India’s rising regional influence is no longer solely marked by economic ambition or diplomatic outreach—it is increasingly defined by the strategic exploitation of historic treaties, border disputes, and hydropolitics. From fishing clashes in the Palk Strait to water tensions in the Himalayas, India’s approach to its neighbours reveals a pattern of coercive diplomacy that undermines regional stability.
Katchatheevu Island dispute
Political Exploitation: In the context of Tamil Nadu’s upcoming state elections, Indian political parties, particularly Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s DMK, have revived the Katchatheevu dispute with Sri Lanka for populist reasons. The 1974 Indo-Sri Lanka Maritime Agreement lawfully transferred the island to Sri Lanka, but Stalin has called for its revocation, with some radical groups suggesting the creation of a separate Tamil nation.
Nationalism and sovereignty
While the ruling BJP opposes extreme claims, it soft-pedals the issue, endorsing nationalist sentiments. Tensions escalated following PM Modi’s defence cooperation agreement with Sri Lanka, which the DMK saw as complicity in Sri Lanka’s actions against Indian fishermen. This ignores the illegal intrusions of Indian trawlers into Sri Lankan waters, violating the 1974–1976 bilateral agreements.
Fishing disputes
The violation of the agreements on Katchatheevu has led to increased naval clashes, such as when Indian fishermen were attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy.
Pattern of regional destabilisation
India’s actions mirror a broader strategy of using border and water disputes as leverage in its pursuit of regional dominance:
Nepal
India’s unilateral construction of a road through Lipulekh (claimed by Nepal) sparked a diplomatic crisis, with India refusing bilateral talks and using military influence to assert control.
Bangladesh
India’s delay in finalising the Teesta River water-sharing agreement has deprived Bangladesh of critical water resources, while India’s continued dominance in water management, alongside BSF border killings, raises tensions.
China
India has militarised the Line of Actual Control (LAC), particularly in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, leading to clashes like the 2020 Galwan Valley incident. India has also been accused of withholding information about Brahmaputra dam projects, which affect downstream flows to China.
Pakistan
India’s construction of hydropower projects on the Kishanganga and Ratle rivers violates the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and threatens Pakistan’s water security. India’s refusal to engage in neutral arbitration is seen as a form of coercion.
Bhutan and Maldives
In Bhutan, India’s financial support for hydropower projects has raised concerns about debt and foreign policy independence. In the Maldives, India’s military presence has been viewed as a form of occupation, leading to local protests and calls for Indian troop withdrawal.
India’s destabilising ambitions
India’s actions in the region—reviving old disputes, violating agreements, and interfering in neighbouring countries’ internal affairs—reveal a pattern of expansionism masked as diplomacy. The country, while positioning itself as a regional power, is increasingly seen as a destabilising force, undermining peace and sovereignty across South Asia.
India’s regional policies reflect a strategy of asserting dominance through coercion and manipulation of disputes, threatening not only the sovereignty of neighbouring states but also broader regional stability.
