India and South Asia since 1971

This book focuses on India's poiicy towards South Asia - Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka since 1971 upto the
present. It describes the attempts made by India, the pre-eminent power in the region following the Indo-Pak Warofl971 and the independence of Bangladesh, to maintain an order pattern in South Asia by keeping it free from extra-regional intervention. It_ examines' how the India- sponsored order pattern of the 197Us broke- down in the wake of the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan and highlights Indian attempts to adhe;e to the 1971-72 model as evidenced by its desire to keep political and security issues out of the purview of SA RC. It discusses the motivating factors behind the search for alternative approaches such as Pakistan's proposal of a "No War Pact", the proposal for South Asian Regional Cooperation (SARC), Nepal's proposal for a Peace Zone, etc. and their implications. In conclusion, Dr Paranjpe speculates on the likely order pattern in South Asia in the 1980s. He argues that it should not be based exclusively on military considerations but on political understanding, respect for the principle of
sovereignty and independent identity of the smaller powers, and greater socio-economic interaction among the South Asian countries. He also assesses the possibilities of politico-military intervention by the Great Powers and stresses the desirability of their maintaining low, non political profile in the region. He emphasizes that the role of the core/pivotal power in South Asia implies responsibilities based on a mature understanding of rights and duties in maintaining harmony in the region