TOPIC NUMBE 1 : ANALYTICAL OVERVIEW OF SOUTH ASIA

Introduction :

Background :

South Asian region consists of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal,
Sikkim, and Bhutan

region enclosed by Himalayan and Karakorum Mts. in the north, the Arabian
Sea in the west, and the Bay of Bengal in the east

most of the region under the colonial power of Britain until after WWII

countries divided on religious lines with India predominately Hindu and Pakistan
mainly Muslim

India, second poorest region of the world

12 million people displaced in migrations between India and Pakistan; over 1

million died in brutal ethnic clashes

India has one of largest economies with yet most people remain poor.

Pakistan and Bangladesh Factor :

Background :

Pakistan and Bangladesh share the same cultural and political heritage as
India but little else in common except the Islamic faith

initially they were one country, divided into two different locations, West
Pakistan and East Pakistan

revolt in East Pakistan led to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971

Pakistan is a country of arid lowlands with high mountains on the

periphery

Bangladesh is a country with low, well-watered lands with a hilly eastern

region

Pakistan has a major problem managing scarce water resources

Pakistan and Bangladesh are both poor countries but GDP of Pakistan
twice as large as Bangladeshs GDP
 British built some infrastructure (roads and irrigation facilities) in
Pakistan; Bangladesh was largely ignored

both states heavily dependent on agriculture

Over view Of Political Problems Pakistan :

political instability in Pakistan alternating military rule and corrupt

civilian political rule

breakdown of law and order in Pakistan due to social dislocation produced

by the Afghanistan war after 1979

Bangladesh one of the poorest and most densely populated countries of the
world

Geography :

It lies between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Southeast Asia has many islands and a mainland.

The mainlands peninsula borders China and India.

Area between Indian and Pacific Oceans, includes mainland and islands.

Five major rivers on mainland, but mountains make travel difficult.

Key to power in region is control of trade routes and harbors.

Influence of India and China :

Indian traders arrive in first century A.D.; bring Buddhism, Hinduism.

Indian influence remains today.

Chinese migrants and traders bring Chinese influence.

The Islands in Southeast Asia are the :

Philippines, Sumatra, Borneo, Indonesia.

Economy Over view Of South Asia :

Agricultural :

Massive irrigation system

 Wheat, barley, dates, vegetables

Trade :

Mesopotamia

Southern India

Independence and Division :

Britain agreed to give India its independence, but partitioned to subcontinent into
two countries, India and Pakistan, in order to avoid civil war between Hindus and Muslims.

East Pakistan became Bangladesh after a civil war in 1971.

India and Pakistan continue to fight over their border today.

Quick Over View South Asian Countires Today :

India :

India is the second most populous nation in the world, with more than I billion people.

India has some of the most heavily populated cities in the world.

India is ruled by a stable, parliamentary democracy after that of Great.

Britain (largest democracy in the world Indias economy is growing rapidly.

Pakistan :

Pakistan has suffered from a series of rebellions and assassinations

Currently under the control of a military dictator, though elections are beginning to take
place

Officially an ally of the United States, Pakistan continues to fight with India over the
region of Kashmir and has little to no control over its border with Afghanistan, where the
Taliban has its base of operations.

Pakistan has successfully tested nuclear weapons.

Bangladesh :

Much of the land in Bangladesh is at or just above sea level

One of the worlds most densely populated nations

Flooding is rampant In 2004 25 people were left homeless from floods

Sri Lanka :

major ethnic groups in past.

Constant war fares in past.

The Tamil (minority) are fighting for independence

Sri Lanka is still trying to recover from the Tsunami of 2004

Maldives :

A small island nation.

Most of its money is derived from tourism or fishing.

Garment industry is growing

Nepal :

Ruled by a king

One of the worlds least developed nations

Tourism and farming have caused damage to the fragile, highland environment

Bhutan :

Ruled by a king

Tightly controlled tourism industry with no immigration allowed

Mostly inhabited by rural farmers

Afghanistan :

Afghanistan was invaded by the Soviet Union in the 1980s

In the mid-1990s a radical Muslim group, the Taliban, took over

After September 11, 2001,attacks, U.S. and British forces attacked Taliban and al Qaeda
targets and defeated the Taliban.

The new government has a new constitution, new voting regulations, and includes
women.

Afghanistan is still occupied by the US.

The Taliban and al Qaeda are still fighting in Afghanistan.

 The Stans

The Stans Concept For South Asia Region :

Central Asia is comprised of several relatively new nations that have broken away from the
former Soviet Union.

The stans are home to many ethnic groups living.

Several of these nations are home to huge reserves of oil.

The stans means land .

Central Asia Map :

Nations in South Asia include :

Bangladesh

Bhutan

India

The Maldives (islands)

Nepal

Pakistan

Sri Lanka (island)

Asia Studies :

About 70 percent of the population of South Asia live in rural areas, especially fertile river
valleys.

South Asia is one of the most densely populated regions in the world.

Most of the people live in areas that have abundant rainfall, including coastal areas, northeastern
India, and Bangladesh.

Monsoons are the single most important factor affecting the climate of South Asia.
Some countries in South Asia grow cash crops such as tea, cotton, coffee, and sugar cane.

Cash crops bring in money, but countries must be careful not to rely on them too much or their
economies might suffer if global prices drop.

India has a vast supply of minerals.

