The US Policy Toward South Asia

Introduction:

South Asia is considered a significant region in international politics due to its

geographical location and demographic importance. Stretching from the Himalayas to
the Indian Ocean, this region is not only centrally located in Asia but also home to nearly
one-fourth of the world's population and controls critical maritime routes. In particular,
the Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) in the Indian Ocean make South Asia
extremely important from the perspectives of global trade and security.

Historically, during the Cold War, the United States used South Asia as a strategic stage
to prevent the spread of communism. In its effort to counter the influence of Russia and
China, America's attention was drawn to this region. Later, in the post-9/11 global
political landscape, the war on terror, military deployment in Afghanistan, and concerns
over the proliferation of nuclear weapons further increased South Asia's
significance.The geopolitical and economic dynamics of this region have made South
Asia a focal point of global power competition.

Key Pillars and Objectives of U.S. Policy Toward South Asia:

In the post-Cold War and post-9/11 context, South Asia has occupied a significant place
in U.S. foreign policy. The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asian
Affairs (SCA) emphasizes regional security, nuclear stability, and the development of
people-to-people relations.

Security and Strategic Balance

The primary goal of U.S. strategy is to ensure peace, stability, and counterterrorism in
South Asia. Maintaining strategic balance—particularly between nuclear-armed states
like India and Pakistan—is of critical importance. The United States is committed to
preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and ensuring that such weapons do not
fall into the hands of terrorist groups.Under the Indo-Pacific strategy, efforts are
underway to position India as a "net security provider" in the region. Anti-terrorism
cooperation with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, as well as partnerships with
Central Asia on border security and combating drug trafficking, are all integral
components of this policy.

Counterterrorism Measures in South Asia

South Asia has emerged as a hotspot for terrorism and violent extremism due to factors
like separatism, religious radicalism, and ethnic tensions. Countries such as Pakistan,
Afghanistan, and India have faced direct terrorist attacks, while others like Bangladesh,
Nepal, and Sri Lanka have also been impacted.Geographical proximity and porous
borders make cross-border terrorism easier. Poor governance and socio-economic
disparities have further enabled the spread of extremism. The long-standing India-
Pakistan conflict has hampered regional cooperation, weakening initiatives like
SAARC.The region's terrorism threats pose significant risks to U.S. interests, leading to
a shift in American foreign policy to better address these challenges.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation

Nuclear non-proliferation is a key U.S. priority in South Asia due to the ongoing rivalry
between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan. The 1998 nuclear tests by both nations
raised concerns over regional conflict and arms competition. The U.S. aims to prevent a
nuclear arms race, strengthen global non-proliferation efforts, and promote peace
between India and Pakistan. Incidents like the A.Q. Khan scandal highlight the risk of
nuclear technology reaching terrorist groups, making regional nuclear stability a
strategic U.S. goal.

Economic Relations and Development

The region’s large population and rapidly growing markets have made it attractive for U.S.
goods. As a result, the United States is eager to strengthen trade and investment ties
with South Asian countries. Alongside this, it provides development assistance in areas
such as health, education, and poverty reduction, which also serves to expand its
political influence. Additionally, countering China’s growing presence in the region is a
strategic objective of this economic policy.

U.S. Foreign Policy Objectives for Major South Asian Countries

India:

During the Cold War, India’s non-alignment policy and weak economy meant it did not
have close ties with the United States. However, today India has gained significant
international importance due to its strong democratic institutions, nuclear-based
defense capabilities, rapidly growing economy, and population exceeding one billion.
The main objectives of U.S. India-centric foreign policy are as follows:

1. Strengthen strategic ties with India to balance against China.

2. Support India’s leadership in the rise of a Western-oriented South Asian power.
3. Assist in expanding India’s influence in East Asia.
 4. Gain India’s support in protecting U.S. strategic interests in the region, including
Afghanistan.
5. Ensure U.S. access to India’s rapidly growing economy.

Pakistan:

Pakistan is a key part of U.S. foreign policy in South Asia, especially due to its geographic
location, nuclear capabilities, and role as a frontline state in the fight against terrorism.
The main goal of U.S. policy toward Pakistan is to ensure its stability and unity, so it can
maintain its nuclear capabilities, foster economic development, and keep extremist
forces at bay. The specific objectives of the U.S. policy toward Pakistan are:

1. Ensure Pakistan’s stability and unity to protect its nuclear capabilities and
eliminate extremism.
2. Eradicate Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups.
3. Support the Pakistani government in economic, political, and social development.
4. Prevent Pakistan’s nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of extremists.
5. Collaborate with Pakistan to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan:

The main U.S. goals are to suppress the Taliban and extremist groups, ensure political
stability, and strengthen both the military and civilian capacities of the Afghan
government. Since the 9/11 attacks in 2001, Afghanistan has become a critical part of
U.S. policy. The specific objectives are:

1. Weaken and eliminate the Taliban through counterterrorism efforts.

2. Reduce extremist group activities and prevent the general population from
supporting extremism.
3. Support the formation of an effective, legitimate, and strong government.
4. Enhance the military and civilian capacities of the Afghan government.
5. Maintain internal stability in Afghanistan by preventing neighboring countries from
influencing the civil war.

