CONTEMPORARY SOUTH ASIA

Q1.What is South Asia? OR “South Asia stands for diversity in every sense and yet
constitutes one geo-political space.” Explain how.
A1.
1.The expression ‘South Asia’ usually includes the following countries :Bangladesh, Nepal,
Bhutan, Pakistan, India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
2.The Himalayas in the north and the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea in the
south, east and west respectively provide a natural insularity to the region.
3.There is a linguistic, social and cultural distinctiveness of the sub-continent.
4.South Asia stands for diversity in every sense and yet constitutes one geo-political space.
Q2.’The various countries in South Asia do not have the same kind of political systems’
Explain. OR “Democracy is becoming an accepted norm in South Asia.” Justify.
A2. The various countries in South Asia do not have the same kind of political systems:
1.Sri Lanka & India have remained democratic since independence from the British.
2.Pakistan and Bangladesh have experienced both civilian and military rulers.
3.Till 2006, Nepal was a constitutional monarchy with the danger of the king taking over. In
2008, monarchy was abolished & Nepal became a democratic republic.
4. The Government of Bhutan has been a constitutional monarchy since 18 July 2008. The
King of Bhutan is the head of state. The executive power is exercised by the council of
ministers, headed by the Prime Minister.
5.The Maldives was a Sultanate till 1968 when it was transformed into a republic with a
presidential form of government. In June 2005, the Parliament of the Maldives voted
unanimously to introduce a multi-party system.
Q3.” Military rule and democracy are 2 sides of the same coin in Pakistan” Discuss. OR
Military and democracy play hide and seek in Pakistan. Explain. OR Discuss the important
events in Pakistan from 1947-2018.
1.After Pakistan framed its 1st constitution, General Ayub Khan took over the
administration of the country and soon got elected.
2.He had to give up office when there was dissatisfaction against his rule. There was once
again a military take over under General Yahya Khan.
3.After the Indo-Pak war in 1971, East Pakistan broke away to emerge as an independent
country called Bangladesh. After this, an elected government under the leadership of
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto came to power from 1971-77.
4.The Bhutto government was removed by General Zia-ul-Haq in 1977.
5.General Zia faced a pro-democracy movement from 1982 onward and an elected
democratic government was established once again in 1988 under the leadership of Benazir
Bhutto.
6.In the period that followed, Pakistani politics centered around the competition b/w her
party, the Pakistani People’s Party & the Muslim League.
7.This phase of elective democracy lasted till 1999 when the army stepped in again and
General Parvez Musharraf removed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
8.In 2001, General Musharraf got himself elected as the President.
10.Today Pakistan is a Parliamentary Republic under Imran Khan as PM.
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Q4.Describe the factors responsible for Pakistan’s failure in building a stable democracy.
A4.
1.SOCIAL DOMINANCE: The social dominance of the military, clergy and landowning
aristocracy has led to frequent overthrow of elected governments & establishment of
military government.
2.CONFLICT WITH INDIA: Pakistan’s conflict with India has made the pro-military
group more powerful. These groups have always said that political parties and democracy
in Pakistan are flawed, that Pakistan’s security would be harmed by selfish minded parties
and chaotic democracy, and that the army’s stay in power is , therefore, justified.
3.LACK OF INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT: The lack of international support has further
encouraged military to continue its dominance. The US and other western powers continue
to support Pakistan’s military rules and also supply the most sophisticated weapons and
fighter planes.
4.GLOBAL ISLAMIC TERRORISM: The western powers fear that Pakistan’s nuclear
arsenal might fall into the hands of terrorist groups. So military rule can protect Western
interests in West and East Asia.
5.STRONGHOLD OF TERRORISTS: Pakistan has become a stronghold of terrorists.
Hundreds of terrorists fled into Pakistan after the overthrow of Taliban from Afghanistan.
The militants forced many political leaders to leave the country, thus clearing the way for
military rulers to govern the country.
6.LACK OF CHARISMATIC LEADERS: India was lucky to have many charismatic
leaders like Nehru, Azad, Rajendra Prasad etc, under whose leadership the country got
freedom and who were alive for many years after independence. But Pakistan’s founder
Jinnah and another popular leader, Liaquat Ali Khan, did not survive for long. Those who
came after them were weak and greedy and could not give stability to the country.
Q5.What were the demands of East Pakistan (Bangladesh) for setting up democracy?
A5.
1.Bangledesh was a part of Pakistan from 1947 to 1971. The people of this area resented the
dominance of western Pakistan and the imposition of Urdu language.
2.They wanted a fair treatment given to Bengali culture and language.
3.They also demanded fair representation in administration and political power.
4.Sheikh Mujib demanded autonomy for the eastern region.
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Q6.Describe the shift from democracy to military to representative democracy in

