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Contemporary South Asia Notes Chapter 3 Political science CBSE Class 12

CBSE Class 12 Contemporary World Politics (political science) Chapter Notes Contemporary South Asia
16 April 2025 by
Akash Kumar

Contemporary South Asia Notes Chapter 3 Political science CBSE Class 12

CBSE Class 12 Contemporary World Politics (political science) Chapter Notes Contemporary South Asia

Introduction

South Asia is a diverse region comprising countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. From the snow-capped Himalayas to the sun-kissed oceans, this land of wonders is home to eight nations, each with its unique story. Yet, beneath the surface of vibrant tapestry lies a complex web of politics, power struggles and ancient rivalries. The trauma of partition, the scar of wars and specter of nuclear conflict continue to haunt this troubled region. However, despite these conflicts and issues, the nations have worked towards ensuring better cooperation in the future through a regional organization called SAARC. The South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation, stands as a hope of cooperation, and a platform for diplomacy and dialogue. As India and Pakistan take tentative steps towards peace, the people of South Asia hold their breath, hoping that their leader will choose the path of peace, prosperity and cooperation. 

Introducing South Asia

In the southern most reaches of Asia lies the South Asian subcontinent, with its unique diversity. Comprising eight nations, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, it is surrounded by the towering Himalayas in the north and a vast expanse of Indian Ocean, Arabian sea and bay of Bengal to the south, west and east. 

Although the regions eastern and western borders are not clearly delineated, Afghanistan and Myanmar are often contextualised within the broader South Asian framework. 

The subcontinent’s unique culture, linguistic and social characteristics are in part a consequence of its natural boundaries. 

Diverse South Asian Politics

South Asia is an incredibly diverse region with countries sharing borders but having totally different systems of government. From democracies to monarchies, and even a few hybrids, the South Asia has got it all: 

Maldives

  • In the realm of Maldives, a kingdom once ruled by sultans, a revolution of  sorts took place in 1968. The monarchy was abolished and a republic was born, with a presidential system of government.
  • The year of 2005 marked another watershed moment, as the parliament unanimously decreed the creation of a multiparty system, unlocking the doors to democracy. 
  • In the elections that followed, the opposition parties were allowed to contest elections and things started to change, thereby leading to the development of the Maldivian democracy.
  • Even though Progressive party of Maldives took control initially, it was later succeeded by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).


Pakistan

  • Pakistan's political landscape has been marked with instability, with no prime minister completing a full term in office.  The country has been oscillating between military and democratic rule for a long time.
  • Soon after the constitution of the country was drafted, General Ayyub Khan took control over the nation, and was soon elected. But his time in power was marked by a lot of unrest. 
  • Things escalated into a military coup led by General Yahya Khan.
  • After the 1971 war with India, East Pakistan broke away and became Bangladesh. 
  • From 1971 to 1977, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto took charge of the elected government, but general Zia ul Haq took over in 1977. Haq had to deal with the growing pro-democracy movement from 1982 onwards. 
  • In 1988, Benazir Bhutto successfully led the restoration of democratic governance in Pakistan, marking a significant milestone in the nation's history. But the political scene is marked by a constant conflict between her party which is Pakistan's People party and Muslim League. 
  • The democratic rule again came to an end for a while, after General Pervez Musharraf intervened and overthrew the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 1999. 
  • Recently, a vote of no confidence led to the removal of Imran khan, which resulted into the shift of power in the hands of Nawaz Sharif’s brother. 

What were the causes of Pakistan's failed attempt at democracy?

Pakistan, a nation born out of partition, has been plagued by legacy of military intervention, with elected governments toppled and replaced by authoritarian regimes. 

  • The conflict with India has caused the rise of pro-military groups that denounce Pakistan's political parties and democracy as feeble and ineffective. They believe that the political parties serve their personal interest directly impacting the country's growth. 
  • However, despite weak democracy, there exist some pro-democracy sentiments that show that people are in support of democracy in the nation. 
  • However, the military power has been getting a strong hold within the nation because of lack of genuine international support for democracy in pakistan. 
  • The authoritarian and military rule in Pakistan was supported by western Nations and US for their own personal benefits. 
  • Behind the veil of concern about Pakistan's nuclear arsenal lies a more sinister truth- a military regime notorious for its human right abuses and stifling of press freedom. 


