Geopolitical Assessment of South Asian Border Complexities

India–China Border Conflicts

The India–China boundary, stretching over roughly 3,440 km, remains undefined in large swaths and prone to face-offs along its Line of Actual Control (LAC). Rooted in the contested McMahon Line established during the 1913–14 Simla Convention, which China never fully recognized, this frontier saw a full-scale war in 1962 and deadly clashes as recently as 2020 (Galwan Valley) over road-building and infrastructure moves by both sides. Despite ongoing military-level talks, infrastructure competition and broader civilizational rivalry continue to drive bilateral tensions, shaping not only regional security but the future of Asian geopolitics.

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India–Pakistan Territorial Disputes

Since the 1947 Partition, Jammu and Kashmir has been the epicenter of India–Pakistan conflict, spawning four wars, cross-LoC skirmishes, and proxy strategies aimed at “bleeding India by a thousand cuts.” The 1972 Simla Agreement converted a cease-fire line into today’s Line of Control but failed to resolve sovereignty claims. Water-sharing conflicts in the Indus basin and standoffs over the Siachen Glacier further compound tensions, all set against the nuclear deterrence backdrop that raises the stakes of any flare-up.

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Afghanistan’s Strategic Alignment

Afghanistan’s shifting foreign policy adds another layer of complexity. After decades of conflict and the U.S. withdrawal, Kabul has sought diplomatic outreach with New Delhi, culminating in meetings between Indian and Afghan foreign secretaries in multilateral settings. This courting serves India’s counterbalance strategy against Pakistan’s influence and underscores Afghanistan’s desire for diversified security partnerships as it navigates its own internal power dynamics.

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Bangladesh’s Evolving Posture

Bangladesh’s external alignments have pivoted sharply since 2024. Under its interim government, Dhaka has actively warmed relations with Islamabad—signing visa-free travel pacts, defense-and-intelligence cooperation agreements, and cultural MoUs—while distancing itself from a “neighborhood first” tilt toward New Delhi that marked previous administrations. This recalibration has altered the strategic calculus for India, Pakistan, and China, as Bangladesh leverages its geographic position and economic ties to balance among larger regional powers.

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Historical Claims: The “Mahā-Bhārata” Legacy

Modern nationalist narratives in India sometimes invoke the Mahābhārata’s vision of a unified “Bhārata” realm spanning the subcontinent, suggesting historical or civilizational claims over adjacent territories. Composed between the 4th century BCE and 4th century CE, the epic describes a great kingdom ruled by the descendants of King Bharata—an idea that resonates symbolically today as states revisit historical borders to bolster modern territorial assertions.