Bangladesh.
A6.
1.In 1975, Sheikh Mujib got the constitution amended from parliamentary to presidential
form of government. He also abolished all parties except his own, the Awami League.
2.He was assassinated in a military uprising in August 1975, and the new military ruler,
Ziaur Rehman, formed his own Bangladesh National Party and won elections in 1979.
3.He was assassinated and another military takeover followed under the leadership of
General H.M. Ershad.
4.The people of Bangladesh soon rose in support of the demand of democracy and this time
students were in the forefront.
5.Ershad was forced to allow political activity on a limited scale. He was later elected as
President for 5 yrs.
6.Mass public protests made Ershad step down in 1990 and elections were held in 1991.
7.Since then, representative democracy based on multi-party elections has been working in
Bangladesh.
Q8.How was democracy restored in Nepal over monarchy? OR Examine the role of
pro-democratic movement in Nepal.
A8.
1.After a strong pro-democratic movement, the king accepted the demand for a new
democratic constitution in 1990.
2.During the 1990s, the Maoists started an armed insurrection against monarch and ruling
elite which led to a violent conflict b/w the Maoists guerrillas and the armed forces of the
king.
3.In 2002, the king abolished the parliament and dismissed the government thus ending
even the limited democracy that existing in Nepal.
4.In April 2006, there were massive countrywide pro-democracy protests led by the Seven
Party Alliance (SPA), the Maoists and social activists and the king was forced to restore the
House of Representatives that had been dissolved in 2002.
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Q9.Name the principal players in the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. How do you assess the
prospects of the resolution of this conflict? What led to the emergence of LTTE?
A9. The principal players in the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka were Sinhala and Sri Lankan
Tamils:
1.After its independence, politics in Sri Lanka was dominated by the Sinhala community
who were hostile to a large number of Tamils who had migrated from India to Sri Lanka
and settled there.
2.The Sinhala nationalists thought that Sri Lanka should not give concessions to the Tamils
because Sri Lanka belongs to the Sinhala people only.
3.The neglect of Tamil concerns led to militant Tamil nationalism.
4.From 1983 onwards, the militant organization, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
has been fighting an armed struggle with the army of Sri Lanka & demanding Tamil Eelam
or a separate country for the Tamils of Sri Lanka in the northeastern parts of the country
which they control.
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Q10.What has been India’s stand towards the Sri Lanka Tamil problem?
A10.
1.The government of India has from time to time tried to negotiate with the Sri Lankan
government on the Tamil question.
2.But in 1987, the government of India for the 1st time got directly involved in the Sri
Lankan question.
3.India signed an accord with Sri Lanka and sent troops to stabilize relations b/w the Sri
Lankan government and the Tamils.
4.Eventually, the Indian army got into a fight with the LTTE and the presence of the Indian
troops was also not liked much by the Sri Lankan.
5.They saw this as an attempt by India to interfere in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka, so in
1989, the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) pulled out of Sri Lanka without attaining its
objective.

Q11.Explain the disagreements/problems/conflicts b/w India and Pakistan.

Q11.
1.KASHMIR ISSUE: Soon after the partition, the 2 countries got into a conflict over
Kashmir. The Pakistan government claimed that Kashmir belonged to it. Wars b/w the 2
countries in 1947-48 and 1965 failed to settle the matter. The 1947-48 war resulted in the
division of the province into Pakistan occupied Kashmir and the Indian province of Jammu
and Kashmir divided by the Line of Control. In 1971 India won the war but the Kashmir
issue still remains unsettled.
2.SIACHEN GLACIER: Both the countries are in a conflict over the control of the Siachen
glacier, 12000 feet above the sea level. Pakistan had sent troops with a view to strengthen its
hold over the glacier. India retaliated. In 2005, our Prime Minister declared this region a
‘Zone of Peace’.
3.ARMS RACE OF BOTH COUNTRIES: Both countries acquired nuclear weapons and
Ballistic missiles. In 1998, India concluded nuclear tests at Pokhran in Rajasthan. Soon,
Pakistan also carried out nuclear tests in the Chagai Hills.
4.DISPUTE OVER SHARING OF RIVER WATERS: There is a dispute over the waters of
Indus, Jhelum and Chenab that flow through Kashmir to Pakistan. In 1960, the Indus
Water Treaty was signed b/w the 2 countries with the help of World Bank, but Pakistan is
afraid that the flow of the waters can be stopped despite the treaty.
5.PAKISTAN’S AID AND SUPPORT TO TERRORISM: Pakistan’s aid and support to
terrorism in Punjab and Kashmir have claimed 1000s of lives. Pakistan’s support was also
seen in the Mumbai blasts in March 1993. Parliament House attack on 13th December, 2001
& Mumbai’s Taj Hotel attack in November, 2008. The Indian government also believes that
Pakistan had helped the pro-Khalistani militants with arms during the period 1985-95.
6. PAKISTAN’S SPY AGENCY: Pakistan’s spy agency Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) is
supposed to be involved in various anti-India campaigns in India’s northeast, operating
secretly through Bangladesh and Nepal.
7.SIND & BALUCHISTAN: The government of Pakistan blames the Indian government &
its security agencies for causing trouble in Sindh & Baluchistan.
Q12.Discuss the problem of sharing river water b/w Pakistan and India.
A12.
1.Until 1960, they were locked in a fierce argument over the use of the rivers Indus, Jhelum
and Chenab.
2.Eventually, in 1960, with the help of the World Bank, India and Pakistan signed the Indus
Water Treaty which has survived to this day in spite of various military conflicts.
3.There are still minor differences about the interpretation of the Indus Water Treaty and
the use of the river waters.
4.The 2 countries are not in agreement over the demarcation line in Sir Creek in the Rann
of Kutch.
Q13.Mention areas of differences b/w India and Bangladesh.
A13.
1.Sharing of Ganga & Brahmaputra river waters.
2.Illegal influx of Bangladeshi immigrants
3.Its support to anti-Indian Islamic fundamentalist groups.
4.Not allowing Indian troops to move through its territory to northeastern India.
5.Its decision not to export natural gas to India or allow Myanmar to do so through its
territory.