Political Developments in Bangladesh

  • The period between 1947 to 1971 saw Bangladesh operation as a constituent part of Pakistan, encompassing segments of British India Bengal and Assam. 
  • The region's inhabitants disliked the western pakistan dominance and the imposition of urdu language, leading to protest against the marginalisation of Bengali culture and language. They also demanded greater political power and equal representation. 
  • Under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s leadership, the population rose up against the west Pakistan dominance, seeking independence for the eastern region. 
  • The Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujib, secured a majority in the proposed constituent assembly, by winning all seats in East Pakistan in the 1970s election. 
  • However, the West Pakistani leadership's refusal to convene the assembly resulted in Sheikh Mujib's arrest, prompting the Pakistani army, under General Yahya, to suppress the Bengali movement. 
  •  The turbulent political environment in the region resulted in large scale migration of people in the Indian subcontinent. India provided utmost support to the people of East Pakistan for their independence, in terms of both military and finances. 
  • This support from India's side led to a war between India and Pakistan in December 1971, which resulted in the defeat of Pakistan and the formation of Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi nation shows an utmost resolve to socialism, democracy and secularism. 
  • Sheikh Mujib made some big changes to Bangladeshi’s government in 1975, switching from a parliamentary system to parliamentary one. 
  • This caused a lot of tension, especially since the awami league was only allowed to exist. Things took a dark turn when sheikh Mujib was murdered in August 1975.
  • Zia Ur Rehman, a military dictator, created the Bangladesh National party, and won in the 1979 election. But soon he was also murdered leading to a military takeover under the command of Lt Gen H.M. Ershad.
  • Soon the demand for democracy rose. The people of Bangladesh, led by students, fought for democracy and eventually forced Ershad to resign in the 1990s.
  • After this, since 1991 Bangladesh has maintained a multiparty representative democracy. 


Nepal

Nepal, once a mighty hindu kingdom, now stands as a constitutional monarchy. .

  • People always yearned for freedom and a democratic rule. But the king, fueled by power and greed, clung to his throne through the support of its army crushing any dissent and opposition. 
  • People refused to be silenced and in the 1990s the wave of pro-democracy protests swept the nation. Forcing the king to give up some of his power. 
  • The Maoist of Nepal were able to gain some power across the nation in the 1990s. However they soon got into a bloody battle with the monarch and ruling class because of their advocacy of armed rebellion. 
  • The conflict was between the three groups, which were monarchist, democrats and Maoist. 
  • These violent conflicts forced the king to dismiss the government and disband the parliament, resulting in the end of Nepal's limited democracy in 2002.

Seven-Party Coalition

  • Soon the nation saw the rise of pro-democracy protests all across the country in April 2002. 
  • The king was forced to bring back the house of representatives, which was dissolved earlier in April 2002. This was a big win for the pro-democracy movement led by a seven party alliance, Moaoist and social activists, who mostly used peaceful tactics.
  • Nepal is still figuring out its transition towards democracy, and currently it is getting ready to draft its own constitution.
  • Some people think that keeping a nominal monarchy is important to preserve Nepal's history. 
  • The Maoists have agreed to end their armed conflict. They are now pushing for big changes to the economy and society, thereby demanding for socio-economic restructuring programmes to be included in the constitution. 

Sri-Lanka

  • Since gaining independence in 1948, Sri Lanka has maintained a democratic system of governance. However, Sri Lanka's history is marked by a ethnic conflict between the Sinhala majority and the Tamil minority. 
  • The Sinhala community has held political power tightly, refusing to give in to Tamil demand for autonomy. 
  • This Tamil Population had migrated from India. Even after independence, they continued to migrate to Sri lanka, which made the Sinhala majority hostile to the sizable Tamil Population. 
  • The Sinhala majority believes that Sri Lanka belongs to the Sinhala people. Therefore they feel reluctant to give “concessions” to Tamils. 
  • The neglect of the Tamil minority resulted in Tamil militant nationalism. 

This complex ethnic dynamic has posed a persistent threat to Sri Lanka's democratic stability.

Why is India such a significant player in the Sri Lankan conflict?

  • The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which is a militant group, has been engaged in conflict with the Sri Lanka military over the demand of a separate Tamil state or “Tamil Eelam”. 
  • The LTTE has controlled northeastern Sri lanka. The issue is complicated by the involvement of people of Indian descent and pressure from Tamils in India on the Indian government to protect the Tamil interest in Sri lanka.
  • The Indian government attempted to negotiate on several occasions, regarding the Tamil issues. These efforts began in 1987.
  • India has sent the Indian army, however it got into conflict with LTTE in Sri Lanka, while the Sri Lankan government was trying to make peace. 
  • Despite the Sri Lanka's government’s signing of the peace accord, the presence of Indian troops was met with resistance from locals, who felt that India's involvement was an infringement on their country's sovereignty. 
  • Unfortunately, the Indian Peace Keeping Force failed in their mission of bringing peace into the region. 

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Pakistan and India Conflicts

  • The conflicts and issues between India and Pakistan didn't end but rose to the next level. The countries engaged in conflicts over Kashmir several times. Pakistan believes that since Kashmir was Muslim dominated, the state should belong to Pakistan.
  • India and Pakistan have engaged in two conflicts- in 1947-48 and 1965, which failed to resolve the underlying hostilities between the two. 
  • The first war resulted in the creation of the Line of Control, which split the region into two parts: Jammu and Kashmir controlled by India and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. 
  • Even though India stood victorious in the wars, yet the issue of Kashmir remained unresolved. 
  • India and Pakistan have mainly remained at odds because of strategic issues like possession of weapons and control of Siachen glacier. 
  • In 1998, India became a nuclear power, after conducting a successful nuclear test in Pokhran. Pakistan followed India's lead and soon carried out a nuclear test in the Chagai Hills. 
  • To reduce the tensions between the two countries, India and Pakistan have entered into a military alliance, which can reduce the possibility of full-fledged conflict.
  • The Indian Government has occasionally blamed Pakistan for secretly supporting, training, funding and protecting militants in Kashmir, which has led to terrorist attacks against India.
  • Furthermore, the Indian government also suspects Pakistan of providing Pro-Khalistani militants with weapons and ammunition between 1985 and 1995. 
  • Moreover, the Indian government also believes that Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) encouraged anti-Indian campaigns in the northeastern region, by acting secretly through Bangladesh and Nepal. 
  • On the other hand, the Pakistani government holds India responsible for inducing unrest in the Balochistan and Sindh provinces.
  • Both the countries have also faced some long standing river water disputes. The rivers in the Indus basin had been the area of conflict between the two up until the 1960s. 


