Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Nitin Pai Urges India to Cooperate More Across South Asia
Nitin Pai says India should work more closely with its South Asian neighbours.
He believes this could bring important benefits to India.
He says India often views nearby countries through the concerns of its own politics and security.
It also worries about how much influence China or the United States might gain there.
Pai thinks this approach should change.
He wants India to study each neighbouring country separately.
India should focus on its own goals and on the help it can offer.
In his view, cooperation should matter more than fear about other countries’ influence.
Nitin Pai argues that India has much to gain from cooperation with other South Asian countries.
He says New Delhi should move away from its current approach to regional foreign policy.
Pai criticizes using domestic politics, internal security, or geopolitical anxiety as the main lenses for policy.
He argues that each neighbouring country should be considered on its own terms.
Pai says India should focus on what it seeks and can provide, rather than primarily on Chinese or US influence.
- Who
- Nitin Pai and the Indian government, referred to as New Delhi.
- What
- A call for India to adopt a more country-specific and cooperative foreign policy toward South Asia.
- When
- Not specified in the article.
- Where
- South Asia and New Delhi.
- Why
- Pai argues that India can gain from cooperation and should focus on its own interests and contributions rather than primarily on domestic politics, security concerns, or Chinese and US influence.
Country-specific cooperation
Security- and influence-focused policy
How India should assess neighbours
Country-specific cooperation
India should treat each neighbouring country in its own right and focus on what it seeks and can provide.
Security- and influence-focused policy
The existing pattern, as described by Pai, views the region mainly through domestic politics, internal security, and geopolitical anxiety.
Role of China and the United States
Country-specific cooperation
India should not be overly concerned about how much influence China or the United States might gain in a neighbouring country.
Security- and influence-focused policy
Concerns about Chinese or US influence are presented as factors that currently shape India’s regional foreign-policy outlook.
- Advocate
- Nitin Pai
- Region
- South Asia
- Proposed change
- Treat each neighbouring country in its own right
- Current policy lenses criticized
- Domestic politics, internal security, and geopolitical anxiety
- Recommended focus
- What India seeks and can provide
- External influences mentioned
- China and the United States
- Stated potential benefit
- India has much to gain from regional cooperation