South Asia: The Spectre of Terrorism

South Asia: The Spectre of Terrorism looks at the ongoing debates that are taking place within South Asia regarding terrorism, and hoe these shape the approaches towards fighting terrorism. Political violence has become endemic in South Asia since the partition of the subcontinent along communal lines. Various groups-majority and minority alike-resort to violence either to accomplish their political goals or to redress perceived grievances. South Asia has long been indifferent to the roots of terrorism-often the outcome of rabid official indifference towards marginalized groups. Groups that indulged in extremism were often in the past treated kindly, at times even provided with official political patronage, economic assistance and military supplies. Blatant targeting of civilians was treated as a genuine expression of national aspirations; and terrorism in other countries was exploited to promote national interests. This duality, however, could not be sustained for long. The growth of terrorism in Punjab, Kashmir, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan eventually forced the respective countries to see the long-term consequences of this evil. Against this background, the volume examines various terrorism-related developments in the sub-continent and offers a new and unconventional understanding of the problem.