Issue Brief on “India’s Naval Development: Strategic Implications for Pakistan and South Asia”

Background

The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is vitally important for continents like Europe, Asia, Africa, and America because of its location. It is one of the most important trade routes, accounting for almost 80 percent of global maritime transportation.[1] Moreover, the abundant resources in this region enhance this importance. Almost 40 percent of global oil production happens along the coastlines of IOR.[2] That is why this region's strategic importance cannot be ignored; it is the backbone of its economic development. The strategic significance of the IOR forces the regional players to continuously seek to enhance their influence in the Indian Ocean. Hence, the power struggle in the IOR is never-ending.

The primary focus of this Issue Brief is to determine the potential implications of India's naval expansion in the IOR on the strategic stability of South Asia. The main argument is that India is advancing its conventional and nuclear naval capabilities that threaten the region. It is thus important to examine what the Indian naval development is about and how that will impact regional stability.

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