CONTEMPORARY SOUTH ASIA.

I. SOUTH ASIA:-
1. South Asia includes the following seven countries:-
a. India. b. Pakistan. c. Bangladesh. d. Nepal. e. Bhutan. f. Sri Lanka.
g. Maldives.
Myanmar and Afghanistan are also included in South Asia as a whole.
China is an important player but is not considered a member of this region.
2. There are mighty Himalayas in the north of South Asia, The Indian Ocean in the south, the Bay of
Bengal in the east and the Arabian Sea in the west all these provide natural insularity in the region and
are largely responsible for the linguistic, social and cultural distinctiveness of this area.
3. The boundaries of the region in the east and west are not so clear.
4. South Asia stands for diversity in every sense and constitutes one geo political space (it refers to the
association of countries who are bound with each other geographically and their interests are inter
linked politically and economically).
5. The various kinds of conflict in South Asian region are as follows:-
a. Pending border and water sharing disputes.
b. Conflicts arising out of insurgency, ethnic strife and resource sharing.
All these make the region very turbulent.
6. South Asia recognizes that the region can only develop and prosper through cooperation among the
states.
7. The political system of the various countries of South Asia are:-
a. Both India and Sri Lanka successfully operated a democratic system since independence.
b. Both Pakistan and Bangladesh had experienced both military and democratic rule.
Bangladesh remained democratic in post cold war period.
Pakistan began the post cold war with successive democratic government under the leadership of
Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif but it had suffered a military coup in 1999 and again democratic
government was formed in 2008.
c. Till 2006 Nepal was a monarchical constitution and in 2008 the monarchy was abolished and Nepal
emerged as democratic republic.
d. Bhutan became a constitutional monarch in 2008 and emerged as a multi party democracy under
the leadership of the king.
e. The Maldives an island nation was under Sultanate rule till 1968, later it emerges as a republic with
a presidential form of government.
In June 2005 multi party system was introduced in Maldives.
The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) dominates the political affair of the island nation and won the
2018 elections.
8. From the experience of Bangladesh and Nepal we can say that democracy is becoming an accepted
norm in the entire South Asian region.
The people in all these countries share the aspiration of democracy.
A recent survey shows that there is a wide spread support of democracy in the South Asian region.
Ordinary citizens of South Asia --- rich or poor view the idea of democracy positively and support the
institution of representative democracy.
They prefer democracy over any other form of government and thinks that it is suitable for their
country.
Findings of democracy are significant in these regions because it was believed that democracy only
flourishes in prosperous countries of the world.
South Asian experience of democracy expanded the global image of democracy.
II. THE MILITARY AND DEMOCRACY IN PAKISTAN:-
1. After Pakistan framed its first constitution General Ayub Khan took over the administration of the
country and got himself elected.
He had to give up because of the popular dissatisfaction against his rule.
3. Another military takeover under General Yahya Khan.
During Yahya’s rule Pakistan faced the following crisis:-
a. The Bangladesh crisis.
b. War with India and defeat in 1971 and break away of East Pakistan which emerged as an independent
nation called Bangladesh.
3. After this a democratic government was formed under the leadership of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto from
1971 – 1977.
4. The Bhutto government was removed bi military General Zia ul Haq in 1977.
Zia ul Haq witnessed a strong pro democracy movement against his rule in 1982.
5. An elected government was again established in 1988 under the leadership of Benazir Ali Bhutto.
In this time period there was a competition between Benazir Ali Bhutto’s party Pakistan People Party
and Muslim League.
She was sacked for the first time in 1990.
In 1991 Nawaz Sharif became the PM and in 1993 he was forced to quit.
Benazir Bhutto took over as PM in 1993 later she was forced out.
Again in 1996 Nawaz Sharif returned as PM.
6. Again military takeover in 12 October 1999 when Military General Pervez Musharraf removed
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and got himself elected as the president in 2001.
The army rulers have held some election to give their rule a democratic image.
