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About The Book:-South Asia represents one fourth of world population with low gross domestic product, low per capita and low literacy rate coupled with high birth and high death rates. It contains the largest number of the world's hungry about 350 million people. It is afflicted by a number of problemssocial, political and economic. Further, disparity between the rural and urban, poor and rich and violence (extremism, insurgency) have led to instability and insecurity in the region. No common external threat was perceived by the region. South Asian states are plagued by interstate conflicts over boundaries. Absence of collective identity and lack of sense of belonging do still exist in the region and thus hinder South Asia from achieving the momentum to grow at its full potential. South Asia inherited an integrated transport system from the British, but this was fractured not only by the partition but also by its political aftermath. It needs to be integrated again. Due to lack of integration of the transport system in South Asia, the logistic costs are very high and ranges between thirteen to fourteen per cent of GDP. Connectivity plays a significant role in combating poverty. If countries in South Asia continue growing at a seven per cent rate, the incidence of poverty would be reduced from fifty to twenty per cent. Currently South Asia represents only five per cent of trade. If transport network and infrastructure are improved, trade among the South Asian countries would be enhanced. The contributors in this volume focus on the problems being faced by the South Asian countries and suggest amicable solutions to enhance economic cooperation amongst them. The volume tries to visualize a new South Asia free from conflicts, thereby improving the welfare of the people in the region. Structure of the Volume The volume consists of fifteen papers, which divides into four parts. Part-I: Regionalism in South Asia Part-II: Connectivity and Trade in South Asia Part-III: Cultural Linkages and Soft power in Regional Integration Part-IV: Bilateral Relations., About The Author:- Adluri Subramanyam Raju is Coordinator of the Centre for Maritime Studies and Associate Professor in the Centre for South Asian Studies, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry. He is an Associate Editor of Journal of South Asian Studies and editorial member on four Journals. He was Salzburg Seminar Fellow (2006) and recipient of the Mahbub Ul Haq Award (Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS), Colombo, 2003); Scholar of Peace Award (WISCOMP, New Delhi, 2002) and Kodikara Award (RCSS, Colombo, 1998). He was a Visiting Fellow at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, Colombo, May 2012. He has published ten books including edited volumes and more than three dozen papers. Prof. Mohanan B Pillai, who is currently Head of the Mahe Campus of Pondicherry University, was previously Director, UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of South Asia Regional Co-operation , Head, Centre for South Asian Studies and Head , Department of Politics& International Studies. He is the founder Editor of ISDA Journal—Studies in Development and Administration and International Journal of South Asian Studies. He has published several books, research papers and articles in the areas of Development Studies, Foreign Policy of India and South Asian Studies. The latest in the kitty of his publications is India's National Security: Concerns and Strategies 2013 Contents List of Contributors 9 Introduction 11 PART-I: REGIONALISM IN SOUTH ASIA 1. Theories of Regionalism and Regionalism in South Asia 21 Uttara Sahasrabuddhe 2. Will SAARC Ever Accomplish the Goal of Regional Integration 35 Y. Yagama Reddy PART-II: CONNECTIVITY AND TRADE IN SOUTH ASIA 3. India’s Trade with South Asian Neighbours: Perceptions and Reality 49 Indra Nath Mukherji 4. Maritime Connectivity and Cooperation in South Asia: Issues and Concerns 63 Adluri Subramanyam Raju 5. Conflict, Transition, Connectivity and Regional Integration in South Asia 81 Som P Pudasaini 6. Regional Connectivity and Energy Security in South Asia: Challenges and Opportunities 103 C.Vinodan 7. Connectivity and Infrastructure Development in South Asia: China’s Perceptions 117 Srikanth Kondapalli PART-III: CULTURAL LINKAGES AND SOFT POWER IN REGIONAL INTEGRATION 8. Cross-cultural Dialogues in South Asia 141 I.P. Khosla 9. Cultural Diplomacy and Regional Integration in South Asia: Relevance and Importance of India’s Role 161 Rabindra Sen 10. Winning Hearts and Minds: Role of Soft Power in India’s Regional Strategy 173 Rashmi Bhure PART-IV: BILATERAL RELATIONS 11. Connectivity, Development and Regional Integration: The Case of Kaladan Project Between India and Myanmar 187 Santishree D. Pandit and Rimli Basu 12. Bangladesh-India Relations and its Future 207 Imtiaz Ahmed 13. Connectivity and Security Concerns: Issues on India-Nepal Border 233 Sanjay K Jha 14. India-Pakistan Initiative for Conflict Resolution: The Challenges Ahead 255 R