South Asia as a region has been struggling against poverty and transnational challenges. The trend that is gradually coming up is seaports and regional connectivity through economic corridors. The economic engagement and regional connectivity may appear new to the least integrated region wherein the political environment has been defined in the context of confrontational politics. The continuation of territorial disputes and ideological differences have led to insecurities. The political environment has been marred by extremist tendencies.
Seeing the regional developments in the recent past, the abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A has forcefully altered the status of the Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. It has reinforced India’s aggressive image regionally. India’s announcement of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019, which allows fast-track citizenship to Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Parsis and Sikhs from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan,is yet another move targeted at dividing or rather relegating the Muslim community. These developments portray that the political environment is still marred by conflicting mindsets and approaches. These developments are not confined to India’s domestic domain; rather, they carry a political connotation regionally.The employment of religion, in particular, targeting of Muslims and the use of force against Kashmiris, if not stopped, might lead to outrage, thus dividing the region.
The illegitimate annexation of the territory of Jammu and Kashmir into India, and the demographic changes brought through the use of force will impact the regional environment
While comparing South Asia to other regions like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) or the larger Asia Pacific, the latter have progressed owing to the peaceful regional environment. ASEAN as an organisation has grown because the regional countries have focused towards economic development. There are still disputes in the South China Sea, but through economic engagement, the countries have moved forward, and stepped up political relations. Due to economic ties and interdependence, the conflictual approaches, if not completely eliminated, have been mollified.
In the context of South Asia, the region in the form of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is part of the Belt and Road Initiative, is moving towards economic integration and regional connectivity. It foretells the region’s relevance towards the emerging trends globally.With the operation of the corridor, the influx of new political players in the region is expected. China’s growing role in South Asia, as apparent from seaports and corridors, will make it an active player in the region.
How well the regional players will adjust to the new realities? Will the economic opportunities supersede the political differences, and translate into political gains, orwill the differences over China’s rise and competitive tendencies-asreflected by the political construct of the Indo-Pacific-impedethe smooth functioning of corridors, thusmaking the political environment more confrontational?Herein, the factors that are likely to impact the political environment are democracy, ideology and religion. A democracy is a vision of peoples’ will and right. But does democracy allow suppression of the weak and the minorities?
In view of the CAA, a clear line has been drawn between Muslims and non-Muslims. The way the Hindutva ideology is being promoted in the secular India it appears that Muslims are still being viewed by the lens of the Two-Nation Theory. Further, it promulgates the fascism and intolerance at societal level. It needs to be understood that the fragility of peace is not always because of a military threat; unjust practices and their psychological impact are far more damaging. This extremist mindset is not confined to the country level; it has expanded in the form of dictatorial laws imposed on the territory of the Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The illegitimate annexation of the territory of Jammu and Kashmir into India, and the demographic changes brought through the use of force will impact the regional environment, which, in turn, will impede the region’s progress. The situation in the occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir also speaks of the fact that power is the tool of the strong, and principles of humanity and justice are nothing. India, which has denied the Kashmiris the right of self-determination,is being encouraged in Asia Pacific as a security provider.
The writer is a researcher at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute