Name: Vivek Sumberia
Country: India

Year: 2026
Volume: Volume-11, Issue-1, January-June 2026
Page Number: 890-897
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22079021

ABSTRACT
The Himalayas have captured the imagination of Indians since times immemorable. The Himalayas have great geopolitical significance in South Asia. It acts as a natural boundary between the Indian subcontinent and the rest of Asia. Since ancient times, travellers, pilgrims, and traders have crossed these mighty mountains, but they have remained militarily invincible. However, technological advancements have ensured that it is no longer invincible. The Himalayas form a strategic high ground in South Asia. The Himalayas act as a connecting link between India and Central Asia, which share deep historical and cultural relations. However, the partition of India in 1947 and the subsequent formation of Pakistan led to the loss of direct land linkage between the two regions. The disintegration of the USSR further led to a decline in the relationship between the two regions. As the power equation rapidly changes in Asia, the Himalayas have emerged as a strategic pivot. This study aims to explore the emerging geopolitical landscape in the Himalayas and how changing Himalayan geopolitics will impact India–Central Asia relations.

Keywords: Himalayas, Geopolitics, Central Asia, Strategy.