India-Pakistan Rivalry Drives Regional Diplomatic Shift

Old rivalries between India and Pakistan are reshaping diplomatic relations across South Asia, as India engages with Afghanistan's Taliban while Pakistan builds ties with the new leadership in post-revolutionary Bangladesh. The longstanding distrust between these nuclear-armed nations continues to fuel tensions, evidenced by India's denial of conducting covert operations in Pakistan and statements from Indian officials highlighting security concerns. Concurrently, relations between the Taliban and Pakistan have soured, with Islamabad accusing the Taliban of harboring militant groups responsible for attacks on its security forces. India views its engagement with the Taliban as a strategic move to prevent the emergence of groups that could threaten its security and to potentially annoy Pakistan. Experts suggest that India's approach aligns with its long-term interests in the region, despite the Taliban's strict Islamic governance seemingly contradicting India's Hindu nationalist policies. This complex geopolitical landscape continues to evolve as both nations navigate their fraught histories.