CONTEMPORARY SOUTH ASIA

WHAT IS SOUTH ASIA?

GEOGRAPHY OF THE REGION
 ASPIRATIONS FOR DEMOCRACY

• A recent survey of the attitudes of the people in the five big countries
of the region showed that there is widespread support for democracy
in all these countries.
• Ordinary citizens, rich as well as poor and belonging to different
religions, view the idea of democracy positively and support the
institutions of representative democracy.
• They prefer democracy over any other form of democracy and think
that democracy is suitable for their country.
 THE MILITARY AND DEMOCRACY IN
PAKISTAN
In the period that followed, Pakistani
GENERAL AYUB KHAN politics centred around the competition
between her party, the Pakistan People’s
AFTER Party, and the Muslim League. This phase of
MILITARY TAKE elective democracy lasted till 1999 when a
OVER IN 1966 military stepped in again and Nawaz Sharif
was removed
GENERAL YAHYA KHAN
EAST PAK BROKE &
General Pervez Musharraf.
BANGLADESH EMERGED, In 2001 he got himself
ELECTED GOVT. IN POWER
elected as the President.
ZULFIKAR ALI
BHUTTO(1971-77)
Zia deposed Bhutto in a Pakistan continues to be ruled by
military coup and declared
martial law in 1977
the army, though the army rulers
have held some elections to give
GENERAL ZIA-UL-HAQ their rule a democratic image.
Zia faced a pro-democracy movement from
1982 onwards and elected democratic
government was established in 1988

BENAZIR BHUTTO
IMRAN AHMED KHAN (PM)
ARIF ALVI
(PRESIDENT)
What are the factors which 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. These groups have often said that
political parties and democracy in Pakistan are flawed,
that Pakistan’s security would be harmed by selfish-
minded parties and chaotic democracy, and that the
army’s stay in power is, therefore, justified.
SHEIKH HASINA(PM)

MOHAMMAD
ABDUL Father of Bangladesh
HAMID(President)
SHEIKH MUJIBUR RAHMAN
 DEMOCRACY IN BANGLADESH
• Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan from 1947 to 1971. It consisted
of the partitioned areas of Bengal and Assam from British
India.
• The people of this region were against the domination of
western Pakistan and the imposition of the Urdu language.
• So they began protests against the unfair treatment with the
Bengali culture and language.
• They also demanded fair representation in administration and
a fair share in political power.
• Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led the popular struggle against
West Pakistani domination. He demanded autonomy for the
eastern region.
• In the 1970 elections in the then Pakistan, the Awami League
led by Sheikh Mujib won all the seats in East Pakistan and
secured a majority in the proposed constituent assembly.
• But the government dominated by the West Pakistani
leadership refused to convene the assembly.
• Sheikh Mujib was arrested.
• 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.
• This led to a large scale migration into India, creating a
huge refugee problem for India.
• 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 He was assassinated and another
declaring faith in secularism, military takeover followed under the
democracy and socialism. leadership of Lt Gen H. M. Ershad
Students were in the
forefront. Ershad was
forced to allow
In 1975 Sheikh Mujib got the political activity on a
constitution amended to shift from limited scale
the parliamentary to presidential form
of government. He was later elected as
President for five years
He also abolished all parties
except his own, the Awami
League Mass public protests made
Ershad step down in 1990
he was assassinated in a
military uprising in August
1975. Elections were held in 1991. Since
then representative democracy
based on multi-party elections has
been working in Bangladesh.
The new military ruler, Ziaur
Rahman, formed his own Bangladesh
National Party and won elections in
1979
 MONARCHY AND DEMOCRACY
•
IN NEPAL
Nepal was a Hindu kingdom in the past and then a constitutional
monarchy in the modern period for many years.
• Common people of Nepal have wanted a more open and responsive
system of government.
• But the king, with the help of the army, retained full control over
the government and restricted the expansion of democracy in
Nepal.
• The king accepted the demand for a new democratic
constitution in 1990, because of strong pro-democracy movement.

TRIANGULAR CONFLICT
REBELLION
During the 90s, the Maoists of MONARCH
Nepal were successful in spreading
their influence in many parts of
Nepal. They believed in armed
insurrection against the monarch
and the ruling elite. This led to a
violent conflict between the Maoist
DEMOCRATS MAOISTS
guerrillas and the armed forces of
the king.
 2002
• In 2002, the king abolished the
parliament and dismissed the
government

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

2006
prodemocracy protests. The forces achieved their
first major victory when the king was forced to
restore the House of Representatives that had been
• dissolved in April 2002.

• Nepal becomes a
2008 republic.

Promulgation of a new Constitution 2072 by President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav

KHADGA PRASAD SHARMA OLI(PM) BIDHYA DEVI
BHANDARI
(PRESIDENT )
 ETHNIC CONFLICT AND DEMOCRACY
• Got independence in 1948. IN SRI LANKA
• 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 (it was then known as Ceylon)
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.
• The neglect of Tamil concerns led to militant Tamil nationalism.
• 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 North-eastern parts of Sri Lanka.
 INDIA’S INTERVENTION IN SRI-LANKA

The government of India has from time to time tried to negotiate with the Sri
Lankan government on the Tamil question.
In 1987, govt of India -directly involved.
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.

