India's Neighbors: A Regional Overview

India's Neighbors: A Regional Overview

As one of the most populous countries in the world, India shares its borders with seven neighboring nations, each offering unique geopolitical dynamics that shape their relationships. Here is a brief overview of these neighbors:

Pakistan

Pakistan lies directly west across the Line of Control, which separates Indian-administered Kashmir from Pakistani-administered Kashmir since partition in 1947. Relations between India and Pakistan have been turbulent due to historical and territorial disputes over Kashmir. Despite numerous attempts at normalization through peace processes like Simla Agreement and Lahore Declaration, tensions often flare up over cross-border terrorism allegations.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is located southwest off the southern tip of India. While there has never been conflict between the two countries, they maintain cordial relations, facilitated by close cultural ties and a shared history dating back thousands of years. However, trade issues related to tea exports from Sri Lanka were once subject to dispute, indicating room for improvement in economic cooperation despite strong social bonds.

Nepal

Nepal sits immediately north of India, sharing borders along three provinces—Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. In contrast to Pakistan, where political tension drives much of the regional dynamic, Nepal enjoys stable bilateral ties with India. This relationship can be attributed partly to the Himalayas, where both countries share ecological concerns regarding water resources management. Additionally, the open border policy allows millions of Indians and Nepalese to move freely between the two countries without passports, fostering deep people-to-people linkages.

Bangladesh

To the east lies Bangladesh, separated by the Bay of Bengal. Like with Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh do not face any major conflict but cooperate extensively, including in security matters such as counterterrorism and transnational crimes. Economic partnerships also play a significant role here; while Bangladeshis historically migrated to East Pakistan during Partition, now it's into West Bengal labor markets instead.

Bhutan

Bhutan is situated towards the northeast corner of India. Unlike other neighbors, India holds great strategic importance in Bhutanese foreign affairs because of India’s support during the China–Bhutan War and continued involvement in Bhutan's internal politics. Although Bhutan maintains independence, it aligns diplomatically with India over China.

In summary, while some neighbors present challenges requiring delicate handling (like Pakistan), others enjoy peaceful coexistence marked by friendliness (such as Sri Lanka) or mutual dependence (for example, with Bangladesh).