and environmental damage.”
South Asia’s climate is largely shaped by the seasonal monsoons, which bring most of the region’s rainfall between May and September. Monsoon rains are critical to the region’s agriculture and water supply systems. Rainfall patterns differ within South Asia, with parts of northeastern India and Bangladesh receiving some of the highest annual rainfall globally. Arid and semiarid regions, including parts of Pakistan and western India, receive lower levels of precipitation. Variations in monsoon intensity have historically contributed to floods and droughts, resulting in food insecurity in many parts of the region.
South Asia is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Bay of Bengal to the east, and the Indian Ocean to the south. Its coastal areas are economically important and have supported maritime trade and fishing for centuries. Low-lying coastal regions such as Bangladesh and parts of eastern India are prone to cyclones, coastal flooding, and storm surges.
South Asia is also one of the most densely populated regions in the world and is home to roughly two billion people, about one-quarter of the world’s population. Population distribution is uneven, with high densities of people living near fertile river basins and coastal areas, such as the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta. On the other hand, mountainous regions, including the Himalayas, and desert areas, such as the Thar Desert, typically have lower population densities.
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Economy
South Asia was one of the fastest-growing economic regions globally in the early 2020s. Several international financial institutions, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, have projected average growth rates between 5 and 7 percent for the region during the 2020s, a range broadly consistent with growth trends during the first half of the decade. Economic size and performance vary widely by country. India is the largest economy in South Asia, with an estimated nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of about $4 trillion as of 2026, accounting for more than 80 percent of the regional GDP.
Agriculture is a key driver of the regional economy and remains a major source of employment in countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, with major crops including rice, wheat, pulses, sugarcane, and tea. The region continues to depend heavily on seasonal monsoon rainfall, which provides more than 70 percent of its annual rainfall. Manufacturing has expanded through labor-intensive and export-oriented industries, particularly in Bangladesh’s garment sector and India’s broad industrial base. The services sector, which includes information technology, finance, and tourism, has become increasingly important in economies such as India’s, Sri Lanka’s, the Maldives’, and Nepal’s.
History
Ancient history
South Asia was home to some of the world’s earliest known civilizations. The Indus civilization (c. 2600–1900 bce), which developed along the Indus River basin, was an urban settlement in the region. In the centuries that followed, the region saw the rise of major kingdoms and empires, including the Mauryan empire (c. 321–185 bce) and the Gupta dynasty (4th–6th century ce). These were noted for their urban centers, advanced drainage systems, and maritime trade. River-based agriculture supported dense populations in many parts of the region.
South Asia was also the birthplace of major religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism, which spread across the region and beyond. The region was influenced not only by the dissemination of these religious and cultural traditions but also by the establishment of trade links with several regions, including Central Asia, the Middle East, and East Asia.
Medieval history
The medieval period in South Asia saw the rise and decline of several empires as well as the emergence and consolidation of Islam. In the northern part, Islamic empires such as the Delhi sultanate and the Mughal dynasty had a lasting impact. The Delhi sultanate extended from northern India into parts of present-day Pakistan and Bangladesh, whereas the Mughal dynasty ruled much of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh at its height. They introduced new systems of administration, law, and taxation, including land revenue collection frameworks and codified legal systems. Persian became an important language of the imperial court, recordkeeping, and literature. Moreover, architecture and urban planning evolved during this period through the blending of Islamic styles and local traditions.
The southern part of South Asia also saw the emergence of strong empires. The Chola dynasty was particularly noteworthy because it became a major regional power between the 9th and 13th centuries ce. The dynasty was a renowned nautical power, known for its strong administrative structure, elaborate temple architecture, and extensive maritime trade.
The beginning of the 15th century saw the rise of European colonial powers—the Portuguese, Dutch, French, and the British—which competed among themselves for land, influence, and power in South Asia.
Modern history
From the 18th century onward, European powers expanded their political and territorial control in South Asia, with the British East India Company and later the British crown extending its influence over much of South Asia, alongside smaller French and other European colonial enclaves. By the 19th century British colonial rule had become dominant. Colonial rule introduced new forms of administration, taxation, transportation, and communication. The period also saw several independence movements aimed at ending colonial rule in South Asia, most notably the Indian Independence Movement. British rule ended in the mid-20th century, particularly with the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 into the two new countries of India and Pakistan. Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) gained independence from the British in 1948, and Bangladesh became an independent country in 1971 following a liberation war with Pakistan. Nepal, which was never formally colonized, maintained its sovereignty under a series of treaties with the British and transformed from a monarchy to a constitutional monarchy in 1990 and to a federal democratic republic in 2008.
