South Asia faces many political and social issues that challenge stable democracy and regional cooperation. Major points of conflict include territorial disputes like Kashmir, water sharing tensions, and ethnic conflicts. While countries like India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh have established democratic systems, others like Pakistan have faced repeated military coups. Regional cooperation through SAARC has been limited by political differences. Both China and the US now exert growing influence in South Asia.

1. CONTEMPORARY SOUTH ASIA
India
Nepal
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Sri Lanka
Maldives
Pakistan
Nuclear power in South Asia
has diverted the attention of
the world.
Major conflicts in South Asia Pending water sharing dispute
Insurgency
Ethnic strife
 Resources sharing

2. SOUTH ASIA

3. “Ours is a region where rivalry and goodwill, hope and despair, mutual
suspicion and trust coexist.”
What is South Asia?
Natural insularity (South Asian Nations are naturally
protected by mother Nature)
Boundaries are not much clear as between India and
China, Myanmar and Afghanistan.
Diversity
Aspirations for democracy

4. India &Sri Lanka Democracies throughout since
Independence .
Bangladesh Post cold war – Civilian Govt.
Pakistan
Civilian (Government elected by
people)& Military rule as Benazir Bhutto ,
Nawaz Sarif.
1999-Military coup by Parvez Musarraf
and now from 2008 Civilian Govt.
Nepal Till-2006 Constitutional Monarchy
2008- Monarchy was abolished and
Nepal became democratic republic.
Bhutan 2008 Constitutional monarchy with
multiparty system.
Maldives Saltanate rule till 1968. after 1968 It
became republic and presidential system.
And 2005 followed multiparty system.
MDP (Maldivepian Democratic Party)
Countries Features

5. THE MILITARY DEMOCRACY IN PAKISTAN
 General Ayub Khan – He became the ruler after naming in fraud election and
there was a great disapproval and dissatisfaction by the people and he was removed.
General Yahya Khan- He became ruler in 1971 during the Bangladesh crisis and
India –Pakistan war.
Julfikarali Bhutto- Elected in 1971-1977
General Ziaul Haq- He removed elected government and became ruler He faced
pro-democratic movement in 1982 and removed.
Benazir Bhutto- Elected in 1988 where there was competition in two major party
Pakistan’s people party and Muslim League.She belonged to Pakistan people’s party.
Nawaz Sarif – Democratic ruler from Muslim League elected to rule.
General Parwage Mussarraf- He set up military coup in 1999 to 2008.(Military
rule)( Changed the constitution and became president through referendum)
There is now elected civilian government since 2008 in Pakistan.

6. REASONS FOR FAILURE OF STABLE DEMOCRACY
Social dominance of military/ clergy and landowning aristocrats
War between India and Pakistan had made pro military powerful groups
Political parties are failure in Pakistan
Pakistan security flawed by selfish chaotic parties
Lack of gaining international support for democratic rule in Pakistan.
People have strong democracy sentiments.
Courageous and relatively free press.
Strong human rights movements.

7. DEMOCRACY IN BANGLADESH
1947-71 Pakistan
West
Pakistan
East
Pakistan
It was separated from
Punjab Sindh provinces
and North west frontier.
Major language spoken
was urdu
Ruled by General Yahya
Khan (Military Rule)
It was separated from
Assam and Bengal.
Bangla was the major
language
She Ikh Muzib -ur
Rahman from Awami
League.

8. REASONS FOR THE DEMAND OF EAST PAKISTAN
Fair representation
Autonomy
Right to practice Bengali culture and language
Protest against unfair treatment
Resented imposition of Urdu language
ROLE OF MUZIB-UR-REHMAN
He led popular struggle against west Pakistan domination.
Demand of autonomy
During 1970 elections all seats won by him in East Pakistan
 Secured majority in proposed constituent assembly (In complete Pakistan)
Dominating west Pakistan leadership
Refused to convince the assembly
Muzib-Ur-Rehman was arrested
Suppressing the movement

9. CONFRONTATIONS
 Government of Pakistan sent its army to suppress the movement demanding East
Pakistan .
More than 1000 people were killed by Pakistan army in 1971 and mostly were
Hindus
More than 80 lakhs refugees migrated from East Pakistan to India.
 India had burdened of refugees and helped east Pakistan financially and militarily to
get it independent.
In December-1971 there was war between India and Pakistan where the Pakistan
army surrendered before the Indian army and East Pakistan was declared an
independent country (Bangladesh)

10. CONSTITUTION FOR BANGLADESH-1972
Features
Secularism
Socialism
Democracy
She-Ikh –Muzib-Ur-Rehman amended the constitution in 1975 and changed
it from Parliamentary to Presidential form of Government in Bangladesh .
He also abolished all political parties except his own party Awami league
which raised tensions and conflicts in the country.
She-Ikh-Muzib-Ur-Rehman was assassinated in August 1975 in military
upspring.

11. NEW LEADER IN THE COUNTRY
ZIAUR REHMAN
 New military ruler
 Won election in 1979
 Formed his own party Bangladesh National Party
(BNP)
 He was also assassinated

12. Lt. General HM Irshad
Military ruler who take over the country
People demanded for democracy specially students union
protested against military rule.
He allowed political activities on limited scale.
Later he was elected as a president for five years by using unfair
means.
There was a mass public movement against the Government ans
in 1990 he resigned .
1991 Bangladesh adopted multiparty system since then there is
democracy.