7. Year 2007:-
a. 9th March – Musharraf suspended the Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan Ifthikhar Chaudhary.
b. 19th October – Suicide bomber tried to assassinate Benazir Bhutto in Karachi when she returned
from eight years of self imposed exile.
c. 3rd November – Musharraf imposed Emergency.
d. 27th December – Benazir Bhutto was killed in at an election rally in Rawalpindi.
8. In 2008 democracy was restored in Pakistan and in 25th March Yousaf Raza Ghilani was elected as the
17th PM of Pakistan.
In Sep to Oct 2008 Asif Alis Zardari was appointed as the president of Pakistan after Pervez Musharraf
resigned.
Again in May 2013 Nawaz Sharif was elected das the PM of Pakistan.
9. The reasons or factor for Pakistan’s failure in establishing stable democracy:-
a. The social dominance of military, clergy and land owing classes has led to the frequent overthrew of
the elected democratic government and establishment of military rule.
b. Pakistan’s conflict with India made the pro military groups more powerful and they stated that:-
 Political parties and democracy in Pakistan is flawed.
 The security of Pakistan will be harmed by the selfish minded parties and chaotic democracy
and thus military rule was justified.
c. The lack of genuine international support for democratic rule in Pakistan:-
 US and other Western countries supported military rule in Pakistan because they feared of
Global Islamic Terror (it is defines as fear of the threat from Islamic outfits funded by Islamic
nations) and the passing of arsenal nuclear arsenal in the hand of terrorist groups if democratic
government is established in Pakistan.
 The western countries support military rule in Pakistan because the military regime in Pakistan
is seen as the protector of the western interest in west and south Asia.
10. The pro democracy movement is strong in Pakistan because it has:-
a. A relatively free and courageous Press.
b. A strong human rights movement.
III. DEMOCRACY IN BANGLADESH:-
1. Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan from 1947 – 71 (in this time period Bangladesh was called East
Pakistan).
2. It consist the partitioned part of Bengal and Assam of the British India.
3. The people of East Pakistan resented against the:-
a. Imposition of Urdu language.
b. Unfair treatment of Bengali language and culture.
4. People demanded for:-
a. Fair representation in administration.
b. Fair share of power in politics.
5. Sheikh Mujib - ur Rahman led popular struggle called six point proposal against the domination of
West Pakistan and for the demand of autonomy for East Pakistan in 1966.
6. In 1970 elections the Awami League led by Sheikh Mujib – ur Rahman won all the seats in East
Pakistan and secured majority in the constituent assembly of whole Pakistan.
The Bengali Population of East Pakistan voted against the years of treatment as second class citizens by
the rulers of West Pakistan.
7. The rulers of West Pakistan refused to accept the democratic verdict and demand for a federation
by Awami League of East Pakistan and Sheikh Mujib – ur Rahman was arrested in early 1971.
8. A reign of terror was unleashed over East Pakistan under the military rule of Yahya Khan.
Thousands of people were killed by the Pakistani army.
The people of East Pakistan started struggle to liberate Bangladesh from Pakistan.
9. Throughout 1971 India suffered the problem and burden large scale migration of refugees of about
80 lakhs.
The Indian government supported the freedom of East Pakistan and provides it with financial and
military support.
Pakistan alleged India of performing conspiracy and this led to a war between India and Pakistan in
December 1971 in which Pakistan was defeated and the surrender of Pakistani forces in East Pakistan
led to the formation of Bangladesh.
10. Bangladesh drafted a constitution declaring faith over democracy, socialism and secularism.
11. In 1975 Sheikh Mujib – ur Rahman amended the constitution for a shift from parliamentary to
presidential form of Government and abolished all other parties except his Awami League.
12. This led to tension and conflicts and as a result Sheikh Mujib – ur Rahman was assassinated in a
military uprising in August 1975.
13. The new military ruler Ziaur Rahman formed his own party Bangladesh National Party and won
the elections of 1979 and later he was also assassinated.
