| Abstract: | Vishal Bharat is an idea which constitutes India as a civilizational space of common history, culture, and traditions of dialogue in South Asia. It is not specific to political boundaries but is indicative of historical and traditional cultural ties. This concept assists us in the present world where we are experiencing nuclear tensions, regional conflicts, and climate change, and the changing global power structures and this is the role of India in the regional and global discourse. The paper is concerned with the strategic involvement of India into the South Asian affairs since 1998, particularly with regard to Pakistan. In 1998, the security environment of the region was altered given that both of the countries had been declared nuclear powers as a result of their nuclear tests. Nevertheless, in spite of the confrontations and the tensions, some mechanisms like credible minimum deterrence, the No First Use policy, and the ability of the Indus Waters Treaty to operate depict that rivalry and dialogue co-exist. These illustrations indicate that India is attempting to strike a balance between national security and responsibility and restraint. The paper also elaborates how South Asia is related to the greater world discussions of nuclear stability, climate change and peace-building. The strategy of India is one of the attempts to be a responsible power but remain autonomous strategically. Thus, the situation with India-Pakistan relations after 1998 may be regarded not merely as the story of the conflict, but also a part of the global dialogue influenced by the history and security issues, as well as civilizational values. |
