SOUTH Asia has long viewed peace through the familiar language of power: territory, armies, missiles, borders, alliances and economic weight. China, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh sit at different points on this spectrum, and their relative capabilities are often measured in GDP, reserves, industrial capacity, defence budgets, troop strength, air power and nuclear weapons. Yet the recent climate- induced disaster in Nepal has introduced another measure of power, one that does not respect borders and cannot be deterred by military superiority. It is the capacity of a state to absorb shock, protect its people, maintain essential services and recover without falling into political or economic crisis.

Seen through that lens, the region’s strategic map looks very different. China possesses an enormous economy, deep industrial capacity, extensive infrastructure and one of the world’s largest and most technologically advanced militaries. India combines a huge and rapidly growing economy with a large military, a nuclear arsenal, substantial manpower and an expanding industrial and technological base. Pakistan has considerable military capability, including nuclear weapons and a large standing force, but a smaller economy........

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