Q14.Discuss points of agreements b/w India and Nepal. OR ‘India is the single largest aid
giver to Nepal” Justify.
A14.
1.A treaty b/w the 2 countries allows the citizens of both countries to travel to and work in
the other country without visas and passports.
2.Despite differences, many areas hold the 2 countries together such as trade, scientific
cooperation, common natural resources, electricity generation, and interlocking water
management grids.
3.India has contributed to the development efforts of Nepal by undertaking several
developmental projects in the areas of health, education, science and technology eg the
establishment of a Hospital-cum-Medical College at Dharan and the construction of an
Emergency and Trauma Center at Kathmandu.
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Q15.Discuss the differences and areas of cooperation b/w India and Sri Lanka.
A15.
DIFFERENCES:
1.Ethnic conflict in the Sri Lanka.
2.Indian leaders and citizens find it impossible to remain neutral when Tamils are
politically unhappy and are being killed.
3.After the military intervention in 1987, the Indian government now prefers to disengage
from Sri Lanka’s internal troubles.
COOPERATION:
1.India signed a free trade agreement with Sri Lanka.
2. India’s helped in post-tsunami reconstruction in Sri Lanka.
Q16.Mention few points of cooperation b/w India and Bhutan.
A16. India and Bhutan share a warm and friendly relation:
1.Under India Bhutan Treaty 1949, India under took not to interfere in the internal affairs
of Bhutan.
2.There is free movement of goods and people b/w the 2 countries.
3. Indian rupee is a legal tender in Bhutan.
4.Bhutanese monarch has made efforts to remove guerrillas & militants from north-eastern
India.
5.India is involved in big hydroelectric projects in Bhutan
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Q17.Describe India’s relations with Maldives.
A17.
1.India’s ties with Maldives remain warm & cordial.
2.In November 1988, when some Tamil mercenaries from Sri Lanka attacked the Maldives,
the Indian air force & navy reacted quickly to the Maldives’ request to help stop the
invasion.
3.India has also contributed towards the island’s economic development, tourism &
fisheries.
Q18.India’s neighbors often think that the Indian government tries to dominate and
interfere in the domestic affairs of the smaller countries of the region. Is this a correct
impression?
A18.
1.India’s size, her military strength and economic resources are regarded with suspicion by
some of her neighbors. But India has never tried to gain an unfair advantage of her size or
resources.
2.She never took even a small action against smaller nations. In fact, her role has always
been purely advisory.
3.For eg India has never advised that Sri Lanka should be partitioned. In fact, India has
always stood in favour of a peaceful political settlement b/w Sri Lankan government and
Tamils of Indian origin.
4.India extended full support to democratic transformation in Nepal.
5.At the New Delhi SAARC Summit in 2007, India announced substantial reduction in
custom duties on goods imported from Least Developed Countries (LDC) and liberalisation
of visas for students, teachers, journalists and artists from SAARC nations. It was a gesture
of cooperation, not domination.
6.India is also implementing projects in the areas of Telemedicine and Shuttle Breeding of
Pulses in Bhutan and Rainwater Harvesting and Rural Solar Energy Electrification in Sri
Lanka.
Q19.How are the external powers influencing bilateral relations in South Asia?
A19.
1.After the end of the Cold War, the US involvement in South Asia has very much
increased. After economic reforms and globalization of Indian economy, US goods and
money in India has increased a lot. The US launched a massive attack against Talibans and
other terrorist organizations in Afghanistan. India gave full support to this war.
2.China funded and gave arms to Maoists in Nepal. India was also worried by China’s
strategic partnership with Pakistan.
3.The US and European Union seemed genuinely interested in South Asia’s peace and
progress. Serious problems like terrorism cannot be solved in isolation from each other.
4.The large South Asian population in the US and the huge size of the markets of this
region also give America added stake in the future of regional security and peace.