New Delhi, Aug. 23 -- It is clear that India's relationship with the countries in its neighbourhood is at an impasse. There are many reasons for this: global power shifts, political changes in neighbouring countries, the externalities of our domestic politics and, well, chance.

There are new governments in Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, while the one in Maldives has tempered down after a few years in office. A young king in Bhutan has new ideas. There is a new spring in the Pakistani government's step, as its military leader enjoys international limelight after the country spent nearly 15 years out in the cold.

New Delhi's relations with each of these countries could, to put it gently, be better. Given the mess that world politics is ...