Chapter - South Asia and The Contemporary World

Class 12 Political Science Notes

What is South Asia?

• South Asia usually includes the following countries:

Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and
Sri Lanka. The various countries in South Asia do not have the
same kind of political systems.

• Pakistan and Bangladesh have experienced both civilian and

military rulers. Nepal was a constitutional monarchy but
democracy has been established there. Democracy can also be
seen in Bhutan and Maldives.

The Military and Democracy in Pakistan

• After Pakistan framed its first constitution, General Ayyub

Khan took over the administration of the country and soon got
himself elected. There was popular dissatisfaction against his
rule.

• After this, General Yahya Khan took over the control. During
Yahya’s military rule, Pakistan faced the Bangladesh crisis, and
after a war with India in 1971, East Pakistan broke away to
emerge as an independent country called Bangladesh.

• After this, a government was formed under the leadership of

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto from 1971 to 1977.
• The Bhutto government was removed by General Zia-ul-Haq
in 1977.

• General Zia faced a pro-democracy movement from 1982

onwards and an elected democratic
government was established once again in 1988 under the
leadership of Benazir Bhutto. After this, she had to face
competition from the Pakistan People’s Party and the Muslim
League.

• In 1999, the army stepped in again and General Pervez

Musharraf removed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

• In 2001, General Musharraf got himself elected as the

President.

• Since 2008, democratically elected leaders have been ruling

Pakistan.

Factors that have contributed to Pakistan’s failure in

building a stable democracy:

• The social dominance of the military, clergy, and landowning

aristocracy has led to the frequent overthrow of elected
governments and the establishment of military government.

• Pakistan’s conflict with India has made the pro-military groups

more powerful.
• The lack of genuine international support for democratic rule
in Pakistan has further encouraged the military to continue its
dominance.

Democracy in Bangladesh

• Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan from 1947 to 1971. The

people of this region resented the domination of western
Pakistan and the imposition of the Urdu language.
• After the partition, they began protests against the unfair
treatment meted out to the Bengali culture and language.

• Sheikh Mujib-ur Rahman led the popular struggle against West

Pakistani domination. He demanded autonomy for the eastern
region.

• In 1970 elections, the Awani league under Sheikh Mujibur

Rahman won all seats but the government dominated by the
West Pakistani leadership refused to convene the assembly.

• Under the military rule of General Yahya Khan, the Pakistani

army tried to suppress the mass movement of the Bengali
people. Thousands were killed by the Pakistan army.

• The government of India supported the demand of the people

of East Pakistan for their independence and helped them
financially and militarily.

• This resulted in a war between India and Pakistan in December

1971 that ended in the surrender of the Pakistani forces in East
Pakistan and the formation of Bangladesh as an independent
country.

• Bangladesh drafted its constitution declaring faith in

secularism, democracy and socialism.

• In 1975 Sheikh Mujib got the constitution amended to shift

from the parliamentary to presidential form of government. He
also abolished all parties except his own, the Awami League.

• Sheikh Mujib was assassinated and a military rule was

established under Ziaur Rahman. He was
assassinated and another military takeover followed under the
leadership of Lt Gen H. M. Ershad.

• Mass public protests made Ershad step down in 1990.

Elections were held in 1991. Since then representative
democracy based on multi-party elections has been working in
Bangladesh.

Monarchy and Democracy in Nepal

• Nepal was a Hindu Kingdom in the past but later changed into
a constitutional monarchy in the modern period for many years.

• The king accepted the demand for a new democratic

constitution in 1990, in the wake of a strong pro-democracy
movement.

• During the nineties, the Maoists of Nepal were successful in

spreading their influence in many parts of Nepal.
• In 2002, the king abolished the parliament and dismissed the
government, thus ending even
the limited democracy that existed in Nepal.

• In April 2006, there were massive, country wide,

pro-democracy protests. The largely non-violent movement was
led by the Seven Party Alliance (SPA), the Maoists and social
activists. The pro-democracy forces achieved their first major
victory when the king was forced to restore the House of
Representatives that had been dissolved in April 2002.

