The Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) works to identify effective development strategies and improve the capacity for sound development in ADB member countries. Here is a selection of their work related to four areas the Reconnecting Asia Project covers: climate change and sustainability, energy, regional integration, and infrastructure finance. This page will be updated as new research becomes available.
Despite being characterized by high mountain ranges and desolate terrain, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) has a rich history of civilizational exchanges. The region’s rugged topography has not stopped it from having strong linkages with the ancient Silk Road, whose southern branch connected the region with Xinjiang, China. In modern times, geostrategic interests and regional rivalries have transformed the region into a securitized zone. The de-facto Indo-Pak borders between Gilgit-Baltistan and Ladakh are dotted by flashpoints like Kargil (the site of 1999 Indo-Pak war) and Siachen (also the world’s highest battlefield). Today, GB once again finds itself at the intersection of a new Silk Road being paved by China.