ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a background on the historical and geopolitical issues that have determined the state of regional cooperation in South Asia. The chapter is divided into four sections. The first section delves into the historical traumas that have shaped the national consciousness of South Asian citizenry. Second, the chapter describes the various geopolitical issues that have constrained the effectiveness of regional cooperation, with a focus on the modalities of SAARC. In the third section, the chapter describes the impact of non-traditional security threats on regional cooperation in South Asia. The chapter concludes by weighing up the various ways by which addressing the challenge of energy insecurity can facilitate regional cooperation in South Asia.