Following the end of British colonial rule, South Asia entered a period of state building marked by the emergence of the newly independent countries. Armed conflicts occurred at different points after colonial rule ended, most notably between India and Pakistan, which continued to engage in armed skirmishes, particularly over the disputed region of Kashmir. Bangladesh transitioned from East Pakistan into an independent country after a war of liberation against Pakistan, in which India became directly involved.
Political dynamics
From the late 20th century into the 21st century, South Asia experienced major social and economic transformations, including population growth, urbanization, and economic liberalization in several countries, such as India and Bangladesh. Efforts aimed at regional cooperation increasingly took shape during this period, including the establishment of key regional groupings such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
- India-Pakistan conflict: The rivalry between India and Pakistan following the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 has persisted for decades, marked by periodic wars and skirmishes rather than continuous conflict. It has involved four major wars, nuclear tensions, military skirmishes, terrorism, and bilateral troubles, particularly over the disputed region of Kashmir. (For more information on this rivalry, see India-Pakistan conflict.)Major wars fought between India and Pakistan
- 1947 India-Pakistan War
- Kargil War (1999)
- Pakistan-Bangladesh conflict (1971): What began as an armed agitation against a Pakistani military crackdown in East Pakistan in 1971 eventually led to a full-scale war between India and Pakistan later that year. East Pakistan became the independent country of Bangladesh in the aftermath of one of the deadliest conflicts of the region. (For more information on this conflict, see Bangladesh Liberation War and 1971 India-Pakistan War.)
- India-China conflict: Although China is not a part of South Asia, its conflict with India has continued for decades and has impacted India’s foreign policy and security positioning in the region. The dispute is over border regions, including Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh. Both countries fought a brief war in 1962, and occasional skirmishes along the borders have added to tensions.
- India-Nepal border disputes: Territorial disputes between India and Nepal trace their origins to the Treaty of Sagauli, signed in 1816 between the British East India Company and the kingdom of Nepal, which formally demarcated Nepal’s border with British India. Since 1947, when India gained independence, differences in the interpretation of historical maps and river boundaries have led to recurring diplomatic disputes between the two countries, particularly over the regions of Kalapani, Lipu Lekh, and Limpiyadhura. The conflict has largely remained low in intensity, and disputes have mostly been managed through diplomatic channels.
- Political instability in Afghanistan: Political instability in Afghanistan has persisted since at least the Soviet invasion of the country in 1979, which caused prolonged conflict and the collapse of central authority following the Soviet withdrawal in 1989. The ensuing civil war in the 1990s led to the rise of the Taliban, which controlled much of the country by 1996 before being removed from power by a United States-led military intervention in 2001. Despite almost two decades of international military and political involvement, state institutions remained fragile, and in 2021 the Taliban returned to power during the withdrawal of U.S. and other foreign troops. (To learn more about the crisis in Afghanistan, see Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Afghan War, Afghanistan War, and withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan.)
- Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict: Armed clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated in 2025 after an increase in militant attacks along their shared border. The violence was linked to cross-border activities by the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan, a Pakistani militant group, resulting in Pakistani air strikes inside Afghan territory and subsequent retaliatory action by Taliban forces. In February 2026, amid rising tensions, Afghan forces led cross-border attacks in Pakistan, which retaliated by launching multiple air strikes, including in Kabul, resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties. (For more information about this conflict, see Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict.)
- Sri Lankan civil war: A brutal armed conflict broke out in the early 1980s between the government of Sri Lanka and Tamil separatists, particularly the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Rooted in ethnic and political tensions between sections of the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority, the conflict lasted for several decades before ending in 2009.
