CHALLENGES TO REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE MIDDLE EAST, SOUTH ASIA, AND CENTRAL ASIA (MESACA)

Abstract

The Middle East has traditionally been linked to North Africa primarily through historical and socio-cultural ties. However, it is time to look at this all-important region alongside the other important sub-regions, South Asia and Central Asia, from the perspective of regional connectivity. Iran, an important regional player, lies between the Middle East, South Asia and Central Asia. However, it may pose serious connectivity challenges for MESACA due to certain security concerns emanating from its nuclear ambitions. Whereas South Asian rivals, India and Pakistan, are already nuclear-weapon states and have a long history of wars and conflicts. Moreover, Pakistan and India share borders with another regional power, China, which has border disputes with India, over which the two most populous states have had limited wars and conflicts. At the same time, Afghanistan remains in a chaotic state that could once again become a major battlefield if regional stakeholders do not take control of the situation. Consequently, MESACA remains under threat of another large-scale military conflict, with the possibility of nuclear exchanges, even if the probability is low. Therefore, connectivity challenges in the MESACA region are serious due to security fears. This paper aims to highlight the significance of the MESACA from the perspective of regional connectivity, which could prove a game-changer at a time when the international system is rapidly evolving.  Drawing on deductive reasoning and qualitative analysis, the paper identifies serious security concerns, regular interventions by extra-regional powers, and a lack of political will among the region's major stakeholders as key factors in the strategic neglect of connectivity among the three sub-regions, MESACA.