<h5 id="overview">OVERVIEW</h5> <ul> <li>The region of South Asia, particularly after India and Pakistan became nuclear powers, has been a focus of global attention due to various conflicts, including border and water sharing disputes, insurgency, ethnic strife, and resource sharing.</li> <li>Despite these conflicts, there is a recognition among many South Asians that the region can develop and prosper through cooperation among the states.</li> <li>The chapter aims to understand the nature of conflict and cooperation among different countries in the region, which is rooted in or influenced by their domestic politics.</li> <li>There are distinct features that set South Asian countries apart from those in West Asia or Southeast Asia.</li> <li>An introduction to the region and the domestic politics of some of the significant countries in the region is provided to understand the conflict and cooperation dynamics better.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="what-is-south-asia">What is South Asia?</h5> <ul> <li>The text provides data about the Human Development Index (HDI) of different regions and countries.</li> <li>The HDI for World is 72.2 (2018), for Developing countries is 70.7 (2018), for South Asia is 69.3 (2018), for Bangladesh is 72.8 (2018), for India is 68.8 (2018), for Nepal is 70.6 (2018), for Pakistan is 66.6 (2018), and for Sri Lanka is 75.5 (2018).</li> <li>It highlights significant events in South Asia’s history since 1947, including independence, conflicts, treaties, and agreements between different countries in the region.</li> <li>The text also mentions the conduct of nuclear tests by India in 1974 and 1998, and by Pakistan in 1998.</li> <li>The establishment of diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh in 1976, and the signing of the SAARC Charter at the first summit in Dhaka in 1985 are also mentioned.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="the-military-and-democracy-in-pakistan">The Military and Democracy in Pakistan</h5> <ul> <li> <p>Pakistan has experienced repeated military takeovers and the overthrow of elected governments, with military rule established due to social dominance of the military, clergy, and landowning aristocracy.</p> </li> <li> <p>The conflict with India has strengthened promilitary groups, who argue that political parties and democracy in Pakistan are flawed, and that army rule is necessary for security.</p> </li> <li> <p>Despite challenges, there has been a strong pro-democracy sentiment in Pakistan, with a courageous and relatively free press and a strong human rights movement.</p> </li> <li> <p>International support, particularly from Western countries, has often encouraged the military’s dominance in Pakistan due to fears of ‘global Islamic terrorism’ and apprehensions about Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.</p> </li> <li> <p>Pervez Musharraf’s dual role as President and army General was criticized in the Hindu cartoon, highlighting the potential issues with military leaders holding political power.</p> </li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="democracy-in-bangladesh">Democracy in Bangladesh</h5> <ul> <li>Bangladesh was part of Pakistan from 1947 to 1971, with persistent resentment against the domination of West Pakistan and the imposition of Urdu.</li> <li>The people of Bangladesh, led by Sheikh Mujib-ur Rahman, demanded autonomy and fair representation, which was denied despite their victory in the 1970 elections.</li> <li>The military rule of General Yahya Khan and the arrest of Sheikh Mujib led to a mass movement, violence, and refugee crisis, resulting in war between India and Pakistan, and ultimately, the formation of Bangladesh in 1971.</li> <li>Post-independence, conflicts and tensions arose due to constitutional amendments, leading to multiple military takeovers and assassinations.</li> <li>Since 1991, Bangladesh has been functioning with a representative democracy based on multi-party elections.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="monarchy-and-democracy-in-nepal">Monarchy and Democracy in Nepal</h5> <ul> <li>Nepal was a Hindu kingdom and then a constitutional monarchy, but the king maintained full control over the government, restricting democracy.</li> <li>In 1990, a pro-democracy movement led to the acceptance of a new democratic constitution, although democratic governments had a short and troubled existence.</li> <li>The Maoists of Nepal, who believed in armed insurrection against the monarch, spread their influence in the 1990s, leading to a violent conflict with the armed forces.</li> <li>In 2006, massive country-wide protests led to the restoration of the House of Representatives, ending the limited democracy that existed in Nepal.</li> <li>Nepal became a democratic republic in 2008 after abolishing the monarchy and adopted a new constitution in 2015.