Abstract

Smooth and seamless connectivity between land-locked Central Asia and South Asia may foster growth and enhance development significantly, not only in these two regions but also in the wider Central Eurasian region. That is how it has been, historically, but not so during the seven decades of the Soviet Union. Several proposals have come up, initiatives unfolded and measures taken over yester years aimed at realizing this long-held inter-regional dream. Economic corridors, roads and bridges, ports and airports, transmission lines and pipelines have routinely been making the headlines. These moves, seen with increased intensity over past half a decade have been there off and on since the dissolution of USSR and emergence of five independent Central Asian states. However, practically, we see situation on the ground only marginally different today than it was, say, some two to three decades ago. Several issues -- unending instability in Afghanistan, inter-state conflicts and geo-strategic rivalries, major power competition, competing developmental strategies and approaches, as well as financial and technical constraints -- act as ostensible obstacles. This intended paper -- drawing from published sources as well as author's direct explorations in the form of field visits, surveys and interviews over past several; years -- seeks to take a comprehensive look at the rood travelled so far in this connection; shed light on the broader state of affairs today; flag the issues and problems that hamper the journey towards this goal, and more importantly come up with specific policy-relevant recommendations for countries, inter-governmental organizations, international financial institutions, businesses and other stakeholders.