South Asia shares geography and history, yet its nations follow distinct political paths shaped by colonial legacies, ethnic diversity, and democratic experiments. — NCERT
3.1 South Asia: A Region Defined
South Asia comprises eight countries:
- India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan (often included regionally)
Common features:
- British colonial legacy — partition, administrative structures
- Ethnic and religious diversity — potential for both richness and conflict
- Democratic experiments — with varying degrees of success
- SAARC (1985) — regional cooperation forum; limited effectiveness due to India–Pakistan tensions
3.2 India and Pakistan
The partition of 1947 created enduring rivalry:
- Kashmir — central dispute; wars in 1947–48, 1965, 1999 (Kargil)
- Nuclearisation — both tested nuclear weapons in 1998
- Cross-border terrorism — major obstacle to normalisation
- Trade and people-to-people ties — periodically revived, then suspended
Despite hostility, both nations share culture, language roots, and cricket diplomacy.
3.3 Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal
Bangladesh (1971):
- Seceded from Pakistan after liberation war; India played decisive role
- Parliamentary democracy with periods of military rule
- Economic growth in garments and remittances
- Challenges — climate vulnerability, political polarisation
Sri Lanka:
- Ethnic conflict — Sinhala majority vs. Tamil minority
- LTTE insurgency — civil war ended 2009
- Economic crisis (2022) exposed governance failures
Nepal:
- Transition from monarchy to federal democratic republic (2008)
- Maoist insurgency (1996–2006) reshaped politics
- Geopolitical balancing between India and China
3.4 Bhutan, Maldives, and Afghanistan
Bhutan:
- Constitutional monarchy transitioning to democracy (2008)
- Gross National Happiness — alternative development indicator
- Close ties with India; cautious engagement with China
Maldives:
- Small island state; strategic Indian Ocean location
- Democratic transition from authoritarian rule
- Climate change poses existential threat
Afghanistan:
- Decades of conflict — Soviet invasion, Taliban rule, US intervention (2001–2021)
- Taliban returned to power in 2021
- Humanitarian crisis; regional implications for Pakistan, India, Central Asia
3.5 Peace and Cooperation in South Asia
Obstacles to regional cooperation:
- India–Pakistan rivalry — blocks SAARC progress
- Bilateral disputes — water sharing, borders, refugees
- Asymmetric power — India's size creates suspicion among neighbours
Positive developments:
- BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) — sub-regional connectivity
- Trade agreements — SAFTA (limited success)
- Cultural and diaspora linkages across borders
South Asia's future depends on managing conflicts while building cooperative frameworks.
Chapter Summary
- South Asia is diverse in politics, economy, and democratic experience
- India–Pakistan rivalry, especially over Kashmir, dominates regional politics
- Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal face distinct post-conflict and democratic transitions
- Smaller states navigate geopolitics amid climate and governance challenges
- Regional cooperation remains limited but sub-regional initiatives show promise
Exercises (NCERT)
- Exercise 1 — India–Pakistan relations since partition
- Exercise 2 — democratic transitions in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka
- Exercise 3 — challenges and prospects for South Asian cooperation