• In 2008, Nepal became a democratic republic after abolishing

the monarchy. In 2015, it adopted a new constitution.

Ethnic Conflict and Democracy in Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka has retained democracy since its independence in

1948 but it faced a serious challenge from ethnic conflict leading
to the demand for secession by one of the regions.

• After its independence, politics in Sri Lanka was dominated by

forces that represented the interest of the majority Sinhala
community.

• The Sinhala nationalists thought that Sri Lanka should not give
‘concessions’ to the Tamils because Sri Lanka belongs to the
Sinhala people only.

• From 1983 onwards, the militant organisation, the Liberation

Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has been fighting an armed
struggle with the army of Sri Lanka and demanding ‘Tamil
Eelam’ or a separate country for the Tamils of Sri Lanka.
The LTTE controls the northeastern parts of Sri Lanka.

• In 1987, the government of India signed an accord with Sri

Lanka and sent troops to stabilise relations between the Sri
Lankan government and the Tamils.

• In 1989, the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) pulled out of

Sri Lanka without attaining its objective.

• The Scandinavian countries such as Norway and Iceland tried

to bring the warring groups back to negotiations. Finally, the
armed conflict came to an end, as the LTTE was vanquished in
2009.

• Despite of the conflict, Sri Lanka has registered considerable

economic growth and recorded high levels of human
development.

India-Pakistan Conflicts

• After independence, India and Pakistan got involved in issue

related to Kashmir. It led to wars in 1947-48 and 1965 which
failed to settle the matter.

• In 1971, India won a decisive war against Pakistan but the

Kashmir issue remained unsettled.

• India’s conflict with Pakistan is also over strategic issues like

the control of the Siachen glacier and over acquisition of arms.
 • In 1998, India conducted nuclear explosion in Pokhran.
Pakistan responded within a few days by carrying out nuclear
tests in the Chagai Hills.

• India and Pakistan also have had problems over the sharing of
river waters of Indus.

• The two countries are not in agreement over the demarcation

line in Sir Creek in the Rann of Kutch.

Relations between India and the countries of South

Asia
India and Pakistan
There have been 4 wars between India and Pakistan so far.
● 1947 (Kashmir dispute)
● 1965 (River Water Division)
● 1971 (Bangladesh)
● 1999 (Kargil War)
Issues of conflict
● Kashmir dispute
● Border dispute
● Support of terrorism by Pakistan
● Pakistan’s promotion of separatism
● River water sharing

India and Bangladesh

 Conflict
● Illegal entry of thousands of Bangladeshis into India
● Ganga and Brahmaputra river water sharing
● Non-export of natural gas by Bangladesh to India
● Bangladesh’s support of anti-Indian Muslims
● Do not give way to the Indian army to go to east India.
Cooperation
● Good economic relations
● Cooperation on disaster management and environmental issues
● Bangladesh is a part of India’s Look East policy

India and Nepal

Conflict
● There have been differences between India and Nepal regarding
trade in history.
● India’s concern is also about the friendship between China and
Nepal.
● India considers the growing Maoist supporters in Nepal as a
threat to itself.
● India is also not happy with Nepal not taking action against
anti-Indian elements.
● Nepal feels that India interferes in their internal affairs.
Cooperation
● Cooperation in the field of science and business
● There is an agreement of free movement between both the
countries, according to which any person can come from India
to Nepal and Nepal to India without passport and visa.
● Nepal is being helped by India in many schemes.

India and Sri Lanka

Conflict
● Tamil status
● In 1987, a peacekeeping force was sent by India, which the
people of Sri Lanka considered interference in their internal
affairs.
Cooperation
● There is an agreement of free trade between both the countries.
● Help by India during the tsunami in Sri Lanka.

India and Bhutan

● Relations between India and Bhutan are very good.
● Bhutan drove the anti-India extremists from here, which helped
India.
● India is helping with projects like hydroelectric power in
Bhutan.
● India gives maximum grant for development in Bhutan.