14. Another military rule under Lt. Gen. H.M Ershad.
15. People started to perform movements in demand of democracy in which students were forefront.
Noor Hussain a student of Dhaka University was killed by the police in pro democracy protest against
the rule of Gen. H.M Ershad --- this incident acted as a catalyst to increase the rage of people.
H.M Ershad was forced to allowed limited political activities and he was elected as President for five
years.
Due to mass public protest Ershad stepped down.
16. Elections were held in 1991 and since then representative democracy with multi party system was
established in Bangladesh.
IV. MONARCHY AND DEMOCRACY IN NEPAL:-
1. Nepal was a Hindu kingdom in the past and a constitutional monarch for many years.
2. Through the period of constitutional monarch the political parties and the people of Nepal wanted a
more open and responsive form of government.
3. The king with the help of army retained a tight control over the government and restricted the
expansion of democracy.
4. The king accepted the demand for a new democratic constitution in 1990 after the pro democracy
movement.
5. During the 90s the Maoist of Nepal was successful to spread their influence in many parts of the
Nepal and they believed in the arms insurrection against the monarch and the ruling elite.
6. This led to a violent conflict between the Maoist guerrillas and the forces of the king and soon
turned out as a triangular conflict between the Maoist, monarchist and democrats.
7. In April 2002 the king abolished the parliament and dismissed the government thus put to the end of
limited democracy in Nepal.
8. In 2006 there was a massive country wide pro democracy non violent movement lead by the Seven
Party Alliances (SPA), Maoists and social activists of Nepal.
9. This resulted in the restoration of the House of Representatives in Nepal and the transition of
democracy was completed.
10. Constituent assembly was formed to draft the constitution of Nepal.
11. The Maoists group agreed to suspend arm struggle.
They wanted a constitution of radical programmes for economic and social reforms.
All the parties in SPA did not agreed with this programmes.
12. In 2008 Nepal became a democratic republic after abolishing the monarchy and in 2015 Nepal
adopted a new constitution.
13. The three challenges to the democracy of Nepal were:-
a. The Monarchist. b. The Maoists. c. The Democrats.
V. ETHNIC CONFLICT AND DEMOCRACY IN NEPAL:-
1. Sri Lanka earlier known as Ceylon retained its democracy since independence 1948.
2. Sri Lanka faced ethnic conflicts that led to the demand for session in one of the region.
3. The politics of Sri Lanka was dominated by majority Sinhala Community.
4. The Sinhala nationalist thought that Sri Lanka was for Sinhala people only and they were hostile to the
large no. of Tamils migrated from India and settled in Sri Lanka.
Sinhala thought that Sri Lanka should not provide any concession to the Tamils.
5. The neglect of Tamil concerns led to the emergence of Tamil militant nationalism and from 1983
onwards the militant organization --- Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
6. The LTTE demanded for Tamil Eelam that is a separated state for Tamils of Sri Lanka in northeastern
part of the country (because the LTTE controlled that region) and fought arm struggle with the army of
Sri Lanka.
7. Due to the pressure of Indian Tamils over the Indian government to look after the concerns of Tamils
in Sri Lanka the Indian government for the first time involved in the Sri Lankan Tamil questions and
signed an accord with Sri Lanka in 1987 and sent Indian troops to stabalise the situation between the
Sri Lankan government and the Tamils.
But eventually the Indian army got into an arms conflict with the LTTE.
The presence of Indian troops was not liked by the Sri Lankans and was seen as the interference of India
in the internal matter of Sri Lanka.
8. In 1989 Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was pulled out of the Sri Lanka without accomplishing
the objectives.
9. The Sri Lankan crisis continued to be violent and there was an effort from the Scandinavian countries
such as Norway and Iceland to bring negotiation between the Tamil and Sinhala groups.
10. The arm conflict came to an end when LTTE was vanquished in 2009.
11. In spite of the conflict Sri Lanka had registered:-
a. Considerable economic growth.
b. Recorded high levels of human development.
c. Successfully controlled the rate of population growth as a developing country.
d. The first country in the region to liberalize its economy.
f. It has had the highest per capita GDP for many years right through the civil war.
g. Democratic political system was maintained through the ethnic conflict.
