21st Century Great Game and its Actors: India’s Interests in Central Asia and its Repercussions in South Asia

Abstract

In 2012 June India launched a “Connect Central Asia” policy which embodies India’s ardent concern over Central Asian states. This paper will show how this policy would undermine the regional stability of South Asia since Pakistan’s natural fear on Indian involvement in Central Asian region. Robert D. Kaplan points out that India’s history is the story of invasions from a north-westerly direction. Under these circumstances troubled in Central Asia, Afghanistan has become a crucial strategic point for New Delhi. The literature review of the papers is based on the subject matter and this paper will ultimately trace a comprehensive analysis on the repercussion of rising Indian role in Central Asia and how it would create a new “Great Game” in the region.