13. MONARCHY AND DEMCRACY IN NEPAL
MONARCHY
HINDU KINGDOM
CONSTITUTIONAL
MONARCHY
PEOPLE
DEMANDED TO
HAVE OPEN AND
RESPONSIBLE
SYSTEM
KING RESTRICTED
DEMOCRACY AND
SUPPRESS THE
MOVEMENT BY
NEPALI ARMY
THERE WAS A
STRONG PRO-
DEMOCRATIC
MOVEMENT

14. SPREAD OF MAOIST IDEOLOGY -1990s IN NEPAL
Maoist had the ideology of resurrection of arms against the monarchy and in
the favour of poor people .
They wanted to restructure the political and economic system in Nepal.
There were three groups people who were demanding monarchy , people
those who support Maoist ideology ant third people who wanted to setup
democracy.
 In 2002 King of Nepal abolished parliament and dismissed the government.
After four years in 2006 there was a massive protest for democracy in Nepal in
that movement different leaders and three important groups participated
actively. Maoist, Social activist and SPA.
Because of this mass movement the king had to restore the parliament in
Nepal.
 In 2007 the constituent assembly was formed and in 2008 Nepal became
democratic country.
Nepal introduced its new constitution in 2015.

15. ETHNIC CONFLICTS AND DEMOCRACY IN SRILANKA
Sri Lanka became Independent-1948
Since independence there was a serious
challenges of ethnic conflicts and demand for equal rights.
There was no concessions for Tamils
Sinhala dominated in Sri Lanka
Neglected of concerns
Militant Tamil Nationalism- 1983-2009
LITTE- Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam V/S Srilankan Army
Demand Tamil Eelam (North East parts of Sri Lanka)

16. ROLE OF INDIA TO SAVE INDIAN TAMILS IN SRI LANKA
Tamils were origin of India and migrated to SriLanka and fighting for
rights.
Indian Government tried to negotiate with SriLankan Government on
this issues.
Tamils in Sri Lanka were pressurizing Indian government to get their
problems solved.
1987 – Direct involvement of India
in SriLankan internal affaires. LITTE
V/S INDIAN ARMY.
1987-1989- IPKF (INDIAN PEACE
KEEPING FORCE ) Deployed to
SriLanka.

17. In 1989 IPKF was pulled out to India without achieving the goals.
There were several obligations were made on IPKF.
To suppress the violence Norway and Scandinavian countries also
played important role.
SriLanka after-2009
There was economic growth and human development
Fast developing country and successfully controlled the population
growth.
Highest PCI and HDI ranking
Better GDP
First country in the region to liberalise economy
Democratic political system

18. INDIA –PAKISTAN CONFLICTS (KASHMIR ISSUE)

19. INDIA –PAKISTAN WAR
1947
1965 UNSETTLED
1971
1999
SIACHEN GLACIER AND ARM RACE
1990-1998 Both The Countries Pakistan and India became
nuclear power.

20. INDIA BLAMES PAKISTAN
Pakistan helps kashmiri militants and provides weapons and trainings
money protection to carry out terrorist activities against India.
Aided pro khalistani militants with arms and manumission during
1985-1995
Anti India campaign in NE through Bangladesh and Nepal by ISI (Inter
Services Intelligence)
PAKISTAN BLAIMS INDIA
India creates all troubles in Sindh and Baluchistan provinces of
Pakistan.

21. INDUS RIVER WATER DISPUTE

22. Dispute over Demarcation line in sir creek , run of kutch.
There is disputes between India and Sri Lanka for sea
resources.

23. INDIA AND OTHER NEIGHBOURS
INDIA AND BANGLADESH RELATION
Rivers water disputes (Ganga and Brahmaputra)
Bengladesh denial of illegal immigrants to India
Bangladesh supports for ani-Indian Islamic
fundamentalist groups.
 Bangladesh refused travelling rute for the Indian
troops .
Refused to export natural gas from Myanmar via
Bangladesh to India.
BANGLADESH TO INDIA
Regional bully , interfere into internal affairs of Bangladesh
Get the supply of NG illegally
Unfair in trade

24. COOPERATIONS
India look east policy where Bangladesh helped India to maintain
relation with eastern neighbor Myanmar.
To solve the problems related disaster (Natural hazards) in
management.
Identify common treats
INDIA AND NEPAL RELATION
INDIA TO NEPAL
Trade related disputes in ports
Inaction against anti-Indian campaign
Maoist movement
Rise of naxalist group in adjoining states

25. NEPAL TO INDIA
Interference in internal affairs.
Nepal wants ports facilities as it is land locked.
COOPERATION
No visa and passport
Scientific cooperation
We share common natural resources
Both are democratic countries
INDIA AND SRILANKS RELATION
India signed on FTA (Free Trade Agreement) with SriLanka
1987 treaty was signed not to interfere into the internal affairs of
Srilanka
Reconstruction after Tsunami in SriLanka

26. INDIA AND BHUTAN RELATION
Himalayan kingdom
No more conflicts with India
Trying to suppress naxalist movement and Gurilla militants in
North East and helping India.
India give aid for the development like hydroelectric projects.
INDIA AND OTHE PROBLEMS WITH NEIGHBOURS
Migrants from Nepal and Bhutan
Rohingyas from Myanmar
River water disputes from Nepal and Bangladesh

27. SAARC NATIONS (SOUTH ASIA ASSOCIATION AND REGIONAL COOPERATION -1985
Major regional initiatives through multilateral means
Not much success due to political differences
SAFTA agreement was signed in 2004 (South Asian Free Trade Agreement)
Some bilateral and multilateral agreement related trade were signed
CHINA AND USA INFLUENCE
After 1991 there is a great influence in South Asia