VI. INDIA – PAKISTAN RELATION:-
A. WARS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN:-
1. The War of 1947 – 48:-
a. Soon after the partition the two countries had a conflict over the fate of Kashmir.
b. The Pakistan government claimed that Kashmir belonged to them.
c. The war of 1947 – 48 did not settle the issue of Kashmir.
d. The war led to the division of Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Indian Jammu and Kashmir by the Line
of Control (LOC).
2. The War of 1965:-
a. This war was the most serious arm conflict between the two countries over Kashmir issue.
b. By then Lal Bahadur Shastri has taken over as PM of India and Pakistan was already under the rule
of Military General Ayub Khan.
c. In April 1965 Pakistan launched armed attack from the area of Rann of Kutch Gujarat and from
Jammu & Kashmir in August - September.
d. Shastri ordered the Indian army to retaliate from Punjab border and the Indian army reached close to
Lahore.
e. The war came to an end by the UN intervention.
f. To mark the end of the war Tashkent agreement was signed between PM Lal Bahadur Shastri and
Pak General Ayub Khan in January 1966.
g. The impact of the war:-
 Military loss of Pakistan.
 Rise of more difficult economic situation for India.
3. The War of 1971:-
a. India supported the demand of freedom of East Pakistan and provided it with financial and military
support.
b. Pakistan alleged India of performing conspiracy.
c. A war broke out between two countries in December 1971 --- Pakistan Air Force attacked from
Punjab and Rajasthan border and the Pakistan Army attacked from Jammu and Kashmir border.
d. India retaliated this attacking both the side with air navy and army and within ten days the Indian
army surrounded Dhaka resulting in the surrender of 90,000 of Pakistani army and at last India declared
unilateral ceasefire.
e. To mark the end of the war The Shimla agreement was signed between Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar
Ali Bhutto on 3rd July 1971.
4. The Kargil War 1999:-
a. Pakistani terrorist groups Mujahideens captured four important check points of Indian side of LOC:-
 Batalik.
 Mashkoh.
 Dras.
 Kaksar.
b. Indian army was suspicious about the involvement and influence of Pakistani army behind the
Mujahideens and retaliated against this situation.
c. The attention of the whole world was on this Kargil conflict because both India and Pakistan emerged
as full - fledged nuclear state by that time.
d. The conflict went on from June to July 1999 and within 26 July Indian army manages to recover the
lost check points.
B. STRATEGIC ISSUES BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN:-
1. The control over Siachen Glacier.
2. Acquisition of arms.
3. In May 1998 India conducted a series of nuclear explosion in Pokhran and responding the situation
Pakistan conducted nuclear test in Chagai Hills.
Since then both the countries have built military relations to avoid any kind of full fledge war.
C. INDIAN GOVERNMENT BLAMES PAKISTAN FOR:-
1. Using the strategy of low key violence by providing arms ammunition money and training to Kashmiri
militants to carry out terrorist attacks in India.
2. Pakistan was also alleged of providing arms and ammunition to the Khalistani militants from 1985 –
95.
3. The spy agency of Pakistan Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) is alleged of performing anti Indian
campaigns in the north east part of India secretly operating through Nepal and Bangladesh.
D. PAKISTAN GOVERNMENT BLAMES INDIA FOR:-
1. Creating trouble in the provinces of Sindh and Baluchistan through Indian agencies.
E. OTHER ISSUES BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN:-
1. The Sharing of River Water:-
a. India and Pakistan had a fierce argument over the use of rivers of Indus basin.
b. This tension was resolved by the help of World Bank and Indus Treaty was signed between the two
countries in 1960.
2. The demarcation line of Sir Creek of Rann of Kutch is still not resolved and settling this dispute will
have an impact on the control of sea resources.
