Role of India in the Process of Formation of the South Asia Security System at the beginning of the 21st century

Abstract

The fact that India, as a major regional state in South Asia, is a key factor in shaping the security system is stated in the paper. The country is one of the most populated countries in the world. Hindustan is an extremely complex region where interstate confrontations, which immensely complicate the process of regional security creation, take place. For the economies of most South Asia states, poverty and uneven development are inherent. The South Asian region remains in a state of systemic India-Pakistan confrontation. Two countries are constantly building up their armaments and modernizing their own armed forces. Military men occupy a special place in the political life of Pakistan. On the one hand, Pakistan military men prevent radical Islamists coming to power; on the other hand, the rule of the Pakistan military men has anti-democratic character. In addition, the Pakistan army is trying to play the role of an arbitrator in the country’s internal political life. The regional confrontation in South Asia is a consequence of the geopolitical conflicts of the regional countries national interests. In addition, the challenges to security in the region are high birthrate, which has a negative impact on the environment, and resources scarcity. The risks that threaten the security of Hindustan are caused by «internal» factors (poverty, hunger, resources scarcity, including food and drinking water, interreligious clashes, unemployment, and excessive urbanization), and in the security hierarchy, they refer to military threats. However, under the conditions of globalization, the dividing line between internal and foreign policy is becoming less and less noticeable. The unsettled relationships between Delhi and Islamabad remain the key reason for the regional security system absence. However, after conducting nuclear tests in India and Pakistan, the balance of power in the region is provided by a nuclear weapon factor. It disciplines the ruling elites in these countries and motivates them to maintain the existing balance of power. The military-nuclear balance between Delhi and Islamabad helps to reduce the risks of developing wars with the use of conventional weapons into direct conflict with the use of nuclear weapons. Nevertheless, it is still not possible to create a regional security system.