- Maoist insurgencies in India and Nepal: Also known as the Naxalite movement, the Maoist insurgency in India began in 1967 and was reportedly driven by several grievances, including land rights and caste-based discrimination, and was inspired by Mao Zedong’s communist ideology. The movement initially included multiple factions that merged into the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in 2004. Maoist insurgent activities have mostly been concentrated in what is officially called the “Red Corridor” in parts of central and eastern India. The insurgency peaked during the mid-2000s and 2010s and later weakened because of various factors, including sustained paramilitary operations. Other forms of left-wing insurgency have taken place in South Asia, most notably the Maoist insurgency in Nepal, which began in the mid-1990s and played a key role in abolishing the monarchy in 2008 and establishing a democracy.
- Other insurgencies in India: Since 1947 the Indian government has confronted several internal conflicts resulting from various separatist movements in the ethnically diverse country. The insurgencies of northeastern India date back to the late 1940s, beginning with the Naga movement, with distinct movements later emerging in the states of Assam, Manipur, and Tripura. These insurgencies were largely driven by ethnic identity, demands for autonomy, and disputes over resources and migration. The insurgency in the state of Punjab emerged in the late 1970s. Centered on the demand for a separate Sikh homeland called Khalistan, the insurgency escalated during the 1980s. In 1984 the Indian army raided the Golden Temple, the holiest site for Sikhs, to remove insurgents who had occupied the shrine. Later that year Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards. In the 1980s insurgency began in the troubled Kashmir region and peaked during the 1990s, when Hindu Kashmiris were displaced in large numbers, and continued into the 2000s. Kashmiri separatism was rooted in 1947, when the Hindu king of the Muslim-majority princely state of Kashmir controversially joined India over Pakistan. Insurgents consisted of local outfits and Pakistan-backed groups. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, including civilians, soldiers, and militants. Although the intensity of the conflict declined since the 2000s, militant attacks and counterinsurgency operations have continued into the 2020s.
- Sri Lankan political and economic crisis (2022): One of Sri Lanka’s most severe political and economic crises occurred in 2022. The crisis was triggered by an acute foreign exchange shortage that left the country unable to pay for essential imports such as food, fuel, and medicines. Years of government fiscal mismanagement and heavy external borrowing, the collapse of the country’s tourism industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, rising global commodity prices, and other factors contributed to the crisis. Prolonged power cuts, inflation, and shortages of essential goods triggered countrywide protests that culminated in the storming of the presidential palace by protesters, the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, and the flight of Pres. Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
- Political crisis in Bangladesh: Between 2024 and 2025, Bangladesh experienced a period of political instability marked by widespread student-led protests and a change in leadership. Following the reelection of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed in the 2024 general elections, student protests demanding civil service reforms evolved into an anti-government movement. The protests contributed to the resignation and eventual flight of Hasina to India. The parliament controlled by Hasina’s Awami League party was dissolved and replaced by an interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, to oversee a political transition and hold new elections.
- Gen Z protests in Nepal: In September 2025 Nepal witnessed large-scale Generation Z-led protests, the immediate trigger of which was the government’s decision to impose a countrywide social media ban. The move came amid long-standing issues such as high youth unemployment and economic problems, and it quickly sparked youth-led protests, which eventually led to violent clashes with security forces and attacks on government buildings, including the parliament. Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli eventually resigned, the social media ban was lifted, and the Nepalese army imposed a countrywide curfew to restore order. (For more information about the protests, see 2025 Nepalese Gen Z protests and Generation Z protests.)
Regional cooperation
Neighbourhood First is India’s foreign policy approach to its immediate neighbors. Conceived in the late 2000s, the policy emphasizes political engagement, economic integration, connectivity, and security cooperation with countries in South Asia. Under this framework, India has prioritized development assistance, infrastructure projects, trade facilitation, and disaster relief. Between 2000 and the early 2020s, India extended over $30 billion in lines of credit and development assistance to neighboring countries, with primary recipients including Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. This engagement has included humanitarian assistance during the 2015 Nepal earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regional cooperation in South Asia is shaped by a combination of factors, including shared geography, historical development, colonial policies, and postindependence political dynamics. Key areas of interaction include trade, connectivity, infrastructure, water sharing, security, and disaster management, where cooperation and tension often coexist. As the largest country, economy, and military actor in South Asia, India plays a central role in shaping regional cooperation. Conceived in the late 2000s, India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy has sought to prioritize engagement with South Asian neighbors, particularly through development assistance, connectivity projects, and security cooperation. Multilateral regional frameworks such as SAARC and BIMSTEC provide institutional platforms for dialogue between South Asian countries.
Trade, connectivity, and infrastructure
India is a key trading partner for several South Asian countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. In the early 2020s bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh was about $18 billion, mainly driven by textiles and agricultural goods. By 2024 trade with India amounted to more than 60 percent of Nepal’s total trade, with bilateral trade between the two neighbors about $8 billion. India is also Nepal’s largest export destination, and exports and imports mostly take place through cross-border and transit arrangements. India accounts for more than 80 percent of Bhutan’s total trade, with petroleum products, agricultural products, and electricity dominating. Sri Lanka and the Maldives also heavily rely on India for imports of food, fuel, manufacturing goods, and tourism-related linkages. Pakistan’s trade within South Asia is limited and estimated to be about 8 percent of its total trade, with its main partners in the region being Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Trade ties between India and Pakistan have been defined by their broader political tensions, leading to regular trade suspensions and the absence of a regular bilateral trade framework.
Connectivity initiatives in South Asia have focused on road, rail, maritime, inland waterways, and energy links to facilitate trade and movement. India shares either a land or maritime border with every country in the region and has thus emerged as a key transit and connectivity hub for regional transport, energy, and trade corridors. For instance, India shares rail and road links with several neighbors, such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. It also has inland waterway networks along the Ganges-Brahmaputra river system and infrastructure and connectivity projects along the Himalayas. Maritime connectivity and infrastructure development have also expanded in the region, particularly in Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka. (See transportation in India.)
Here’s a table outlining the key agreements in trade, connectivity, and infrastructure in the region:
| name | year | type | countries | purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) | 2006 | trade | SAARC members | promote regional trade |
| India–Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement | 2000 | trade | India, Sri Lanka | expand bilateral trade and reduce tariffs |
| India-Bhutan Trade Agreement | 2006 | trade | India, Bhutan | facilitate trade in most commodities and expand bilateral trade |
| Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement | 2010 | trade | Afghanistan, Pakistan | allow transit of goods between and through Afghanistan and Pakistan |
| BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement | 2015 | road connectivity | Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal | enable cross-border movement of goods and vehicles |
| India-Bangladesh Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade | 1972 (expanded in 2010s) | inland waterways | India, Bangladesh | allow cargo movement along Ganges-Brahmaputra river system |
| India-Bangladesh Coastal Shipping Agreement | 2015 | maritime | India, Bangladesh | allow direct cargo movement between ports such as Kolkata (Calcutta) and Chattogram, Bangladesh |
| India-Nepal Power Trade Agreement | 2014 | energy | India, Nepal | enable cross-border electricity trade and grid connectivity |
Water sharing
Water sharing is a key issue in South Asia. The region’s geography is dominated by large river systems—particularly those originating in the Himalayas, such as the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra, and their tributaries. These rivers cross national boundaries between several South Asian states. They support hundreds of millions of people and are critical to regional irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, drinking water, flood control, and food security.
The Indus River has been one of the major sources of tension between India and Pakistan. Some of the river’s tributaries originate in India and flow downstream into Pakistan, which depends heavily on them for irrigation and agriculture. Although both countries signed the Indus Waters Treaty in 1960 to regulate the issue, disputes over water allocation and upstream infrastructure projects often emerge, usually when an armed conflict or skirmish between the two neighbors erupts. Other major water-sharing disputes include tensions between India and Bangladesh over the flow and use of the Ganges and the Teesta (a tributary of the Brahmaputra River) rivers. India and Nepal also dispute the transboundary flow of the Kosi, Gandak, and Mahakali rivers, including the construction of barrages, irrigation rights, flood control, and hydropower development.
