This White Paper explores the question of what AI governance should look like in South Asia to better ensure its ability to balance innovation and safety in a manner that drives inclusive socio-economic development. It draws on a series of national High Level Consultations undertaken in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka as part of the Bridging Borders Through AI initiative. The initiative, implemented by a partnership of the High Commission of Canada in India, the International Development Institute at Humber Polytechnic in Canada, and Social and Media Matters in India, brought together leaders in each country from government, industry, civil society, academia, and multilateral organisations to discuss AI governance priorities, challenges, and capacity needs. The consultations occurred in January–February 2026. Findings from the five national consultations were aggregated into a set of themes and recommendations for the South Asia region.

The initiative engaged a total of 106 stakeholders across the five countries, including representatives from government, the private sector, civil society, academia, and multilateral organisations. Through targeted workshops and consultations, participants were better equipped to understand and engage with the opportunities and risks that AI presents, and to contribute to the development of innovative AI policies that effectively address national and regional challenges.

The White Paper is grounded in the recognition that South Asia is a region of enormous significance for global AI governance. Home to approximately 25% of the world's population, the region has recently experienced significant progress in reducing extreme poverty and is undergoing an emerging digital transformation with substantial economic and social potential. At the same time, AI readiness across the region, while improving, continues to lag behind the global average, making the task of building effective governance frameworks both urgent and consequential.