South Asia — Towards Cooperative Security

November 06, 2012

New Delhi: Setting up a Cooperative Security Framework (CSF) in South Asia to deal with common challenges confronting the states in the region can play a pivotal role in establishing peace and security in the subcontinent, suggests the new IDSA publication ‘Cooperative Security Frame work for South Asia’. Another IDSA volume titled ‘India’s neighbourhood: The Armies of South Asia’ focuses on the state of the defence forces in the region and argues that the armies should play a constructive role in state and nation building and allow democratic institutions to prosper.

The publications were released by the Hon’ble Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Shri M.M. Pallam Raju, during the inaugural session of the opening day of the international conference on South Asia, ‘Prospects for Stability and Growth in South Asia’ at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) on November 6-7, 2012.

Edited by IDSA scholar, Dr Nihar Nayak, the volume, ‘Cooperative Security Frame work for South Asia’ brings together views of some of the most eminent scholars and security Analysts from South Asia on the challenges and prospects of a Cooperative Security Framework in the region. The objective of the volume is to generate a debate on CSF and forge a consensus on the issue at the Track II level.

The contributions critically analyse such frameworks in different regions and explore whether it is possible and practicable in the South Asian region.

Despite strong historical and cultural linkages the region has been suffering from underdevelopment due to lack of cooperation and cohesive policy. The region is also vulnerable to serious non-traditional security threats in future. There is an urgent need for countries to overcome mutual suspicions and mistrust and work towards the evolution of a cooperative security framework, which is both strong and binding.

The consensus document in the volume offers some concrete recommendations, which if thought through and implemented, will go a long way in building a co-operative security architecture and ensuring peace and prosperity in the region.

The second publication, ‘India’s neighbourhood: The Armies of South Asia’, is edited by IDSA Scholar, Mr Vishal Chandra and attempts to examine the role, relevance and status of the armies in the ever dynamic socio-political milieu of the countries in India’s South Asian Neighbourhood. It is part of an ongoing endeavour by the area/country specialists to further explore and understand the role of the Armies in shaping the political destiny and defining the ideational evolution of different nations in India’s South Asian neighbourhood.

The book deals with the national armies of seven South Asian countries bordering India, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The chapters in the book discuss the security environment in which each country is situated, its geopolitical or the strategic significance, its threat perceptions, both domestic and external, the doctrinal orientation and strategic thought process of the armies, their origin, evolution, organisation, structuring, relationship with civil authorities and institutions and the nature of bilateral/multilateral defence Cooperation or security pacts. The book also traces the likely trajectory of the future of role and position of the armies in the given or evolving national and geopolitical settings.