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="ethnic-conflict-and-democracy-in-sri-lanka">Ethnic Conflict And Democracy In Sri Lanka</h5> <ul> <li>Sri Lanka, an independent country since 1948, has faced ethnic conflict leading to a demand for secession by Tamils.</li> <li>Sinhala nationalists, representing the interests of the Sinhala community, neglected Tamil concerns, leading to militant Tamil nationalism and the emergence of the LTTE.</li> <li>The LTTE has been fighting an armed struggle with the Sri Lankan army, demanding a separate country for the Tamils.</li> <li>India, due to pressure from Indian Tamils, intervened in the conflict through the IPKF in 1987, but withdrew in 1989 without resolving the issue.</li> <li>The Sri Lankan crisis ended with the LTTE’s defeat in 2009, while Sri Lanka continued to register considerable economic growth and maintain a democratic political system.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="india-pakistan-conflicts">India-Pakistan Conflicts</h5> <ul> <li>The main conflict between India and Pakistan is over the region of Kashmir, which started soon after partition in 1947-48 and continued through wars in 1965 and 1971.</li> <li>The Kashmir conflict also involves strategic issues like control of the Siachen glacier and acquisition of arms, with both countries acquiring nuclear weapons and missiles in the 1990s.</li> <li>Both governments are accused of supporting militant activities against each other, with India alleging Pakistan’s involvement through ISI and Pakistan blaming Indian government and security agencies.</li> <li>There have been problems over sharing of river waters, with a dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty in 1960, but it has survived despite military conflicts.</li> <li>India and Pakistan have minor differences over the demarcation line in Sir Creek in the Rann of Kutch, and are holding negotiations on all issues.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="india-and-its-other-neighbours">India And Its Other Neighbours</h5> <ul> <li> <p>India and Bangladesh have had disputes over various issues such as sharing of river waters, illegal immigration, support for anti-Indian fundamentalist groups, and refusal to allow Indian troops to move through its territory.</p> </li> <li> <p>India and Nepal, despite their special relationship, have had trade-related disputes in the past. Indian security agencies see the Maoist movement in Nepal as a security threat, while many leaders and citizens in Nepal think that the Indian government interferes in its internal affairs.</p> </li> <li> <p>India and Sri Lanka have had differences over ethnic conflict in the island nation. Indian leaders and citizens find it impossible to remain neutral when Tamils are politically unhappy and are being killed.</p> </li> <li> <p>India’s size and power make its smaller neighbors suspicious of its intentions, while the Indian government often feels exploited by its neighbors. The smaller countries fear that India wants to be a regionally-dominant power.</p> </li> <li> <p>Not all conflicts in South Asia are between India and its neighbors. Nepal and Bhutan, as well as Bangladesh and Myanmar, have had disagreements in the past over the migration of ethnic Nepalese into Bhutan and the Rohingyas into Myanmar, respectively.</p> </li> <li> <p>The two cartoons, one from India and the other from Pakistan, interpret the role of two key players who are interested in the region. Despite being from different countries, they share a common perspective on the role of India and Pakistan in the process of regional cooperation in South Asia.</p> </li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="peace-and-cooperation">Peace and Cooperation</h5> <ul> <li>The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a regional initiative by South Asian states to promote cooperation through multilateral means.</li> <li>SAFTA, an agreement to form a free trade zone in South Asia, was signed in 2004 with the aim of lowering trade tariffs, but its implementation has been met with some resistance due to fears of market influence and domination.</li> <li>Despite political tensions, efforts have been made to manage conflicts and build peace between India and Pakistan, including confidence-building measures and increased people-to-people interactions.</li> <li>South Asia’s regional dynamics are influenced by external powers such as China and the United States, but the future of the region will depend more on the actions of the people and governments within it.</li> <li>Economic development, globalization, and the large South Asian diasporas in the US have increased American involvement in the region, making it an important stakeholder in regional security and peace.</li> </ul> <p>======</p>