Evaluation of Pakistani Challenge to Indian Hegemonic Ambition: A Look into History

Abstract

South Asia is the largest region in the world in terms of population and India is the most dominant power among the eight member states that comprise the region, two of which possess nuclear weapons. The region is widely regarded as potential conflict zone because of the historic rivalry between India and Pakistan. As the British exited from the subcontinent, India aspired to inherit the hegemonic pole position of the colonial power as its successor. But refusal of nuclear Pakistan, the second most powerful state in South Asia to surrender to the Indian material superiority resulted in the conflict formation during the last seven decades. The enmity between India and Pakistan commenced from the violent partition of British India in 1947. In addition to the three wars that India and Pakistan fought since the British relinquished colonial occupation, there were many other conflicts that could have ignited full-fledged armed confrontation. One of the core reasons for tension in South Asia is the unresolved Kashmir problem. Pakistan’s possession of nuclear arms has further dented Indian ambition to establish unchallenged regional hegemonic stability. The nuclearization of the subcontinent in the 90’s has benefitted much smaller Pakistan by elevating it to a more potent challenger to the Indian military might. The failure of India to rise above the perennial Indo-Pak confrontation not only has acted against fulfilling its dream of achieving the great power status, but also proven to be a formidable barrier in the creation of favorable environment needed for regional cooperation in order to maintain socio-economic development in the poverty-stricken South Asia. This paper focuses on the root causes of the conflict with chronological history of events.