Shifting Regional Ties in South Asia as India and Pakistan Grow Closer to New Allies

CGC News Reporter February 2, 2025

Old rivalries between India and Pakistan are reshaping relationships in South Asia, with India building ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban, while Pakistan strengthens its connection with the new leaders of Bangladesh. The tension between India and Pakistan has deep roots, dating back to the partition of British India in 1947. Since then, the two nuclear-armed countries have fought several wars and remain bitter rivals.

In January, India denied allegations that it had launched secret operations in Pakistan to target anti-Indian militants. Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal responded to the accusations by saying, “You can’t have snakes in your backyard and expect them to only bite your neighbors.”

Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have also become more strained since the Taliban took control of Kabul nearly four years ago. Pakistan has accused the Taliban of not doing enough to stop militants who have been using Afghan territory to carry out attacks on Pakistani security forces. Tensions flared in December when Pakistan launched air strikes on areas near the Afghan border, leading to further cross-border exchanges of fire.