China’s Growing Influence in the South Asian Regional Order in Post Cold War Era – Regional Connectivity and Strategic Implications

The end of the Cold War brought China greater prominence at the regional and global level. This study examines China’s influence in South Asia, a region historically defined by the India-Pakistan rivalry. The study uses qualitative research based on analytical and descriptive methods and the Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) to explain China’s role as an extra-regional power that influences South Asia, particularly Pakistan, where external powers influence the regional rivalry through penetration and ultimately shape regional dynamics. The study finds that China's cooperation with Pakistan can’t be seen only through its rivalry with India; it is multidimensional, including domestic security concerns in Xinjiang, mitigating the impact of Indo-US cooperation in South Asia by supporting Pakistan, and benefiting from Pakistan’s geopolitical location to connect to the Arabian Sea and the Middle East. The study also finds CPEC to be an important factor in China-Pakistan relations, which not only elevates Pakistan's regional status but also develops Pakistan’s infrastructure, making it a transit hub of regional trade