Contemporary South Asia — Class 12 Political Science

South Asia usually means Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka — a region of great diversity bound by the Himalayas and the surrounding seas, where rivalry and cooperation coexist. The countries follow varied political paths. India and Sri Lanka have remained democracies since independence; Pakistan and Bangladesh have alternated between civilian and military rule; Nepal moved from monarchy to a democratic republic (2008); Bhutan became a constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy (2008); and the Maldives became a multi-party republic. The chapter examines Pakistan's struggle to build stable democracy, Bangladesh's emergence in 1971 and its return to democracy, the monarchy-democracy-Maoist conflict in Nepal, and the ethnic conflict between the Sinhala majority and the LTTE in Sri Lanka. India-Pakistan conflicts centre on Kashmir, the Siachen glacier, arms races, nuclear tests, and river-water and Sir Creek disputes, though the Indus Waters Treaty (1960) has endured. India also has differences and cooperation with Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives. SAARC (1985) and the SAFTA agreement promote regional cooperation, while the US and China remain influential outside powers.