Pakistan, Oct. 15 -- These global developments have had a profound impact on South Asia's security paradigm, influencing Indian leadership's strategic behaviour and endangering regional stability. Four key outcomes stand out:

1. India as a Net Security Provider: In the Indo-Pacific balance of power struggle, India presented itself as a "Net Security Provider" to exploit geopolitical competition. The U.S. and its allies, seeking to contain China, accepted this narrative without scrutiny, giving India a false sense of hegemony.

2. Erosion of Multilateralism: The decline of multilateralism and the rise of issue-based partnerships encouraged ambitious states like India to dominate militarily.

3. Unchecked Militarisation: Western support al...