• unresolved border issues
  • limited economic engagements
  • reduced people to people contacts increased trust deficits
  • unresolved social issues: drug trafficking, illegal migrations, fishermen issues
  • arms race
    • defence expenditure
    • low socio-economic development
  • limited engagement provides china w/ opportunity to create access to Pakistan challenging India
  • led to limited regional interactions, dysfunctionality of SAARC, non working of SAFTA