Norway is regarded as a peace-helper rather than a peacemaker or a

mediator. Norway plays a role as facilitator where it supports the warring
parties to come up with a solution themselves. In the case with Sri Lanka,
Norway had built closer ties with the island by its charity work through
NGOs. Not only this time , but also at the time of Tsunami.
QUE-In spite of the ongoing conflict, Sri Lanka has
registered considerable economic growth and recorded
high levels of human development. Explain.
ANS=
• Sri Lanka was one of the first developing countries to
successfully control the rate of growth of population,
• the first country in the region to liberalise the
economy,
• it has had the highest per capita gross domestic
product (GDP) for many years right through the civil
war.
• Despite the ravages of internal conflict, it has
maintained a democratic political system.
 1. Sri Lanka.
1. The given cartoon is related to which
2. The full form of LTTE is Liberation Tigers of
country?
Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
2. What is the full form of LTTE?
3. Regional autonomy in the areas dominated by
3. What was the main demand of LTTE?
Tamils especially North and the North Eastern
4. Rajapakse is trying to perform which
part of Sri-Lanka
political act?
4. Rajapakse is trying to balance Sinhala
hardliners & Tamil militants.
INDIA-PAKISTAN CONFLICTS
Name the two leaders – Man Mohan Singh &
Pervez Musharraf

Imagine any two problems they might be

discussing?
How to solve Kashmir issue through mutual
talks
How to control terrorism
In which sector can improve trade
What changes can be made in visa
formalities.

Mention the outcome of their discussion.

To arrange a security level meeting of both
the nations.
Visiting of concerned ministers & to take
steps towards agreement b/w both countries.
To conclude the problem by not referring to
other nations.
To strengthen socio-cultural and eco trade
b/w the countries.
GOTABAYA RAJAPAKSA (PRESIDENT) MAHINDA RAJAPAKSA (PM)
INDIA- BANGLADESH RELATIONS
INDIA- NEPAL RELATIONS
 RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Territorial disputes of
India and Nepal
Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh
and Kalapani
INDIA- SRI-LANKA RELATIONS
INDIA- BHUTAN RELATIONS
JIGME KHESAR NAMGYAL LOTAY TSHERING (PM)
WANGCHUK(KING)
 INDIA- MALDIVES RELATIONS

• Maldives remain warm and cordial.

• In November 1988, when some Tamil mercenaries
from Sri Lanka attacked the Maldives, the Indian air
force and navy reacted quickly to the Maldives’
request to help stop the invasion.
• India has also contributed towards the island’s
economic development, tourism and fisheries.
Ibrahim Mohamed Solih(President of Maldives)
OTHER CONFLICTS OF THIS REGION

Nepal and Bhutan, as well as Bangladesh and

Myanmar, have had disagreements in the past over
the migration of ethnic Nepalese into Bhutan and
the Rohingyas into Myanmar, respectively.
Bangladesh and Nepal have had some differences
over the future of the Himalayan river waters. The
major conflicts and differences, though, are
between India and the others, partly because of
the geography of the region, in which India is
located centrally and is therefore the only country
that borders the others.
How external powers are influencing bilateral relations in South Asia?

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 demands of
development and globalisation have brought the
two Asian giants closer, and their economic ties
have multiplied rapidly since 1991.

American involvement in South Asia has rapidly

increased after the Cold War. 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. Economic reforms and liberal
economic policies in both countries have greatly
increased the depth of American participation in the
region. The large South Asian diasporas in the US and
the huge size of the population and markets of the
region also give America an added stake in the future of
regional security and peace.
SAARC SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION
SAARC SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION
SAARC SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the

regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of
states in South Asia. Its member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
It was established on 8 December 1985
Its headquarter is situated in Kathmandu, Nepal
OBJECTIVE:
The idea was to establish better cultural and social ties amongst the
member states to promote peace in the region. It was also intended to
promote trade amongst the members in order to improve the economic
status of its members and to raise it from a region of poverty to a region
of economic and social well being
SAARC SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION

The Objectives of the SAARC

To promote the welfare of the people of South Asia and to improve their
quality of life.
To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development
in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity
and to realize their full potentials.
To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries
of South Asia.
To contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one
another’s problems..
To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic,
social, cultural, technical and scientific fields.
To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries.
To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international
forums on matters of common interests; and
To cooperate with international and regional organizations with similar
aims and purposes.
SAARC SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION

SAARC Achievements

Free Trade Area (FTA): SAARC is comparatively a new organization in the

global arena. The member countries have established a Free Trade Area
(FTA) which will increase their internal trade and lessen the trade gap of
some states considerably.

SAPTA: South Asia Preferential Trading Agreement for promoting trade

amongst the member countries came into effect in 1995.

SAFTA: A Free Trade Agreement confined to goods, but excluding all

services like information technology. Agreement was signed to reduce
customs duties of all traded goods to zero by the year 2016.
SAARC SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION

Challenges
Low frequency of meetings: More engagement is required by
the member states and instead of meeting biennial meetings should be
held annually.

Limitation in SAFTA: The implementation of SAFTA has

not been satisfactory a Free Trade Agreement confined to goods,
excluding all services like information technology.

Indo-Pak Relations: Escalated tension and conflict

between India and Pakistan have severely hampered the prospects of
SAARC.
What is BIMSTEC?
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic
Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional multilateral organisation.
Its members lie in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal
constituting a contiguous regional unity.
Out of the 7 members,
Five are from South Asia –
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Nepal
Sri Lanka
Two are from Southeast Asia –
Myanmar
Thailand
BIMSTEC not only connects South and Southeast Asia, but also the ecologies of
the Great Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal.
It mainly aims to create an enabling environment for rapid economic
development; accelerate social progress; and promote collaboration on matters
of common interest in the region.
THANK
YOU