Discuss the implications of ethnicity and nation-building in South Asia, and their impact in the relations of states within South Asia.

Ethnicity and Nation-Building: A Country-Wise Overview

Nation-building in South Asia has often been a project of creating a unified national identity, frequently at the expense of recognizing and accommodating ethnic diversity. This has led to internal conflicts and instability.

Sri Lanka

• The Sinhalese-Tamil conflict is a prime example. Post-independence, policies favoring the Sinhalese majority marginalized the Tamil minority, leading to decades of civil war (1983-2009).
• The LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) sought a separate Tamil state, highlighting the failure of inclusive nation-building.

Pakistan

• The separation of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1971 was largely due to linguistic and cultural differences, and political marginalization of the Bengali population.
• Balochistan continues to experience ethno-nationalist movements demanding greater autonomy and control over resources.
• The Pashtun population along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border faces issues of identity and cross-border allegiance.

Nepal

• Nepal’s transition to a federal republic in 2015 was partly driven by demands for greater representation and autonomy from various ethnic groups, including the Madhesi, Tharu, and Janajati communities.
• However, implementation of federalism has been uneven, leading to continued grievances and political instability.

India

• India’s diverse ethnic landscape presents ongoing challenges. While a relatively successful democratic framework exists, issues of regionalism, linguistic identity, and religious polarization persist.
• Northeast India has witnessed several ethno-nationalist movements demanding autonomy or secession.
• Kashmir remains a contested territory with a complex ethnic and religious dimension.

Impact on Interstate Relations

Internal ethnic dynamics significantly impact relations between South Asian states.

Cross-Border Ethnic Ties

• The presence of co-ethnic populations across borders can create tensions. For example, the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar has led to a large influx of refugees into Bangladesh, straining relations between the two countries.
• India and Pakistan have historically accused each other of supporting separatist movements within their territories, based on ethnic or religious affiliations.

Refugee Flows

• Ethnic conflicts often generate refugee flows, placing a burden on neighboring states and potentially exacerbating existing tensions. The aforementioned Rohingya crisis is a key example.
• The 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War resulted in a massive refugee influx into India.

State Sponsorship & Proxy Conflicts

• Accusations of state sponsorship of ethnic groups in neighboring countries are common. India and Pakistan have frequently leveled such charges against each other.
• The presence of insurgent groups operating across borders, often with ethnic affiliations, complicates regional security.

Regional Cooperation Challenges

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has been hampered by political mistrust and unresolved bilateral issues, many of which are rooted in ethnic tensions and historical grievances. The lack of effective regional mechanisms for conflict resolution and refugee management further exacerbates these challenges.