Bangladesh and India

  • The two governments have had conflicts over the distribution of Ganga and Brahmaputra river. 
  • Bangladesh’s stance on illegal migration, its alleged support for anti-Indian Islamic Fundamentalist have angered the Indian government.
  • Moreover, Bangladesh denial of natural gas export to India, and refusal to allow mayanmar to do so through its territory has ignited a lot of controversies. The final straw came when Bangladesh barred Indian troops from crossing its border to reach northeastern india. 
  • The Bangladeshi government has criticised India for acting like a bully when it comes to river water sharing, which resulted in rebellion in Chittagong hill tracts. 
  • They have also blamed India of being unfair in trade, and attempting to extract natural gas. 
  • The border dispute between the two nations is still not resolved. However both of them have worked towards improving their economic ties in the last ten years. 
  • Bangladesh plays a crucial role in India's look east policy, which seeks to establish connectivity with Myanmar and subsequently with Southeast Asia. 
  • The two countries collaborate extensively on environmental issues and disaster relief efforts, demonstrating their commitment to regional cooperation. 


Nepal and India

  • India and Nepal share a distinctive relationship, facilitated by a bilateral agreement, allowing citizens of both the nations to travel and work without passport and visas. 
  • However, they have had their own disagreements, especially when it comes to the trade. 
  • Nepal has expressed concerns regarding India's interference in its internal affairs, particularly concerning hydropower and river waters. 
  • Conversely, Indian security agencies view the maoist movement in Nepal as a growing security threat, as it has resulted into the spread of naxalite groups from Bihar in the north to Andhra Pradesh in the south.
  • Despite these differences, the two nations remain united in their pursuit of cooperation, driven by shared interests in trade, science and the stewardship of their natural heritage. 


Bhutan & India

  • In a world where international relations are often fraught with tensions, India and Bhutan stand out as an example of cooperation and harmony. 
  • The monarch of Bhutan has demonstrated remarkable leadership in expelling the militants and guerillas that have taken refuge in the kingdom, posing a threat to northeastern india. 
  • Meanwhile India has been instrumental in Bhutan’s development journey, powering its growth through significant investment in hydroelectric projects.


Maldives and India

  • India and Maldives have consistently maintained a cordial and cooperative relationship. 
  • In November 1988, India promptly provided military assistance through air force and navy to the Maldives upon request, successfully repelling an attack by Tamil mercenaries from Sri Lanka. 
  • India has contributed significantly to the development of the Maldives economy, tourism and fishery sector.


Why did India struggle with its less powerful neighbours?

  • India's government often feels exploited by its neighbouring countries, which fuels concerns that political instability in these nations may create opportunities for the foreign power to exert influence over regional affairs.
  • On the other hand, India's aspiration to become a regional power also generates apprehensions among the smaller nations. 
  • It is worth noting that not all the conflicts in South Asia are between India and its neighbours. The region is a complex web of alliances and rivalries, with disputes simmering between Nepal and Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar, and ethnic groups migrating across borders. 
  • There have been disputes between Bangladesh and Nepal over the future of the waters of the Himalayan rivers. 
  • The geographic configuration of the region, with India situated centrally and sharing borders with all neighbouring countries, contributes significantly to the prevalence of disputes and differences between India and its neighbours.


South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

The South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established by South Asian countries as a pivotal regional initiative aimed at fostering cooperation through multilateral engagement. However, due to persistent political tension, SAARC’s achievements have been limited. 

What is the Free Trade Agreement with South Asia (SAFTA)?

  • SAARC members promised to create a free trade zone in South Asia when they signed the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) in 2004. 
  • It went into effect in 2006, with the goal of cutting trade tariffs by 20 percent by 2007
  • Some neighbouring countries worried that India would overwhelm and invade their  markets and  influence their societies and politics.
  • But India believed that SAFTA would benefit everyone economically and make it easier for the region to work together on political issues and engage in open trade. 

A noteworthy development in the India-Pakistan dynamics is the implementation of confidence building measures aimed at mitigating the risk of conflict. 

  • Social activists, influencers and well known individuals, have joined forces to promote friendship between the two nations.
  • Summit meetings have facilitated dialogue between leaders, focussing on resolving key issues. 
  • Notably, trade and bus routes between the Punjab regions have expanded significantly over the past five years, and visa acquisition has become more accessible.



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