Just as India’s tightrope over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was the result of its partnerships on both sides of the conflict, the stand taken by other countries in South Asia similarly reflect their own predilections — a combination of geopolitics, economics and domestic compulsions.
Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives, and Nepal supported the resolution against Russia in the United Nations General Assembly, along with 141 other nations. India abstained, as did Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Additionally, Nepal, which is a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, voted for the resolution to set up an independent investigation into Russia’s alleged violations of human rights as a fallout of the Ukraine invasion.
Put another way, other than India, the three big countries (Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) took a neutral stand, and the four smaller countries voted against Russia.
