India's Covert Diplomacy in South Asia (2018–2023): Weaponization of Multilateralism, Reputation, and Strategic Partnerships

Abstract

Interstate competition has fundamentally changed in the 21st century. The statecraft of indirect confrontation is gaining in power through diplomacy, economics, information and institutions. In this paper, the author discusses India's covert diplomacy toward Pakistan in the years 2018–2023, concluding that it was able to pursue its regional interests through its economic power, strategic relations, multilateral initiatives and reputation-building without engaging in any direct confrontation. A qualitative interpretivist approach with thematic analysis of primary and secondary sources was used to examine the use of multilateral institutions, strategic alliances, digital diplomacy, and narrative management as force multipliers in India's foreign policy. The results indicate that India shifting from traditional diplomacy to Multi-alignment approach helped it to make international platforms platforms for strategic influence. This diplomatic attitude had significant consequences for Pakistan in terms of its reputation, economic position and ability to maneuver, manoeuvre and advance in international fora. The paper suggests that interstate competition in the modern age has begun to exist in a "grey zone" between peace and conflict in which influence, legitimacy, and institutional leverage are increasingly important factors in national power. The study is part of the emerging body of literature on non-kinetic statecraft, asymmetric competition and changing dynamics of diplomacy in the South Asian region.