South Asia

About Centre

South Asia is one of the main areas of research focus at IDSA. The region has been going through a period of turmoil over the last few years. Definitive steps have been taken in the recent past towards the establishment of democratic governments in the region. Given the importance of developments in the region for Indian security, experts at IDSA keenly watch and analyse unfolding developments in each South Asian country.

Two projects that are currently under progress are ‘Developments in Pakistan’ and ‘Pakistan Occupied Kashmir’. In addition, individual scholars are engaged in researching various security related aspects pertaining to South Asian countries. The Centre has established bilateral institutional relations with leading think tanks in the region and proposes to undertake joint studies.

Minutes of South Asia Centre Meetings

Nepal: The Constituent Assembly that was…..

Nepal’s Constituent Assembly did have some positive achievements, the most important among these being the integration of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of the UCPN-M, although it failed to fulfil its other main task of finalising a constitution.

Constitutional and Political Evolution in Nepal: Dangers of Federalism

A modus vivendi that accepts the concept of federalism in principle as well as the devolution of administrative and financial powers in key functional areas is the need of the hour.

Gautam Sen
May 29, 2012
IDSA Comments

Will Karzai Survive 2014?

In times of back door diplomacy and brokerage of deals, Karzai’s political skill and experience in balancing the divergent interests of various stakeholders may assure him a role in fashioning Afghanistan’s new political arrangement.

Sectarian Strife in Gilgit Baltistan

The spate of killings has unleashed fear and uncertainty among the people and there is an open outcry about the government’s inaction and inability to control the situation.

Political Instability Could Derail the Growing US-Bangladesh Relationship

The elevation of its bilateral relationship with Bangladesh allows the United States to counter China’s ‘String of Pearls’ strategy.

Anand Kumar
May 21, 2012
IDSA Comments

Indo-Pak Relations: Peace Paroxysms Strike Again

Instead of taking leave of its senses every time someone from across the border coos sweet nothings, India needs to set metrics by which to judge Pakistan and then take steps to reciprocate any positive measures from the other side.

Nonalignment 2.0: A Realist Critique of An Establishmentarian Perspective

From a Realist perspective, the key problem with a Nehruvian/Liberal approach to foreign policy is that it misunderstands power and ignores the centrality of balance of power politics in interstate relations.

Beginning of the Countdown to Sectarian End-Game in Pakistan?

The Pakistani leadership has apparently come to the point where it realises that for the survival of the country and its structures created by Jinnah, it must buy peace for the present with its arch-enemy India.

P. K. Upadhyay
April 27, 2012
Issue Brief

Visit of the Indian Parliamentary Delegation to Sri Lanka

The delegation seems to have got its message across, that effective engagement with the TNA cannot be avoided by the Rajapakse government.

Gautam Sen
April 26, 2012
IDSA Comments

Tipaimukh Dam: Some Myths, Some Facts

In order to obviate myopic policies that could jeopardise the bonhomie in India-Bangladesh relations, the technical underpinnings of the project need to be jointly undertaken by both countries.