The following is a table of key water-sharing agreements in South Asia:
| river | countries | nature of dispute | agreement | status of agreement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indus River | India, Pakistan | water allocation, infrastructure development | Indus Waters Treaty (1960) | in abeyance since April 2025, when a terrorist attack by Pakistan-linked militants killed 26 people in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir |
| Ganges River | India, Bangladesh | dry season water allocation at Farakka Barrage | Ganges Water Sharing Treaty (1996) | in force |
| Teesta River | India, Bangladesh | water allocation, mainly for irrigation and agriculture | proposed treaty | unresolved |
| Mahakali River | India, Nepal | water sharing, flood control, infrastructure development | Mahakali Treaty (1996) | in force |
| Kosi River | India, Nepal | water sharing, flood control, infrastructure development | India-Nepal Agreement on Kosi Project (1954) | in force |
| Gandak River | India, Nepal | water sharing, flood control, infrastructure development | Gandak Agreement (1959) | in force |
Security cooperation
Security cooperation in South Asia has developed primarily in response to interstate conflicts, cross-border militancy, terrorism, and internal insurgencies. The region’s security environment has been shaped by long-standing rivalries, particularly between India and Pakistan, and internal conflicts, such as insurgencies in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. Strategic competition between India and China has also influenced alignments and conflicts across the region. This includes China’s strategic partnership with Pakistan and its expanding economic footprint in South Asia, including in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Cooperation has occurred through bilateral arrangements, since there is limited multilateral cooperation in the region. For instance, SAARC adopted a Convention on Suppression of Terrorism in 1987, which calls for greater counterterrorism cooperation.
The long-standing India-Pakistan conflict determines the security dynamics of South Asia to a large extent, and both India and Pakistan have, over the decades, engaged intermittently in efforts at security cooperation. However, formal dialogue between the two has been largely suspended since 2019, when Pakistan downgraded diplomatic relations with India after the latter revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. (For more information about Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, see Article 370 of the Constitution of India.) Some form of military engagement has existed since then, including the reaffirmation of the 2003 line of control ceasefire in 2021 and the maintenance of limited military channels of communication, such as those between the countries’ directors general of military operations. Following the 2025 terrorist attacks in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which India accused Pakistan of encouraging, even these limited contacts have largely ceased.
Other examples of security cooperation include the partnership between India and Bangladesh to counter insurgency and drug trafficking, among other issues, along their 2,545.6-mile (4,096.7-km) border. India also maintains close security relations with Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan, whereas Pakistan has deepened strategic ties with China. India and Bhutan signed the India-Bhutan Treaty of Friendship in 1949, which provides the foundation for close defense cooperation. This partnership was evident in 2017, during the standoff at Doklam between Bhutan and China. Indian troops crossed into the Doklam plateau to prevent Chinese road construction in the region claimed by Bhutan, remaining in a tense face-off with Chinese troops for about two months. India’s cooperation with Bangladesh has periodically been affected by political changes in the latter, including shifts following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed in 2024, which introduced uncertainty in bilateral security ties. Irregular migration from Bangladesh has also been a persistent security issue in India, particularly in several northeastern states. Although China is not a South Asian country, it plays an important role in shaping the region’s security dynamics, particularly over its conflict with India and growing security cooperation with Pakistan. Security cooperation in the region is particularly visible through regular bilateral military exercises. Here’s a table of key military exercises in the region:
| name | countries | type | first held | frequency | purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surya Kiran | India, Nepal | army | 2011 | annual | border security cooperation, counterinsurgency, humanitarian assistance |
| Sampriti | India, Bangladesh | army | 2009 | annual | counterterrorism |
| Mitra Shakti | India, Sri Lanka | army | 2013 | annual | counterinsurgency |
| SLINEX | India, Sri Lanka | navy | 2005 | annual | maritime security cooperation |
| DOSTI | India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka | coast guard, navy | 1991 | biennial | maritime security cooperation |
| Ekuverin | India, Maldives | army | 2009 | annual | counterterrorism |
| Pakistan-China military exercises | Pakistan, China | army, navy, air force | 2004 | regular | counterterrorism, conventional warfare training |
| AMAN | Pakistan and about 50 other countries | navy | 2007 | biennial | maritime security cooperation |
Disaster management cooperation
- 1970 Bhola cyclone: Affected parts of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and northeastern India; 300,000–500,000 fatalities
- 1991 Bangladesh cyclone: About 140,000 fatalities
- 1998 Afghanistan earthquake: About 4,000 fatalities
- 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami: Affected many countries in South and Southeast Asia; more than 200,000 fatalities
- 2005 Kashmir earthquake: 79,000–86,000 fatalities
- 2010 Pakistan floods: 1,200–2,200 fatalities
- 2013 northern India floods: About 6,000 fatalities
- 2015 Nepal earthquake: About 9,000 fatalities
- 2022 Pakistan floods: About 2,000 fatalities
- 2025 Afghanistan earthquake: More than 2,000 fatalities
- 2025 Cyclone Ditwah: Affected parts of Sri Lanka; more than 500 fatalities
South Asia is one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world, experiencing frequent floods, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, droughts, and heat waves, which affect billions of people in the area. As a result of these frequent natural disasters, disaster management has emerged as a key area of cooperation among South Asian countries. (See also Asia Floods of 2025 and 10 Deadliest Cyclones in History.)
