India-ASEAN Cooperation Connect: Pathways for Building Stronger Regional Integration in South Asia

Introduction 

In today’s world of rapidly shifting alliances and contested borders, regions that succeed are not the ones that rely only on geography or shared history, but those investing in building meaningful linkages among their people, economies, and institutions. Perhaps, Southeast Asia offers the most compelling examples. Despite its cultural diversity and political differences, ASEAN has managed to turn its neighbourhood into a community bound by trust and interdependence. At the heart of this achievement is a simple but powerful idea of connectivity, not just being about the roads, ports, or trade corridors but about weaving a fabric of cooperation that can withstand the test of political shocks.

The foundation of ASEAN's success lies in its methodical approach, rooted in economic integration through connectivity and infrastructure initiatives. The development of strategic infrastructure acts as a basis for more profound regional cooperation, as the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 illustrates. In contrast to South Asia's much-dispersed as well as frequently stalled connectivity initiatives, ASEAN has developed rock-hard comprehensive frameworks that encompass institutional and people-to-people connectivity across five key areas of people mobility, digital innovation, seamless logistics, sustainable infrastructure, and regulatory excellence. 

On the other hand, South Asia regional cooperation has long been held hostage by bitter rivalries, asymmetries of power, and the absence of trust. While leaders regularly invoke the promise of SAARC, the grouping has failed to move beyond the symbolic organization. Summits are postponed, agreements remain ‘on paper,’ and collaborative projects rarely see the light of day.

It contrasts with Southeast Asia—hardly free of conflicts or disparities—which has managed through ASEAN to build habits of dialogue, institutional resilience, and a measure of economic integration. The question is not whether South Asia can copy ASEAN, but what lessons India, as the pivotal actor, can draw from it to strengthen regional partnership. India could learn from ASEAN in five ways to improve regional cooperation in South Asia: building trust through trade and infrastructure, consensus-building through bilateralism, people-to-people regionalism, incrementalism and dialog habits, strengthening institutions, and inclusivity.

Building Trust Through Trade and Infrastructure

One example of how economic integration can precede and even facilitate political cooperation is the 1992 establishment of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). Through AFTA, intraregional tariffs were successfully removed, which established a single market for a population of 600 million people. The findings are clear that trade within ASEAN has increased rapidly, and the benefits of trade creation greatly exceed those of trade diversion.

South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) has drastically failed to achieve meaningful integration, as evidenced by the fact that intraregional trade remains below 5% of total trade, one of the lowest in the world. The lesson for Bharat is clear. Rather than being merely infrastructure projects, economic corridors need to be planned as mechanisms for fostering mutual trust.

Political disputes are less likely to upend the entire regional framework in South East Asia, owing to ASEAN's strategy of establishing several overlapping networks of economic interdependence. By forming smaller, issue-specific economic corridors with cooperative South Asian partners, Bharat could progressively grow intra-regional networks as trust increases. The potential of this strategy is demonstrated by the successful India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement, which has greatly increased bilateral trade.

Bilateralism and Sustained Consensus Building

One of the major inspirations is derived from ASEAN's consensus-building mechanism. This particular approach, founded on unanimous decision-making, has allowed countries with vastly different political systems in South East Asia to collaborate effectively. An illustration of how regional organisations can function effectively in the absence of a supranational authority is ASEAN’s very own network of governance model. The organisation has created platforms for dialogue on sensitive security issues, such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), while maintaining its non-interference principle.

This inclusive approach has prevented the kind of bilateral disputes that have paralysed SAARC from undermining regional cooperation. India could manifest ASEAN's flexible institutionalism in the South Asian context by fostering multiple, overlapping frameworks for cooperation rather than relying solely on SAARC. The emergence of BIMSTEC as an alternative platform holds considerable promise. A more effective approach would involve creating sector-based cooperation mechanisms similar to ASEAN's specialized committees that allow for progress on less contentious issues while also building institutional capacity for larger cooperation.

