KALPGAH’A AÇILAN GÜNEY KAPILARI: PAKİSTAN VE HİNDİSTAN’IN ORTA ASYA HAMLELERİ

Öz

Orta Asya, jeostratejik konumu itibariyle Asya ile Avrupa arasında bir köprü işlevi görmekle kalmamakta, aynı zamanda uluslararası sistemde jeopolitik, jeoekonomik ve güvenlik temelli rekabetlerin odak noktasında yer almaktadır. Bölge, sahip olduğu zengin enerji kaynakları, doğal gaz ve petrol rezervleri ile bu kaynakların dünya pazarlarına taşınmasında kritik öneme sahip transit koridorları sayesinde, küresel ve bölgesel aktörlerin dikkatini üzerine çekmektedir. Bu çerçevede “Yeni Büyük Oyun” olarak adlandırılan rekabet ortamı, enerji arz güvenliği, ulaştırma ve lojistik ağlarının kontrolü, siyasi ve ekonomik nüfuz mücadelesi, güvenlik iş birlikleri, yumuşak güç uygulamaları ve ideolojik etki stratejileri gibi çok boyutlu unsurlar üzerinden şekillenmektedir. Pakistan ve Hindistan, bu karmaşık güç mücadelesinin iki önemli aktörü olarak Orta Asya’da artan bir varlık ve etki arayışı içindedir. Pakistan, tarihî, kültürel ve coğrafi yakınlığını avantaja çevirerek Orta Asya’ya kara yolları, enerji boru hatları ve ticaret koridorları üzerinden doğrudan erişim sağlamayı hedeflemektedir. Çin-Pakistan Ekonomik Koridoru (CPEC) kapsamında geliştirilen projeler, İslamabad’ın Orta Asya’yı Güney Asya ve Hint Okyanusu’na bağlayan stratejik bir geçit olma vizyonunu desteklemektedir. Öte yandan Hindistan, kara bağlantısının olmamasına rağmen Orta Asya’ya yönelik stratejik ilgisini son yıllarda belirgin biçimde yoğunlaştırmıştır. Yeni Delhi, enerji arz güvenliğini sağlama, Afganistan merkezli güvenlik tehditlerini sınırlandırma ve Pakistan’ın bölgedeki nüfuzunu dengeleme hedefleri doğrultusunda “Bağlantısızlık” geleneğini aşan daha aktif bir bölgesel politika izlemektedir. Bu bağlamda Çabahar Limanı yatırımı, Uluslararası Kuzey Güney Ulaşım Koridoru (INSTC) projesi ve çok taraflı diplomatik platformlardaki girişimler, Hindistan’ın Orta Asya stratejisinin temel bileşenlerini oluşturmaktadır. Bu çalışma, Pakistan ve Hindistan’ın Orta Asya’daki stratejik konumlanmalarını tarihsel bağlam, enerji politikaları, ulaştırma ağları ve diplomatik ilişkiler ekseninde analiz etmektedir. Ayrıca, bu iki aktör arasındaki rekabet ve sınırlı iş birliği dinamiklerinin, bölgesel istikrar, enerji güvenliği ve Güney Asya-Orta Asya ilişkilerinin geleceği açısından doğurabileceği sonuçları tartışarak literatüre analitik bir katkı sunmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Orta Asya
• Hindistan
• Pakistan
• bölgesel politika
• stratejik açılım

SOUTHERN GATEWAYS TO THE HEARTLAND: INDIA AND PAKISTAN’S STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENTS IN CENTRAL ASIA

Öz

Central Asia, due to its geostrategic position, functions not only as a bridge between Asia and Europe but also as a focal point of geopolitical, geoeconomic, and security-oriented rivalries in the international system. The region’s abundant energy resources, particularly natural gas and oil reserves, along with its critical role as a transit corridor for the transportation of these resources to global markets, have rendered it a strategic center of attraction for both regional and global powers. Within this context, the competition commonly referred to as the “New Great Game” is shaped by multidimensional factors such as energy supply security, control of transportation and logistics networks, struggles for political and economic influence, security alliances, soft power practices, and ideological strategies. Pakistan and India, as two major actors, have increasingly sought to expand their presence and influence in this complex regional power dynamic. Pakistan aims to capitalize on its historical, cultural, and geographical proximity to gain direct access to Central Asia through land routes, energy pipelines, and trade corridors. Projects developed under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) support Islamabad’s strategic vision of transforming itself into a key transit hub linking Central Asia with South Asia and the Indian Ocean. Conversely, India, despite lacking direct land access, has significantly intensified its strategic engagement with Central Asia in recent years. Guided by objectives such as securing energy supplies, mitigating security threats emanating from Afghanistan, and balancing Pakistan’s regional influence, New Delhi has adopted a more proactive regional approach that goes beyond its traditional policy of “nonalignment.” In this regard, investments in Iran’s Chabahar Port, participation in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), and initiatives within multilateral diplomatic platforms constitute the main pillars of India’s Central Asia strategy. This study analyzes the strategic positioning of Pakistan and India in Central Asia through the lenses of historical context, energy policy, transportation networks, and diplomatic relations. Furthermore, it aims to contribute analytically to the existing literature by discussing the potential implications of their rivalry and limited cooperation dynamics for regional stability, energy security, and the future of South Asia-Central Asia relations.

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