In 2006 SAARC established the SAARC Disaster Management Centre in New Delhi to promote information sharing, capacity building, and regional cooperation in the face of natural disasters. That year SAARC also adopted its Comprehensive Framework on Disaster Management to enhance cooperation in the fields of disaster risk reduction, early warning systems, and post-disaster response.
Cooperation in South Asia has been prominent, and countries are often quick to provide disaster-relief assistance to neighbors in need. For instance, the Indian Navy provided search and rescue operations in many countries affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, and India administered financial assistance, medical aid, and humanitarian response during the 2015 Nepal earthquake. Bangladesh distributed vital humanitarian assistance, including medical equipment, food, and other essential items, to Sri Lanka during Cyclone Ditwah of 2025. Bilateral military exercises (major ones mentioned above) have also increasingly prioritized humanitarian and disaster relief as part of the drills, emphasizing rescue operations and the provision of emergency aid.
China’s role in South Asia
China’s presence in South Asia has been growing at least since the 2000s, driven by a combination of factors, including security concerns, economic interests, maritime access, and its strategic competition with India. China and India fought a war in 1962, and periodic armed skirmishes between the countries have continued since then, including the 2017 Doklam standoff, when Indian troops intervened to block Chinese road construction in Doklam, a region claimed by both Bhutan and China. There have also been violent clashes along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. Additionally, China has sought to expand its footprint in the Indian Ocean region by increasing ties with coastal countries such as Bangladesh, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
China’s closest partnership in South Asia has been with Pakistan, which has expanded since the establishment of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in 2015, a flagship component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The CPEC connects China’s Xinjiang region to the Gwadar port in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, and portions of the corridor pass through Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, a disputed region claimed by India, which has formally objected to the project. Thus, the CPEC is a point of contention between India, China, and Pakistan. China is also Pakistan’s largest supplier of defense equipment, including fighter jets, missile technology, and naval vessels.
China has made major investments in infrastructure projects in Bangladesh, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, including the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, which was leased to a Chinese company for 99 years in 2017. These developments have unfolded alongside China’s rivalry with India, leading the Indian government to view China’s growing presence in South Asia as a major strategic challenge.
| country | regional role | political and strategic significance | economic and diplomatic influence |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | key regional power | largest military and political actor in South Asia; central to regional security dynamics; plays a leading role in regional institutions such as SAARC; possesses nuclear weapons | largest economy in South Asia; key trading partner for most regional countries; major driver of regional connectivity, infrastructure, and diplomacy |
| Pakistan | key regional power | strong military influence on domestic and foreign policy; pivotal to South Asia’s security environment, particularly in relation to Afghanistan and India; possesses nuclear weapons | strategic economic partnerships with several global and regional powers |
| Bangladesh | emerging economic and diplomatic actor | active participant in regional forums and cooperation initiatives | economic growth driven by manufacturing and exports; growing role in regional trade and connectivity |
| Sri Lanka | strategic maritime state | strategically important location in Indian Ocean; positioned along key global shipping routes and seen as critical for maritime access; role in region partly shaped by external power competition, particularly between India and China | tourism and maritime trade hub |
| Nepal | landlocked country | strategic location between India and China; political balancing role | reliant on cross-border trade and remittances |
| Bhutan | landlocked country | strategic location between India and China; close bilateral ties with India | hydroelectric power is crucial driver of economy |
| Afghanistan | conflict-affected regional state | prolonged political and economic instability shapes regional security | limited economic integration; regional influence shaped mostly by humanitarian and security concerns |
| Maldives | strategically located island country in Indian Ocean | strategically located along key Indian Ocean sea-lanes | tourism and fisheries are key economic drivers |