Trust is a scarce commodity in our region, still scarred by the history of Partition and battling present-day domestic instability. Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka have all seen government changes in the last two years. The Pahalgam terror attacks in 2025 brought India and Pakistan closest to the brink of war since 1999. “It’s hard to get trade without peace, but you don’t need to start with free trade agreements. Dismantling non-tariff barriers will also go a long way,” says Lawrence.

Source: Mint December 22, 2025 07:30 UTC