AI and Peace: What South Asia Needs Now?

Dr Imran Ali Sandano

South Asia has a history of tension. There are border disputes, religious conflicts, poverty, and nuclear threats. People want peace, but politics and power games keep getting in the way. Now there is a new tool in the mix - Artificial Intelligence (AI). It can help—or it can make things worse.

So, here’s the question, can AI really support peace in South Asia? I claim YES, but only if used carefully.

As we all know that AI works fast. It finds patterns in large amounts of data. It can predict problems before they happen. That helps governments, NGOs, and communities act early. For example, AI can monitor online hate speech. If violence is being planned, AI can flag it. Someone can step in before things go out of control.

AI can also help with disaster response. In South Asia, floods and earthquakes hit often. AI tools can read satellite data and warn people early. That saves lives. It also builds trust between people and the state.

Another use is tracking fake news. False stories often cause panic and hate. AI can sort real from fake in seconds. If people know they are getting factual news, that reduces tension.

But it is not that much simple!  AI does not care about politics. But we do. In South Asia, mistrust is high. Countries spy on each other. There is also a race to build better technology, especially between India and China. Pakistan is trying to catch up. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka want to grow too. So, if one country uses AI for peace, others might think it is for war.

AI used for defense can look like a threat. AI drones, border surveillance, and facial recognition tools are powerful. But they can also be abused. In some places, governments use AI to monitor people, not protect them. That challenges peace.

What is happening right now, India is investing in AI, big time. It is working on military AI, like drone swarms and border monitoring. Pakistan is also developing AI-based surveillance with help from China. Bangladesh has AI projects for disaster planning and education. Sri Lanka wants AI to grow its economy.

So the region is moving fast. But most of it is happening behind closed doors. There are no shared rules. No common plan. That is a problem. If something goes wrong—say an AI system wrongly flags a threat—it can cause a crisis.

AI could help a lot. Regional states do not talk enough about tech risks. That needs to change. Set up small, honest meetings on AI use, especially military AI.

Floods, droughts, and disease do not care about borders. Regional states can use AI tools that warn about these things should be shared. Joint platforms could work.

States are using AI tools for tracking people even without their consent. Governments should utilize these tools for good purposes.

AI tools need skilled users. Right now, there is a big gap. Countries should invest in education, not just weapons. And not just in cities—rural areas too.

AI must respect local languages and needs. A system made in the West might not fit here. South Asia should build its own models, with peace in mind.

It requires a greater regional cooperation, if there is no cooperation, things could get worse. Imagine, one country uses AI drones to ‘monitor’ a border. The other sees it as spying. Shots are fired. A small tech test turns into a military clash. That is not peace.

We can take the example of misinformation. If AI makes fake videos—deepfakes—that show a leader saying something dangerous, it could trigger riots. Trust would break fast.

Also, if only the rich and powerful get access to AI tools, the gap between people will grow. That causes anger. Peace needs fairness. Not just fancy software.

At the end of the day, most people in South Asia just want to live safe, decent lives. They want jobs, water, and education. Not surveillance drones and facial scans at every corner. AI for peace should serve people—not control them.

If used right, AI can give early warning, stop violence, and build trust. But that takes effort. It will not happen by itself. And it will not work, if it only serves power.

Governments must set rules. They should agree on how AI can and cannot be used. This can start small—just a list of shared principles. Civil society, and tech workers should be part of this. Peace is not just for diplomats.

Also, international groups can help. The UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization can support talks. They do not have to control them but to just help set the table.

There must be honesty. If countries use AI to spy and harm, they should say so. Pretending it’s ‘for peace’ when it is not will only increase mistrust.

AI can help stop conflict before it starts. But only if used with care. South Asia needs peace. AI can support that goal—but only if it’s transparent, fair, and focused on people.

It will not fix everything. But it is a tool. Like any tool, it depends on how we use it.

And that is the real challenge.