Contemporary South Asia – Vocabulary Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, people, treaties, institutions, and conflicts discussed in the Contemporary South Asia chapter.

South Asia

The region comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka; surrounded by the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean; characterized by diverse political systems.

SAARC

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation; regional bloc formed in 1985 to promote cooperation among South Asian states.

SAFTA

South Asian Free Trade Area; signed in 2004 and coming into effect in 2006 to reduce tariffs across SAARC members.

Indus Waters Treaty

1960 agreement between India and Pakistan on sharing the Indus river waters, brokered with World Bank; largely stable amid conflicts.

Indus River basin disputes

Disagreements over river water use and demarcation lines, including issues like Sir Creek and Rann of Kutch remain points of tension.

Kashmir

Region disputed between India and Pakistan since 1947, leading to multiple wars and ongoing tension and negotiations.

Siachen Glacier

High-altitude military confrontation area between India and Pakistan, significant for strategic control in the region.

Nuclear tests — Pokhran (India)

India conducted nuclear tests at Pokhran in 1974 and again in 1998, signaling its nuclear capability.

Nuclear tests — Chagai Hills (Pakistan)

Pakistan conducted nuclear tests at Chagai Hills in 1998 in response to India’s tests.

LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)

Tamil militant organization in Sri Lanka seeking an independent Tamil Eelam; defeated in 2009.

IPKF

Indian Peace Keeping Force; deployed to Sri Lanka in 1987-1989 to stabilize the situation and withdrew without achieving all objectives.

Sri Lanka ethnic conflict

Long-running conflict between Sinhala majority and Tamil minority; culminated in the defeat of LTTE in 2009.

Ayub Khan

Pakistani general who led a military takeover in 1958 and ruled until 1969.

Yahya Khan

Pakistani general who presided over the 1969-1971 military rule and the Bangladesh crisis.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto

Pakistan’s leader (1971-77) who restored civilian rule; founder of the PPP.

Zia-ul-Haq

Pakistani general and ruler (1977-1988); initiated Islamization and faced pro-democracy movements.

Benazir Bhutto

Pakistan’s first female prime minister (1988-1990, 1993-1996); leader of the PPP.

Pervez Musharraf

Pakistani general who staged the 1999 coup and served as president (2001-2008) amid a period of military rule.

Seven Party Alliance (SPA) — Nepal

Coalition of major Nepali parties that led the 2006 pro-democracy movement and influenced Nepal’s transition.

Maoists in Nepal

Rebel groups (Maoists) active 1996-2006 challenging the monarchy; pivotal in Nepal’s move toward democracy.

Nepal 2008 republican transition

Nepal’s abolition of the monarchy and establishment of a democratic republic; followed by a new constitution in 2015.

Bangladesh independence (1971)

Bangladesh gains independence from Pakistan after the 1971 war; Sheikh Mujibur Rahman leads the new nation.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Leader of the Awami League; pivotal figure in Bangladesh’s independence and early governance; assassinated in 1975.

Ershad (Bangladesh)

Military ruler of Bangladesh (1982-1990); led a transition to limited democratic activity and later stepped down.

Look East / Act East policy

India’s strategy to engage with Southeast Asia (via Myanmar); expanded and renamed as Act East in 2014.

Grameen Bank

Bangladesh microfinance institution founded to reduce poverty through small loans and financial inclusion.

Bhutan — Constitutional monarchy (2008)

Bhutan’s transition from monarchy to a constitutional framework with multi-party democracy in 2008.

Maldives — democratic liberalization

From a Sultanate (until 1968) to a republic; multi-party system established in 2005; significant political changes thereafter.

Maldives (MDP)

Maldivian Democratic Party, a major political party that has shaped recent Maldivian politics.

Ganga-Brahmaputra river sharing (Bangladesh-India)

Disputes and cooperation over shared river waters; a point of bilateral negotiation and occasional compromise.

Nepal–India special travel/work arrangement

A bilateral framework allowing Nepal and Indian citizens to travel and work across borders with fewer restrictions.

South Asia

The region comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka; surrounded by the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean; characterized by diverse political systems.

SAARC

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation; regional bloc formed in 1985 to promote cooperation among South Asian states.

SAFTA

South Asian Free Trade Area; signed in 2004 and coming into effect in 2006 to reduce tariffs across SAARC members.

