Navigating South Asian Security after USA Withdrawal; Challenges and Prospect

Abstract

This paper looks at the changes in South Asia’s security when the United States took away their troops from Afghanistan in 2021. The quick end of the Afghan government and the Taliban’s return have impacted local politics, made security a problem again and given rise to new issues and new opportunities for working together. The study focuses on major research questions relating to Pakistan, India, China, Russia and Iran as actors in the region. To do this, the report uses secondary research and analysis of opinions written by actors in the region, assesses how strategies have changed and studies how instability in Afghanistan as a result of no government has resulted in risks and renewed opportunities across the region. After the U.S. left South Asia, Realism and the Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) are used to look at how countries’ interests, rivalries and threats evolved. The text closes by explaining how collaborative efforts, addressing any disagreements and maintaining a stable future can be accomplished.

Keywords: Power Vacuum, Taliban Resurgence, India Pakistan Rivalry, China’s Influence