Why do ethnic conflicts and insurgencies continue to remain major impediments to regional co-operation in South Asia?

Understanding the Roots of Conflict

Ethnic conflict, in the South Asian context, often stems from competition over resources, political power, and cultural recognition between different ethnic groups. Insurgency, on the other hand, represents organized armed resistance against a government, frequently fueled by ethnic grievances, socio-economic disparities, or separatist aspirations.

Specific Examples of Ethnic Conflicts and Insurgencies

• Sri Lanka: The decades-long conflict between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority (1983-2009) devastated the nation and severely hampered regional initiatives. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) sought a separate Tamil state, leading to a brutal civil war.
• India: Multiple insurgencies persist in Northeast India, driven by ethnic nationalism and demands for greater autonomy or secession. These include conflicts involving groups like the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) and various Bodo militant organizations. Kashmir also remains a flashpoint, with separatist movements and cross-border terrorism impacting regional stability.
• Pakistan: Balochistan faces a long-standing insurgency fueled by grievances over resource exploitation and political marginalization. Ethnic tensions also exist in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
• Myanmar: The Rohingya crisis, involving systematic persecution of the Rohingya Muslim minority, has created a humanitarian disaster and destabilized the region, impacting relations with Bangladesh.
• Afghanistan: While not strictly an ethnic conflict within South Asia (though often included in regional discussions), the ongoing instability and the presence of various militant groups (Taliban, ISIS-K) significantly affect regional security and cooperation.

Impact on Regional Cooperation

These conflicts have several detrimental effects on regional cooperation:

• Distrust and Suspicion: Cross-border ethnic linkages and accusations of external support for insurgent groups breed distrust among South Asian nations.
• Diversion of Resources: States are compelled to allocate significant resources to internal security, diverting funds from development and regional initiatives.
• Hindrance to Connectivity: Conflicts disrupt trade routes, infrastructure projects, and people-to-people exchanges. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), for example, faces security challenges in Balochistan.
• Weakening of SAARC: The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has been repeatedly hampered by political tensions and lack of consensus, often exacerbated by bilateral disputes and internal conflicts. The 2016 SAARC summit in Islamabad was cancelled following the Uri attack in India.
• Increased External Interference: Great power competition (e.g., between India, China, and the US) often plays out through support for different factions within these conflicts, further complicating the situation.

The Role of Non-State Actors

Non-state actors, including terrorist groups, criminal networks, and arms traffickers, exploit the instability created by ethnic conflicts and insurgencies. They often operate across borders, further undermining regional security and cooperation. The presence of groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pakistan, and their alleged involvement in attacks in India, exemplify this challenge.

Country	Major Conflict/Insurgency	Key Actors	Impact on Regional Cooperation
Sri Lanka	Sinhala-Tamil Conflict	LTTE, Sri Lankan Government	Hindered trade, refugee flows, regional security concerns
India	Northeast Insurgency	NSCN, Bodo Militants, Indian Army	Border disputes, cross-border movement of insurgents
Pakistan	Balochistan Insurgency	Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Pakistani Army	CPEC security concerns, regional instability