People-to-people Ties: The Foundation of Regionalism

Treaties are not the only foundation of regional integration. Strong public opinion and interpersonal relationships are its root causes. The focus on cultural diplomacy has proven especially successful in fostering trust and understanding between people. Initiatives such as the ASEAN India Buddhist Conclave and the ASEAN India Cultural Year show how modern collaborations can be strengthened by utilising a common cultural heritage. Malaysia's initiative in planning ASEAN cultural festivals serves as an example of how nations can celebrate their diversity and contribute to a shared regional identity. Its low investment in people-to-people connectivity is our problem.

Although the region shares historical, cultural, and even linguistic traits, these have not been used to create a common identity.  Building South Asian regional identity still underutilises India's enormous soft power resources, such as Bollywood, yoga, and Ayurveda. India has not yet implemented comparable programs to Germany's Goethe Institutes or China's Confucius Institutes, but the prospects are encouraging. The popularity of Indian cultural products throughout the area points to a large amount of unrealised potential. A forward-thinking investment in creating a sense of shared Asian identity is made through initiatives such as the ‘India-ASEAN Youth Conference.’ Long-lasting relationships that cut across political divides are forged by the extensive people-to-people connectivity initiatives. 

Cooperation Through Dialogue and Incrementalism

ASEAN demonstrates that institutionalized habits of dialogue are important to its success. ASEAN summits, ministerial meetings, and working groups are held regularly, portraying active engagement of every sector. These routines are not only important for building consensus, but also important as a socialization mechanism. This mechanism assists ASEAN Member States in building trust through interaction and adherence to ASEAN norms that have been developed over time. It generates momentum and gradually fosters a regional identity, even when outcomes remain modest.

On the other hand, SAARC lacks such regular dialogue; summits are often derailed by bilateral disputes, undermining credibility and continuity. The last SAARC Summit, conducted in November 2014 due to political tension. Take an example from ASEAN, which successfully maintains the regularity of the ASEAN summit even though in the middle of political instability. On October 26-28, ASEAN agreed not to invite Myanmar’s military junta leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, due to the Myanmar coup d’état, yet the ASEAN Summit proceeded as scheduled. 

Learning from ASEAN, Bharat could actively build the regional dialogue regularity in SAARC or BIMSTEC, regardless of political frictions. It would signal a sustained commitment to regional partnership and help normalize dialogue. Incrementalism through dialogue is not weakness but strategy: small, repeated steps can accumulate into trust, institutional resilience, and a more conducive environment for regionalism.

Inclusivity and Institutional Strength

ASEAN’s experience showcases the importance of strong institutions in maintaining stability. The ASEAN Secretariat has evolved into a professional body with clear responsibilities, enabling effective coordination within ASEAN. The ASEAN Secretariat functions as an intermediary between the ASEAN Commission and ASEAN, and the external body or international organization, supporting the ASEAN project and activity. The ASEAN Secretariat is also assisted by the National Secretariat of the respective member state in managing ASEAN activities. The national secretariat functions as the centre of coordination in implementing ASEAN activities at the national level. This comprehensive institutional mechanism reflects maturity in the ASEAN institutions.

Even though the functions of the ASEAN and SAARC secretariats are similar. In contrast, SAARC’s Secretariat remains weak, lacking both authority and resources, which limits its ability to drive collective initiatives. Strengthening institutions is crucial for advancing regionalism in South Asia, which Bharat should be concerned. Bharat should share this responsibility by actively fostering inclusive engagement with other states.

Conclusion

Therefore, to move ahead, India must champion as a regional facilitator, making room for significant alliances and using its resources to create prosperity for all. India can contribute to transforming South Asia from one of the least integrated regions in the world into a vibrant centre of growth and cooperation by embracing ASEAN's patient, inclusive integration strategy, for a brighter and better future ahead.

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This article, written by Aryaveer Sharma & Mirah Alamsyah, is part of the India–ASEAN Youth Conference 2025, co-hosted by Foreign Policy Talks and The Geostrata. The conference brings together young leaders from India and Southeast Asia to foster dialogue and strengthen regional cooperation.