Proxy wars in South Asia

South Asia is a region that is no stranger to proxy wars. This chapter evaluates the indirect intervention strategies of India and Pakistan, arguing that while India worked mostly through states as proxies, Pakistan’s preferred partners were of the non-state actor variety. The chapter hones in on the case of Afghanistan, a country that has often been at the receiving end of the proxy strategies of its neighbors. The chapter recounts the persistent attempts by Afghanistan’s Pakistani neighbor to control Afghan politics by establishing a proxy regime in Kabul, and by turning Afghanistan into a sanctuary where jihadist fighters could receive shelter and training.