South Asia Map :

Geopolitical Issues in South Asia :

Kashmir Conflict :
SRI LANKA

Tamils - demanded equal rights in:

-- education

-- employment

-- landownership

-- linguistic & political representation

Geopolitical Framework : A Deeply Divided Region

International and Global Geopolitics :

Cold war between India and Pakistan :

Nuclear capabilities of both countries escalated tensions

China allied with Pakistan (China-India border conflict)

Terrorist attacks of September 11th complicated matters

Pakistani had supported Afghanistans Taliban regime, now helps

U.S.

Basic Facts About The South Asian Region :

Geopolitical tensions in South Asia cause concern

Nuclear rivalry between India and Pakistan

Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka

Religious strife between Hindus and Muslims

Bangladesh draws foreign direct investment and prospects for the future

India may be perfectly positioned for globalization

Conflict in South Asia :

Conflict between India and Pakistan continued throughout the 1900s, and in 1971 Indian
troops helped East Pakistan break away from Pakistan to form the nation of Bangladesh.

Pakistan and India continue to fight over which country controls the area along the India-
Pakistan border, called Kashmir.

PAKISTAN (AT PARTITION, 1947) :

KASHMIR ( Jammu and Kashmir )

Although its population is mainly Muslim, much of Jammu and Kashmir became part of
India in 1947. India and Pakistan have fought two wars over the territory, and there has
been a separatist insurgency in the area.

South Asian Region :

Regions of South Asia :

Divisions Of South Asian Region :

Countries of South Asia :

Afghanistan
 Pakistan

India

Nepal

Bhutan

Bangladesh

Sri Lanka

Maldives

Kashmir Factor :

Isolated valley in northern India.

Famous for the production of a fine wool.

Split between India, Pakistan and China.

South Asian Region Showing By Each Country Flag :

Nuclear Proliferation in South Asia :

Indian nuclear tests: May 11 and 13, 1998

Diplomatic efforts to stop Pakistani tests

Pakistan nuclear tests: May 28 & 30, 1998

Immediate economic sanctions on both India and Pakistan

Indian Background :

Tension with China

1974 peaceful nuclear explosion (PNE)

Today: ~80-100 nuclear weapons

Goal: regional stability

Pakistani Background :

Nuclear weapons capability by 1989-1990

Today: ~90-110 nuclear weapons

Goals: overcoming conventional inferiority,

keeping regional balance of power

Notable points :

1947-8 India and Pakistan War in Kashmir results in present division of 5 regions- 2 regions in
Pakistan, 3 in India

1965 2nd Indo-Pakistani War

1971 3rd Indo-Pakistani War, and creation of Bangladesh

1972 Simla Agreement establishes Line of Contol (LoC)

South Asias biggest threat comes from within :

South Asian Subcontinent from Afghanistan to Bangladesh And diverse people

South Asia struggling with itself, countries fear most their own neighbors

Lack of mutual trust, respect & accountability :

Ethno-national insurgencies, separatism, terrorism , religious extremism.

Ethnic (racial) & religious divide & acute regionalism Hindu-Muslim, Punjabi-
Bengali, Southern-Northern, eastern-Western
South Asias Security Threats : Interstate & Intrastate Conflicts

Interstate Conflicts : India vs. Pakistan Kashmir, the mother of all Indo-Pakistan
conflicts, the Legacy of the Partition of 1947, or problems of artificial statehood

India vs. Bangladesh , India vs. Nepal. India vs. Sri Lanka and Pakistan vs. Afghanistan

Intrastate Conflicts : Hindu vs. Muslim, Northeast India vs. New Delhi, Northwest vs.
North India Advanced vs. Backward

NWFP-FATA and Baluchistan and Sind Punjabis vs. Others, Sindhis vs. Indian Muslim
Immigrants in Pakistan East Pakistan vs. West Pakistan led to Bangladesh (1971)

Tamil vs. Sinhalese in Sri Lanka led to 26-year-long civil war

South Asias Transnational Security Threats :

Non-State Actors Game : Transnational crime, insurgencies, terrorism

the biggest security challenges for South Asia Across Afghanistan-Pakistan-India-

Bangladesh-Myanmar

Internal factors : Marginalization of people, discrimination against ethno-national-

religious-linguistic groups Religious and Secular/communist insurgencies due to

of people

problem of identity : Common race, language, religion, sect, ideology unite people
across the borders Kashmir, Afghanistan, NWFP/FATA, Baluchistan, Northeast India,
Southeastern Bangladesh, Southwestern Myanmar

By-products of proxy wars : Bleed the enemy nation, often backfires, Kashmir,
Baluchistan, NWFP, Assam, Southeast Bangladesh

Religious Causes : Kashmir, Pashtun Identity, Baluchistan, Refugee / Displaced /

Marginalized peoples vulnerability exploited in the name of religion & nationalism,
Maoism is the latest threat in India, Bangladesh and Nepal

Security Threats to transcend national boundaries :

Afghan Taliban, Pakistani Taliban (TTP)

India having bad to very bad relations with all its neighbors India and Pakistans proxy
war in Afghanistan

Need to mend fences and resolve internal problems, including Kashmir

 Afghanistan going beyond control :

Taliban-al-Qaeda the biggest security threat

Afghanistan needs good / accountable government Pashtun majority must get due share
in government

Indus Water Treaty :

This water-sharing treaty between India and Pakistan was signed in 1960 by the then Indian
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the then President of Pakistan Field Marshal Mohammad
Ayub Khan.

Pakistan
The Partition

Kashmir Perception :

Pakistan, India, and China claim Kashmir as their own.