F. RECENT AGREEMENTS BETWEEN INDIA NAD PAKISTAN:-
1. Confidence building is undertaken between two countries to avoid any kind of wars.
2. The great personalities of both the countries collaborate with each other to make a friendly
atmosphere.
3. The leaders of both the countries often visit each other to develop better understanding.
In February 1999 India PM A.B Vajpayee took bus journey to Lahore for signing a peace declaration.
4. A bus route is also established between the two countries.
5. Border trade between two parts of Punjab increased in the last five years.
6. Visa and passports are easier to get now for the citizens of both the countries.
7. Thu cultural exchange and the economic cooperation between the two countries also increased.
8. Both the government restored the women abducted during the partition to their original families.
VII. INDIA – BANGLADESH RELATION:-
A. INDIAN GOVERNEMNT HAS BEEN UNHAPPY FOR:-
1. Bangladesh’s denial of illegal immigration to India.
2. Its support for anti Indian Islamic fundamentalist groups.
3. Bangladesh’s refusal to allow Indian troops to move north east through its territory.
4. Bangladesh decided not to export natural gas to India and does not allow Myanmar to do so
through its territory.
B. BANGLADESH GOVERNMENT HAD FELT THAT:-
1. India acts as a regional bully over the share of river water.
2. India encourages rebellion in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
3. India is trying to extract its natural gas through unfair means of trade.
4. Both the governments could not resolve their border dispute for a long time.
C. POSITIVE SIDE OF INDIA – BANGLADESH RELATION:-
1. Economic relations have improved considerably in last 20 years.
2. Bangladesh is a part of India’s Look East o Act East policy which aims to establish connection
between India and Southeast Asia via Myanmar.
3. On environmental management and disaster issues both the nations have collaborated several
times.
4. In 2015 they have exchanged certain enclaves.
5. Efforts are made on both the sides to identify the common threats and to be more sensitive about the
need of each other.
VIII. INDIA – NEPAL RELATIONS:-
1. Nepal and India enjoys a very special relationship --- a treaty was signed between two countries
which allow the citizens of both the countries to work or travel to the each other’s country without
any passport and visa.
2. There are trade related issues between the countries from the past.
3. Indian government expressed displeasure against the warm relationship between Nepal and China.
4. The Indian government is also unhappy because of Nepal government’s inaction against the anti
Indian element.
5. The Indian security agencies sees the Maoist movement of Nepal as a threat to the formation of
Naxalite groups in many parts of India from Bihar in north to Andhra Pradesh in the south.
6. Many leaders and citizens of Nepal see India as interferer in the internal affairs of Nepal and also
allege India of having designs on rivers and hydro electricity of Nepal and prevent the landlocked
country Nepal to get access of sea.
7. Nevertheless the Indo – Nepal relation is fairly stable and peaceful and the relation is bounded by:-
a. Trade. b. Scientific cooperation. c. Common natural resources.
d. Electricity generation. e. Interlocking water management grids.
8. Consolidation of democracy in Nepal will improve the Indo – Nepal relation.
IX. INDIA – SRI LANKA RELATION:-
1. The difference between India and Sri Lanka is mostly on the ethnic conflict that had occurred in the
island nation.
2. It is impossible for India to remain neutral when the Tamils in Sri Lanka are politically unhappy and are
killed.
3. After the military intervention in 1987 Indian government now prefers a policy of disengagement vis
a vis Sri Lanka.
4. India also signed free trade agreement with Sri Lanka in December 1998 that further improved the
relation.
5. India also helped Sri Lanka in post tsunami reconstruction which brought them more closely.
X. INDIA – BHUTAN RELATION:-
1. India enjoys a very special relation with Bhutan and had no major conflict.
2. The Bhutanese monarch weeds out the guerrillas and militants from north eastern border of India
which was very helpful for Indian government.
3. India is involved in a big hydro electricity project in Bhutan and it still remains the major source of
development for the Himalayan country.
