‘South Asia’ usually includes the following countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The boundaries of the region are not as clear in the east and the west, as they are in the north and the south. Afghanistan and Myanmar are often included in discussions of the region as a whole. Pakistan and Bangladesh have experienced both civilian and military rulers. Nepal was a constitutional monarchy with the danger of the king taking over executive powers. In 2008, the monarchy was abolished and Nepal emerged as a democratic republic.

India Pakistan Theatre

When India and Pakistan joined a club of nuclear powers, this region suddenly became the focus of global attention. The focus was, of course, on the various kinds of conflict in this region, there are pending border and water-sharing disputes between the states of the region. Besides, there are conflicts arising out of insurgency, ethnic strife and resource sharing.

Military and Democracy in Pakistan

• First Military Rule: After Pakistan framed its first constitution, General Ayub Khan took over administration of country and soon got himself elected. 
  • He had to give up office when there was popular dissatisfaction against his rule. (Refer to Figure 11.8)

• Creation of Bangladesh: This gave way to a military takeover once again under General Yahya Khan. 
  • During Yahya’s military rule, Pakistan faced Bangladesh crisis, and after a war with India in 1971, East Pakistan broke away to emerge as an independent country called Bangladesh.
• Return of Elected Government: An elected government under leadership of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto came to power in Pakistan from 1971 to 1977.
  • Bhutto’s government was removed by General Ziaul-Haq in 1977.
• Restoration of Democracy: General Zia faced a pro-democracy movement from 1982 onwards and an elected democratic government was established once again in 1988 under leadership of Benazir Bhutto. 
  • In a period that followed, Pakistani politics centred around the competition between her party,  Pakistan People’s Party, and Muslim League.
•  Military Takeover: In 1999, the army stepped in again and General Pervez Musharraf removed PM Nawaz Shariff.
  • In 2001, General Musharraf got himself elected as the President.
  • Since 2008, democratically elected leaders have been ruling Pakistan.
• Pakistan has failed in building and sustaining a stable democracy:

• The social dominance of military, clergy, and landowning aristocracy has led to frequent overthrows of elected governments and establishment of military governments.
• Pakistan’s conflict with India has made the paramilitary 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

East Pakistan Under Pakistani Rule: Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan from 1947 to 1971. It consisted of the partitioned areas of Bengal and Assam from British India. 

• People of this region resented domination of Western Pakistan and imposition of Urdu language.
• Rise of Bengali Nationalism: Soon after the partition, they began protests against unfair treatment meted out to Bengali culture and language.
• Sheikh Mujibur Rahman:  He led a popular struggle against West Pakistani domination. He demanded autonomy for eastern region.
  • Electoral Victory of Awami League: In the 1970 elections in then Pakistan, Awami League led by Sheikh Mujib won all seats in East Pakistan and secured a majority in the proposed constituent assembly for the whole of Pakistan.
• Political Crisis: Under the military rule of General Yahya Khan, the Pakistani army tried to suppress mass movement of Bengali people.
• Liberation War: The government of India supported the demand of people of East Pakistan for their independence and helped them financially and militarily.
  • Birth of Bangladesh: This resulted in a war between India and Pakistan in December 1971 that ended in surrender of Pakistani forces in East Pakistan and formation of Bangladesh as an independent country.
• Constitution: Bangladesh drafted its constitution declaring faith in secularism, democracy and socialism.
• Birth of Authoritarian Rule: In 1975 Sheikh Mujib got the constitution amended to shift from a parliamentary to a presidential form of government. 
  • He also abolished all parties except his own, the Awami League.
• Military Takeover: Sheikh was assassinated and another military takeover followed under leadership of Lt Gen H. M. Ershad.
• Restoration of Democracy: 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

Historical Overview: Nepal was a Hindu kingdom in past and then a constitutional monarchy in modern period for many years.

• Rise of Democracy: The king accepted demand for a new democratic constitution in 1990, in wake of a strong pro-democracy movement.
•  Maoist Insurgency: During the nineties, the Maoists of Nepal were successful in spreading their influence in many parts of Nepal.
• Rollback of Democracy: In 2002, king abolished parliament and dismissed the government, thus ending even the limited democracy that existed in Nepal.
• A Democratic Republic: In April 2006, there were massive, country-wide, pro-democracy protests. The struggling 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

Democracy and Ethnic Conflict: Sri Lanka has retained democracy since its independence in 1948. But it faced a serious challenge, not from military or monarchy but rather from ethnic conflict leading to demand for secession by one of the regions.

• Sinhala Dominance: 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.
• Birth of Sinhala Nationalism: The Sinhala nationalists thought that Sri Lanka should not give ‘concessions’ to Tamils because Sri Lanka belongs to Sinhala people only.
• Armed Struggle for Tamil Eelam: From 1983 onwards, militant organisation Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has been fighting an armed struggle with an army of Sri Lanka and demanding ‘Tamil Eelam’ or a separate country for Tamils of Sri Lanka. 
  • The LTTE controls northeastern parts of Sri Lanka.
• India’s Intervention: In 1987, the Government of India for first time got directly involved in Sri Lankan Tamil question. India signed an accord with Sri Lanka and sent troops to stabilise relations between Sri Lankan government and Tamils.
  • In 1989, Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) pulled out of Sri Lanka without attaining its objective.
• End of Conflict: Scandinavian countries such as Norway and Iceland tried to bring the warring groups back to negotiations. Finally, armed conflict came to an end, as LTTE was vanquished in 2009.
• Economic Status: Despite the conflict, Sri Lanka has registered considerable economic growth and recorded high levels of human development.

India-Pakistan Conflicts

Kashmir Dispute: After independence, the Pakistani government claimed that Kashmir belonged to it. Wars between India and Pakistan in 1947-48 and 1965 failed to settle matters.

• The 1947-48 war resulted in the division of the province into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the Indian province of Jammu and Kashmir divided by Line of Control.
• In 1971, India won a decisive war against Pakistan but the Kashmir issue remained unsettled.
• Areas of Conflict: India’s conflict with Pakistan is also over strategic issues like the control of Siachen glacier and acquisition of arms.
• Nuclearization: In 1998, India conducted a nuclear explosion in Pokaran. Pakistan responded within a few days by carrying out nuclear tests in the Chagai Hills.
• Water Disputes: India and Pakistan also had problems over sharing of river waters. Until 1960, they were locked in a fierce argument over the use of the rivers of the Indus basin.
  • Eventually, in 1960, with help of the World Bank, India and Pakistan signed Indus Waters Treaty which has survived to this day despite various military conflicts in which two countries have been involved.
• Sir Creek Dispute: The two countries are not in agreement over the demarcation line in Sir Creek in the Rann of Kutch.

Conclusion

South Asia’s geopolitical landscape has been marked by significant political transformations, regional conflicts, and evolving democratic practices. While India and Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities have drawn global focus, the region’s internal dynamics reveal a complex interplay of military interventions, democratic transitions, and ethnic conflicts. Countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have navigated unique paths toward democracy amidst challenges. Despite persistent disputes, especially between India and Pakistan, South Asia continues to evolve, reflecting both historical legacies and aspirations for stability and development.