TY - JOUR
T1 - Geopolitics of landlocked states in South Asia: a
comparative analysis of Afghanistan and Nepal
AU - Bhatnagar, Stuti
AU - Shahab Ahmed, Zahid
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Foreign policies of landlocked states have been a topic of interest for scholarship on international relations but the landlocked states in South Asia have received negligible attention. Due to their geographical realities, South Asian landlocked states that include Afghanistan, Bhutan and Nepal, depend on their neighbours for trade with the outside world. A range of factors place landlocked states in an unequal relationship with their coastal neighbours. While these factors include the superiority of coastal neighbours in terms of economy, population size, and military strength, we argue that their landlockedness plays a crucial role. To further investigate the role of landlockedness, this study compares the foreign policy decisions that guide India-Nepal and Afghanistan-
Pakistan relations. Based on the assessment of historical,
economic and geopolitical factors, we argue that India and
Pakistan exploit their landlocked neighbours to achieve their
national interests. Frustrated by the treatment of their coastal
neighbours and the presence of new trade opportunities have
compelled Afghanistan to use its closeness with India to counter
over-dependence on Pakistan and Nepal has enhanced
cooperation with China to overcome its reliance on India, thereby
creating a new geopolitical dynamic within South Asia
AB - Foreign policies of landlocked states have been a topic of interest for scholarship on international relations but the landlocked states in South Asia have received negligible attention. Due to their geographical realities, South Asian landlocked states that include Afghanistan, Bhutan and Nepal, depend on their neighbours for trade with the outside world. A range of factors place landlocked states in an unequal relationship with their coastal neighbours. While these factors include the superiority of coastal neighbours in terms of economy, population size, and military strength, we argue that their landlockedness plays a crucial role. To further investigate the role of landlockedness, this study compares the foreign policy decisions that guide India-Nepal and Afghanistan-
Pakistan relations. Based on the assessment of historical,
economic and geopolitical factors, we argue that India and
Pakistan exploit their landlocked neighbours to achieve their
national interests. Frustrated by the treatment of their coastal
neighbours and the presence of new trade opportunities have
compelled Afghanistan to use its closeness with India to counter
over-dependence on Pakistan and Nepal has enhanced
cooperation with China to overcome its reliance on India, thereby
creating a new geopolitical dynamic within South Asia
U2 - 10.1080/10357718.2020.1793896
DO - 10.1080/10357718.2020.1793896
M3 - Article
SN - 1035-7718
VL - 75
SP - 60
EP - 79
JO - Australian Journal of International Affairs
JF - Australian Journal of International Affairs
IS - 1
ER -