Relations between India and Maldives

● In 1988, some soldiers from Sri Lanka attacked Maldives.
● Maldives asked India for help and India sent its army to help
Maldives
● Help in the economic development of Maldives.
● India’s support to Maldives’ tourism and fishing industry

SAARC (SAARC)
SAARC was created to establish cooperation in the countries of
South Asia.
SAARC – South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
Established in – ​1985
Headquarters – Kathmandu (Nepal)
Members – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri
Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan
Objectives
● Maintaining Peace and Cooperation in South Aisa
● Free Trade Zone
But SAARC could not succeed.
Cause
● Dispute between countries
● Lack of unity
● Failure to resolve disputes

SAFTA
SAFTA – South Asian Free Trade Area
Implemented – in 2006
Objective
● Reducing custom duty between the countries of South Asia for
free trade.
Status
● It also failed because small countries believe that through this
agreement India wants to take advantage of their markets.
Peace and Cooperation

• The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

(SAARC) is a major regional initiative by the South Asian states
to evolve cooperation through multilateral means which began
in 1985.

• SAARC members signed the South Asian Free Trade (SAFTA)

agreement which promised the formation of a free trade zone for
the whole of South Asia.

• SAFTA was signed in 2004 and came into effect on 1 January

2006. SAFTA aims at lowering trade tariffs. But some of our
neighbours fear that SAFTA is a way for India to ‘invade’ their
markets and to influence their societies and politics through
commercial ventures and a commercial presence in their
countries.

• Although India-Pakistan relations are of conflict and violence,

there have been a series of efforts to manage tensions and build
peace.
• China and the United States remain key players in South Asian
politics. Sino-Indian relations have improved significantly in the
last ten years, but China’s strategic partnership with Pakistan
remains a major irritant.

• The US has had good relations with both India and Pakistan
since the end of the Cold War and increasingly works as a
moderator in India-Pakistan relations.

Timeline of Contemporary South Asia

• 1947: India and Pakistan emerge as independent nations after

the end of British rule.

• 1948: Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) gains independence; Indo- Pak

conflict over Kashmir.

• 1954-55: Pakistan joins the Cold War military blocs, SEATO

and CENTO.

• 1960: India and Pakistan sign the Indus Waters Treaty.

• 1962: Border conflict between India and China.

• 1965: Indo-Pak War; UN India-Pakistan Observation Mission.

• 1966: India and Pakistan sign the Tashkent Agreement;

Six-point proposal of Sheikh Mujib-ur Rahman for greater
autonomy to East Pakistan.
• March 1971: Proclamation of Independence by leaders of
Bangladesh.

• August 1971: Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship signed for 20

years.

• December 1971: Indo-Pak War, Liberation of Bangladesh.

• July 1972: India and Pakistan sign the Shimla Agreement.

• May 1974: India conducts nuclear test.

• 1976: Pakistan and Bangladesh establish diplomatic ties.

• December 1985: South Asian leaders sign the SAARC Charter

at the first summit in Dhaka.

• 1987: Indo-Sri Lanka Accord; Indian Peace Keeping Force

(IPKF) operation in Sri Lanka (1987-90).

• 1988: India sends troops to the Maldives to foil a coup attempt

by mercenaries India and Pakistan sign the agreement not to
attack nuclear installations and facilities of each other.

• 1988-91: Democracy restoration in Pakistan, Bangladesh and

Nepal.

• December 1996: India and Bangladesh sign the Farakka Treaty

for sharing of the Ganga Waters.
• May 1998: India and Pakistan conduct nuclear tests.

• December 1998: India and Sri Lanka sign the Free Trade
Agreement (FTA).

• February 1999: Indian PM Vajpayee undertakes bus journey to

Lahore to sign a Peace Declaration.

• June-July 1999: Kargil conflict between India and Pakistan.

• July 2001: Vajpayee - Musharraf Agra Summit unsuccessful.

• January 2004: SAFTA signed at the 12th SAARC Summit in

Islamabad.

• 2007: Afghanistan joins SAARC.

• November 2014: The 18th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu,

Nepal. Privacy PolicyAdvertise with us