America’s China-Centric Strategy

Although China is not part of South Asia, it remains a significant player in the region. Due
to China’s alliance with Pakistan and its border disputes with India, the U.S. formulates
policies regarding China’s influence in Afghanistan and the broader region.

Bangladesh:
Since recognizing Bangladesh’s independence in 1972, U.S. foreign policy has evolved
from humanitarian aid to economic, political, and strategic cooperation. This
relationship deepened after 9/11, particularly in areas like democracy, free-market
economy, human rights, and security cooperation. Bangladesh’s geopolitical position
and its importance in the Indo-Pacific region make it significant for U.S. policy. The
specific objectives of the U.S. policy toward Bangladesh are:

• Make Bangladesh’s economic sector more open and competitive through trade
and investment.
• Strengthen security relations through cooperation in border security,
peacekeeping, maritime security, and defense trade.
• Utilize Bangladesh’s geopolitical position as a counter-strategy to China’s Belt
and Road Initiative (BRI) through the Indo-Pacific strategy.
• Provide humanitarian assistance and international support for the Rohingya crisis.
• Keep Bangladesh aligned with the United States by maintaining its closeness with
India and counterbalancing China’s influence.

U.S. Policy Toward South Asia

During the Cold War:

U.S. policy toward South Asia has gone through various changes over time. After World
War II, America’s primary interests were focused on the Persian Gulf, the Caribbean, and
East Asia because of their oil, trade, and geographic importance. As a result, South Asia
did not receive much attention. During the Cold War, the sole U.S. goal was to prevent
the spread of communism.

In the early Cold War period, the U.S. was attracted to Pakistan because Pakistan was
anti-communist and geopolitically significant. A military alliance was formed with
Pakistan, which increased opposition to India and pushed India closer to the Soviet
Union. The U.S. had less trust in India.The U.S. remained neutral during the India-
Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971, although the 1971 Soviet-India treaty challenged this
neutrality. However, the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan ended America’s
disengagement policy. With Pakistan’s support, the U.S. began its fight against
communism.

Post-Cold War Era

The end of the Cold War came with the conclusion of the Afghan War in 1989 and the
collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, which transformed world politics and U.S. foreign
policy. In this new context, the U.S. restructured its relations with South Asia, focusing
on maintaining Pakistan’s stability, combating terrorism, nuclear non-proliferation, and
resolving the Kashmir issue.

Clinton Administration:

From 1994, the Clinton administration improved relations with India. After India’s
nuclear tests in 1998, the U.S. imposed sanctions but later eased them.

Bush Administration:

The Bush administration continued the “India-first” policy, viewing India as a strategic
balance against China. Considering China a rival, the U.S. strengthened ties with India
and relaxed nuclear policies.

Post-9/11 Changes:

The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001,
transformed U.S. foreign policy. The primary focus shifted to the war on terrorism, while
other objectives, like countering China’s influence, took a backseat. In South Asia, this
event brought Pakistan to the center of U.S. policy for two main reasons:
i. Pakistan’s proximity to Afghanistan and its diplomatic ties with the Taliban government,
and
ii. The U.S. needed strategic cooperation from Pakistan to combat terrorism threats
within the country.

As a result, U.S.-Pakistan cooperation increased, especially in counterterrorism

intelligence operations. This development disproved the Clinton administration’s earlier
policy of labeling Pakistan a ‘failed state’ and viewing India as the regional power, as
Pakistan became a frontline state in the fight against terrorism. During this time, India-
U.S. relations experienced some temporary distancing but maintained long-term trade
and security cooperation.

Obama Administration’s Rebalancing Strategy

The Obama administration recognized the growing importance of South Asia and
brought changes to U.S. foreign policy. This policy, known as the “Rebalancing Strategy,”
aimed to improve relations with South Asia. Its main objective was to build a prosperous
and peaceful Asia that is connected to the global economy while protecting America’s
economic and strategic interests.

Obama’s China-India Policy:

Obama continued Bush’s approach in South Asia, maintaining regional stability and U.S.
influence. While cooperating with China, the U.S. actively balanced its military power.
India was recognized as an emerging power, with increased economic, defense, and
security cooperation. Although acknowledging Pakistan’s role in counterterrorism, the
U.S. kept a strong strategic partnership with India.

Obama’s Afghanistan-Pakistan Policy:

In 2009, Obama prioritized security at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, creating a

special envoy role to address the crisis. The U.S. trained Afghan forces to maintain
security after troop withdrawal, supported Pakistan’s fight against terrorism, and
ensured nuclear security. While keeping Pakistan as a frontline ally against terrorism,
Obama maintained strong ties with India and aimed for regional stability.

Revival of the Cold War

Tensions between the United States and Russia are increasing as both countries have
confronted each other in the Syrian civil war. This alarming situation could lead to a
revival of the Cold War between the two nations. Due to Russia’s geographical proximity
and close strategic ties with all the major states in South Asia, the region is considered
a potential battlefield for the great powers.

Conclusion:

From the Cold War to the 21st century, the United States has kept South Asia at the
center of its strategic and economic interests. Viewing China as a major threat like the
Soviet Union, the U.S. considers India an important partner. Due to the failure to
eliminate terrorism in Afghanistan, it has maintained a balanced policy. However,
because of economic changes in South Asia and the growing influence of China, the
United States needs to reconsider its policy toward the region and adopt a more
economic-focused approach.