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    <Journal>
      <PublisherName>ejsss</PublisherName>
      <JournalTitle>ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES</JournalTitle>
      <PISSN/>
      <EISSN/>
      <Volume-Issue>Volume 7 Issue 1</Volume-Issue>
      <PartNumber/>
      <IssueTopic>Multidisciplinary</IssueTopic>
      <IssueLanguage>English</IssueLanguage>
      <Season>Apr-May 2026</Season>
      <SpecialIssue>N</SpecialIssue>
      <SupplementaryIssue>N</SupplementaryIssue>
      <IssueOA>Y</IssueOA>
      <PubDate>
        <Year>2026</Year>
        <Month>05</Month>
        <Day>31</Day>
      </PubDate>
      <ArticleType>International Relations</ArticleType>
      <ArticleTitle>Re-imagining South Asia: Understanding the Eastward Pivot in India__ampersandsignrsquo;s South Asia Strategy</ArticleTitle>
      <SubTitle/>
      <ArticleLanguage>English</ArticleLanguage>
      <ArticleOA>Y</ArticleOA>
      <FirstPage>6</FirstPage>
      <LastPage>18</LastPage>
      <AuthorList>
        <Author>
          <FirstName>Kunwar</FirstName>
          <LastName>Suryansh</LastName>
          <AuthorLanguage>English</AuthorLanguage>
          <Affiliation/>
          <CorrespondingAuthor>N</CorrespondingAuthor>
          <ORCID/>
        </Author>
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      <DOI>10.47362/EJSSS.2026.7101</DOI>
      <Abstract>The geopolitical construct of South Asia and south asian regionalism, as exemplified by SAARC, continues to remain dysfunctional. The stagnation is largely attributed to historical antagonism and the geopolitical drag of the India-Pakistan conflict, which has prevented meaningful pan-subcontinental cooperation. While many studies describe the shift away from SAARC, a knowledge gap persists in fully understanding the strategic intent: How does India utilize its multi-dimensional cross-regional cooperation strategy to fundamentally restructure the geopolitical conceptualization of South Asia? This paper addresses this gap by postulating that India__ampersandsign#39;s proactive engagement in a range of specific initiatives (such as BIMSTEC and BBIN) is a purposeful strategy to redefine the idea of South Asia. This policy constitutes an explicit strategic choice to shift the functional locus of the region eastward, moving away from the historical turbulence on India__ampersandsign#39;s western front. The objective of this study is to analyze how this reorientation is designed to forge a viable South Asia that acts as a key link between the ASEAN region and this new construct. The methodology involves a focused study of policy documents and empirical data from cross-border connectivity, trade, and energy projects that define this new architecture. The analysis concludes that this eastward strategy is India__ampersandsign#39;s attempt to create a more functional and resilient regional entity, holding significant implications for regional integration and India__ampersandsignrsquo;s leadership role in the evolving architecture of South Asia.</Abstract>
      <AbstractLanguage>English</AbstractLanguage>
      <Keywords>Geopolitical Strategy, cross-regionalism, South Asia, Regional Cooperation, India's Foreign Policy, Eastward Shift</Keywords>
      <URLs>
        <Abstract>https://www.ejsss.net.in/ubijournal-v1copy/journals/abstract.php?article_id=16254&amp;title=Re-imagining South Asia: Understanding the Eastward Pivot in India__ampersandsignrsquo;s South Asia Strategy</Abstract>
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      <References>
        <ReferencesarticleTitle>References</ReferencesarticleTitle>
        <ReferencesfirstPage>16</ReferencesfirstPage>
        <ReferenceslastPage>19</ReferenceslastPage>
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      </References>
    </Journal>
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