India and Pakistan, South Asia’s two largest states, continue to hold the region back through their entrenched hostility.
Since partition, repeated wars and deep mistrust have kept borders tense and diverted massive resources toward defense instead of development.
Trade remains negligible despite the huge potential for economic growth, while cooperation on shared challenges like climate change, water management, energy, and public health is nearly nonexistent.
South Asia lags behind other regions in connectivity and integration, leaving millions deprived of opportunities.
The two countries must finally get their act together — a truth even Donald Trump stumbled onto, despite being wrong on nearly everything else.