Indus Waters Treaty

1960 agreement between India and Pakistan on sharing the Indus river waters, brokered with World Bank; largely stable amid conflicts.

Indus River basin disputes

Disagreements over river water use and demarcation lines, including issues like Sir Creek and Rann of Kutch remain points of tension.

Kashmir

Region disputed between India and Pakistan since 1947, leading to multiple wars and ongoing tension and negotiations.

Siachen Glacier

High-altitude military confrontation area between India and Pakistan, significant for strategic control in the region.

Nuclear tests — Pokhran (India)

India conducted nuclear tests at Pokhran in 1974 and again in 1998, signaling its nuclear capability.

Nuclear tests — Chagai Hills (Pakistan)

Pakistan conducted nuclear tests at Chagai Hills in 1998 in response to India’s tests.

LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)

Tamil militant organization in Sri Lanka seeking an independent Tamil Eelam; defeated in 2009.

IPKF

Indian Peace Keeping Force; deployed to Sri Lanka in 1987-1989 to stabilize the situation and withdrew without achieving all objectives.

Sri Lanka ethnic conflict

Long-running conflict between Sinhala majority and Tamil minority; culminated in the defeat of LTTE in 2009.

Ayub Khan

Pakistani general who led a military takeover in 1958 and ruled until 1969.

Yahya Khan

Pakistani general who presided over the 1969-1971 military rule and the Bangladesh crisis.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto

Pakistan’s leader (1971-77) who restored civilian rule; founder of the PPP.

Zia-ul-Haq

Pakistani general and ruler (1977-1988); initiated Islamization and faced pro-democracy movements.

Benazir Bhutto

Pakistan’s first female prime minister (1988-1990, 1993-1996); leader of the PPP.

Pervez Musharraf

Pakistani general who staged the 1999 coup and served as president (2001-2008) amid a period of military rule.

Seven Party Alliance (SPA) — Nepal

Coalition of major Nepali parties that led the 2006 pro-democracy movement and influenced Nepal’s transition.

Maoists in Nepal

Rebel groups (Maoists) active 1996-2006 challenging the monarchy; pivotal in Nepal’s move toward democracy.

Nepal 2008 republican transition

Nepal’s abolition of the monarchy and establishment of a democratic republic; followed by a new constitution in 2015.

Bangladesh independence (1971)

Bangladesh gains independence from Pakistan after the 1971 war; Sheikh Mujibur Rahman leads the new nation.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Leader of the Awami League; pivotal figure in Bangladesh’s independence and early governance; assassinated in 1975.

Ershad (Bangladesh)

Military ruler of Bangladesh (1982-1990); led a transition to limited democratic activity and later stepped down.

Look East / Act East policy

India’s strategy to engage with Southeast Asia (via Myanmar); expanded and renamed as Act East in 2014.

Grameen Bank

Bangladesh microfinance institution founded to reduce poverty through small loans and financial inclusion.

Bhutan — Constitutional monarchy (2008)

Bhutan’s transition from monarchy to a constitutional framework with multi-party democracy in 2008.

Maldives — democratic liberalization

From a Sultanate (until 1968) to a republic; multi-party system established in 2005; significant political changes thereafter.

Maldives (MDP)

Maldivian Democratic Party, a major political party that has shaped recent Maldivian politics.

Ganga-Brahmaputra river sharing (Bangladesh-India)

Disputes and cooperation over shared river waters; a point of bilateral negotiation and occasional compromise.

Nepal–India special travel/work arrangement

A bilateral framework allowing Nepal and Indian citizens to travel and work across borders with fewer restrictions.

Partition of India (1947)

The division of British India into two independent dominion states, India and Pakistan, in 1947, leading to widespread migration and violence.

Line of Control (LoC)

A military demarcation line between the Indian- and Pakistani-controlled parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.

East Pakistan and West Pakistan

The two wings of Pakistan from 1947 to 1971; East Pakistan later became independent Bangladesh after a civil war.

Why is Siachen Glacier strategic?

It provides a commanding view of the Karakoram Pass, enabling control over key routes connecting Pakistan, India, and China in the high Himalayas.

Role of World Bank in Indus Waters Treaty

The World Bank mediated the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan, contributing to its enduring stability.