Thread by @Manik_M_Jolly

The South Asian Geopolitics is about to go, rather undergoing drastic and unprecedented change.
1. It’s time for India to step up and enter into a bigger role than just focusing on itself. If it’s a battle of influence, you cannot hope to gain more by not participating in

regional activities. Sri Lanka post great, Bangladesh resolution of borders and increase in trade and commerce great. But Pakistan continues to be a nuisance that India is unable to find an answer to. Either by diplomacy or by force, the dispute has to be ended for India to gain

objective and clear prominence in region. Otherwise it’ll continue to be seen as a big country unable to resolve issues. Nepal and Bhutan continue to long standing friends, with minor issues coming up time to time. Where India also needs to focus is Myanmar. Given history of NE

terrorism and now Myanmar having major Chinese influence, we need to step up our game there. And finally China. India did a great job by standing up to the bully in Ladakh. But that’s not enough. They are miles ahead in Military, economy and influence. We need to contain the

border issues and stalemate is not a bad option for India. China will exert military pressure only when we corner them in other domains. It’s signalling that ‘we can do this too’. India needs to ensure that their faith in this signalling is bought down and it doesn’t become a

one stop solution for China to intimidate India. And that can happen with rapid modernisation of Armed Forces in both Arms/ammo and structure.
2. Afghanistan will play a very major role in times to come in regional games. To avoid it from becoming a playground for Paki proxies

and Terror groups, India needs to take the US-EU route on economic sanctions on Pak. If US is warming up to India, this is the time to leverage it and indirectly mitigate the terror threats that soon will start to rise given the freedom Pak will enjoy in building terror training

camps in Afghanistan. Our focus should strictly be right now on how anything can hurt us, and act preemptive to neutralise it. A fine balance will have to be created in standing on the ideological footing of not dealing with Taliban but also not letting Afghanistan become a

diplomatic vacuum. Easier said than done, but there are ways to ensure this.
3. Though not South Asia, but Central Asian region will play a critical role now in our regional politics. India needs to act fast and decisive in establishing rapport and connects there. Financially,

we are in position to create aid and support programmes and it should be utilised. Losing the region, to save some bucks and dillydallying over negotiations might take them out of reach and then we will spend many times more just to get a little foothold. Not to mention the

diplomatic hurdles we’ll have to face then.
4. Iran at present would be a great option to talk to. India should benefit and ascend in level of alliance from the existing traditionally harmonious and mutually beneficial relations between I-I. The entire Pak and Afghanistan

debacle will have Iran playing a major role in times to come. Especially from India’s perspective.

All in all, it’s time to act and up the game. Maintaining status quo is not the best option right now, unless India wants to be happily sitting on sidelines in global politics.

Sorry for typos. Again, I’ve to remind myself to review the post after writing :)