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

Ambush on the LoC: Rethinking the Response

There have reportedly been 57 ceasefire violations of the LoC this year, which, according to the MoD, are 80 per cent more than the same period last year, and the number of infiltration attempts have doubled.

Vivek Chadha
August 12, 2013
IDSA Comments

Anatomy of India and Pakistan Reconciliation

Islamabad remains sanguine that as long as it can leverage both cross border terrorism as well as conventional asymmetry by playing the nuclear card, it can easily manage relations with India.

Arun Sahgal
August 12, 2013
IDSA Comments

Ban on Jamaat may not affect political fortunes of the BNP

The court verdict has made Jamaat’s political future uncertain but it will continue to indulge in political activities and campaign for the BNP candidates in the forthcoming elections.

Anand Kumar
August 05, 2013
IDSA Comments

Pakistan in Paralysis: Jailbreaks and a State in disarray

The DI Khan jail-break was waiting to happen under the current PTI-led dispensation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Ever since this government has come to power, there is complete confusion on the new policy on terrorism.

Sushant Sareen
August 02, 2013
IDSA Comments

Poll time in Maldives

President Waheed has opted for an early election, which is scheduled for September 7. Despite reservations expressed by many political parties, the election process is truly underway that could restore democracy in the country.

Anand Kumar
July 29, 2013
IDSA Comments

Pakistan Army vs Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan: The latest Round

For tackling terrorism Pakistan’s civil and military establishments have to relook at their own attitudes towards religion and jihad and reform themselves.

Calling Elections in Nepal

The election commission has started making necessary preparations and the political parties are already out on the hustings. But the road to elections is not without hitches.

Domination of Pakistan by Radical Islamists

The assertions of the new Pakistan government of Nawaz Sharif to de-radicalise the society by engaging the Radical Islamists (RIs) in a dialogue and accommodation with them in reality means, to many observers, a meek surrender to Islamic radicalism of Deobandi variety.

P. K. Upadhyay
June 14, 2013
Issue Brief

Taliban’s Spring Offensive and the Consequences

The Taliban spring offensive is aimed at exploiting the situation and driving home the advantage. The present lull in coalition operations and indecision on the future outlook of international forces is adding to the Taliban’s advantage.

Pakistan’s Foreign Policy Challenges

It will be unrealistic to expect any drastic change in the foreign policy orientation of Pakistan, because Pakistan’s geopolitical interests will not allow the new government to bring about radical change