XI. INDIA – MALDIVES RELATION:-
1. The India Maldives ties remain warm and cordial.
2. In November 1988 when some Tamil mercenaries from Sri Lanka attacked Maldives the Indian air
force and navy quickly reacted on the Maldives’s request and stopped the invasion.
3. India contributed towards island’s economic development, tourism and fisheries.
XII. CONFLICTS BETWEEN OTHER COUNTRIES OF SOUTH ASIA:-
1. Conflicts between Bangladesh and Nepal over the future use of Himalayan river water.
2. Conflicts between Bangladesh and Myanmar on the Rohingya issue.
3. Conflict between Nepal and Bhutan over the ethnic migration of Nepalese.
XIII. REASONS FOR INDIA TO HAVE VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH ITS NEIGHBOUR COUNTRIES:-
1. Because of India’s size and power the neighbor countries are suspicious about India’s intentions.
2. The smaller countries feel that India wants to be a regionally dominant power.
3. On the other hand India feels exploited by its neighboring countries.
4. It does not like the political instability of these countries and fear that because of this the outside
power will gain influence in this region.
5. India’s central location in South Asian region results in sharing of its border with most of the
countries.
XIV. SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION (SAARC):-
1. The SAARC was formed in 1985 by coming together of seven countries of South Asia:-
a. India b. Pakistan c. Bangladesh d. Nepal e. Bhutan f. Sri Lanka
g. Maldives
2. SAARC was formed on the basis of recognition of importance of cooperation and friendly relation
between the South Asian states.
3. SAARC aims to evolve cooperation through multilateral means.
4. Due to political differences SAARC has not much success.
5. The SAARC member signed South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) for the formation of free trade area
in the south Asian region.
The SAFTA was signed in 2004 and came into effect from 1st January 2006.
The spirit behind the formation of SAARC is to allow free trade across the borders of South Asian
countries for the evolution of peace and cooperation.
The SAFTA also aimed at lowering trade tariffs by 20%.
The neighboring countries feared that through SAFTA:
 India wants to invade their markets.
 Influence their politics and society by the presence of commercial ventures.
 India wants to have a commercial presence in their countries.
But according to India SAFTA is of real economic benefits and no trouble will be created because India
has already signed bilateral agreements with Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
6. THE INFLUENCE OF OUTSIDE POWERS IN SAARC:-
a. China and US remains key players in South Asian politics.
b. Sino - Indian relation improved significantly in last ten years.
China’s strategic partnership with Pakistan remains major irritant issue for India
The demand and development of globalisation brought the two Asian giant closer.
Economic ties have multiplied rapidly since 1991.
c. American involvement is South Asia has rapidly increased after Cold War.
The US had good relation with both India and Pakistan and work as a moderator of Indo – Pak relation.
Economic reforms and liberalisation of the economies of both the countries increased the depth of US
involvement in South Asia.
The large South Asian Diaspora in US and huge size of population and market In the region provide
added stake to US for future peace and cooperation.
7. THE LIMITATIONS OF SAARC:-
a. Only regional conflicts lead to bilateral issues.
Example – Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan.
b. Other countries fear that India would interfere their politics and society through commercial
ventures.
c. Most of the members of SAARC are Least Developed Countries that creates insufficiency of funds.
8. THE SUMMITS OF SAARC:-
a. The first summit of SAARC was held in Dhaka Bangladesh in December 1985.
b. The 12th SAARC summit was held in Islamabad Pakistan in January 2004.
c. The 18th summit of SAARC was held in Kathmandu Nepal in November 2018.
9. In 2007 Afghanistan joined SAARC.
8. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN E.U & SAARC:-
a. EU has a political military and economic influence all over the world but SAARC is only limited to
South Asian region.
b. EU plays an important role in international organization like WTO but SAARC only acts as a regional
economic association.
c. The members of EU are developed countries and the members of SAARC are developing countries.
d. EU acts as a nation state and has its own founding date, flag, anthem, common currency (EURO),
common foreign and security policy to deal with other nations but SAARC does not have all these.