Explaining the Impact of Religion on Territorial conflicts in South Asia

 
 
Extended Abstract
Issues related to territory and territoriality as the basis of many political geography subjects and phenomena are more considerable when accompanied with conflicts. Territorial conflicts can spring from religions. That is to say, religious issues may lead to territorial conflicts. Moreover, claiming the ownership and sovereignty of a region by different religious groups can cause territorial conflicts as well. One of the regions in the world where territorial conflicts are well visible is South Asia. This region has faced an increasing incidence of territorial conflicts within and between member states, initially after the Britain domination and then after it’s division in 1947, which has had a direct impact on the entire region and in many cases these conflicts have been affected by the religious. The present research with the use of descriptive-analytical method and referring to library sources, aims to clarify the impact of religion variable on territorial conflicts in South Asia. The results indicate that religion as an important mediating variable, along with other factors like nationalism and racism has been effective in territorial conflicts in this region.


Introduction

Political geography is based on the twin ideas of territory and territoriality. Territories are those spaces which one defended, fought for, or claimed against the claim raised by others through territoriality (Cox, 2008:1). Therefore, we can observe regional and territorial conflicts all over the world to some extent. South Asia is among the important regions in the world where we can apparently observe such conflicts. Instances like the conflicts of India and Pakistan over Kashmir, the role of Tamil tigers in the relations between India and Sri Lanka, ethnic, racial and religious issues between India and Bangladesh or India and Nepal are some of the conflicts of this region (Barzegarzadeh Zarandi, 2016: 4). Basically, religions have an immense power to oust, remove or involve people and groups in different regions. For example, religions can change a national identity ideologically. In other words, in case a society is formed in relation with a territory, identity is formed. In the same line, other religions can become the center of attention through factors such as nationalism for or against unity (Kroon, 2018: 12). Overall, we can say that South Asia is one of the controversial areas of the world with regard to territorial conflicts and religious and ethnic issues (Haider, 2001:424). For instance, the conflicts of India and Pakistan over Kashmir, internal conflicts in Punjab province, the role of Tamil tigers in the relations between India and Sri Lanka, ethnic, racial and religious issues between India and Bangladesh and the relation between India and Nepal, the ethnical conflicts in the north-east of India and ethnic-related conflicts in Pakistan (Rubinoff, 2000:276) are among the conflicts which can adequately illustrate the conflicts existing in this region. Therefore, the present study aims to answer the following question: what is the impact of religion on territorial conflicts in South Asia? The hypothesis of the present study is as follows: It is hypothesized that religion is a secondary factor affecting territorial conflicts, while geography, especially territory, is the main factor behind the conflicts in South Asia.

Research methodology

The methodology employed in the present study is descriptive-analytical. Library documents, archives, reliable internet resources and salient international news agencies were utilized to collect the data.

Discussion

Religion-based territorial conflicts place the elements of territory and power at the center of religion-oriented arguments. As the factors which separate believers from non-believers, religion and faith form a strong border for segregation and identification. From an extremist point of view, non-believers have some given characteristics. As a case in point, under the role of Tliban, Hindus should have put on a special type of saffron-like bracelet. Or the Taqiyah (a kind of skullcap) is a salient outfit used by male Muslims in South Asia (Lal, 2006: 256). The phenomenon of religion possesses such a power that can lead to territorial conflicts. On the other hand, the claims raised by different religious factions over the sovereignty of a region can result in territorial conflicts. Therefore, territorial conflicts are created in order to control and manage the territory and people of a particular area and those conflicts can vary based on the goals of different religious groups. The present study demonstrates that religion-based territorial conflicts in South Asia can be divided into intra-and inter-country conflicts.
Overall, although we can find a trace of religious consideration in all countries of South Asia, some examples are more salient than others. For in instance:

Religion-based territorial conflicts in India and nationalist groups.
Religion-based territorial conflicts in Pakistan and religious groups.
Religion-based territorial conflicts in Bangladesh and religious groups.
Religion-based territorial conflicts in Afghanistan and religious groups.

On the other hand, in South Asia, sometimes religious consideration result in conflicts between some countries or some countries may employ religious considerations for political aims and create territorial conflicts. Therefore, in most of those conflicts the three elements of territory, power and religion are always present. For example:

Religion-based territorial conflicts between India and Pakistan.
Religion-based territorial conflicts between India and Seri Lanka.
Religion-based territorial conflicts between Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Religion-based territorial conflicts between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Conclusion

South Asia has observed considerable events with regards to the spread of ethnic conflicts from a domestic to an international level. For example, the war between India and Pakistan in 1971 has been a considerable event since World War II. This war is regarded significant since it led to the disintegration of an existing country and the emergency of an independent country called Bangladesh. Although most of the territorial conflicts, such as the conflicts between India and Pakistan (based on 2015 contract) have been resolved via the cooperation of international organization, some of those conflicts are still existing (2020). The findings of the present study revealed that religion, as a mediating factor along with factors such as nationalism and racism, has had a significant role in creating territorial conflicts since 1974. However, geographical factors are the salient problems behind the conflicts in South Asia. This is because in order to control a given territory and manage its people, some territorial conflicts arise. The reason behind variation in those conflicts can be explained through differences in the goals of religious groups. Some of the territorial conflicts in South Asia have a historical origin, however, the religious conflicts which happened in Eurasia province in 2008 between two religious Hindu and Christian groups is still continuing. The consequences of these religion-based territorial conflicts in South Asia can be divided into intra-county (such as religion-based territorial conflicts in India and nationalist groups or religion-based territorial conflicts in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and religious groups) and inter-country (such as religion-based territorial conflicts between India and Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and Myanmar and Bangladesh) conflicts. In sum, we can state that after September 11 the conflicts in South Asia have moved significantly towards extremist and terrorist groups, which along with the previous unresolved conflicts, have pushed the region towards a more critical situation.

Reference
Joy, Danan. Liora, Hameed. Sadika, Lamb. Robert D, Mixon. Kathryn, Peter. Denise St, Religious Movements, Militancy, and Conflict in South Asia cases from India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2012.
Badiee, Marjan, Bahador Gholami, and Fatemeh Mir Ahmadi. “A Comparative Study of the Concepts of ‘Territory’ and ‘Territoriality’ in the Constitutional Revolution and Islamic Republic of Iran Constitutions.” International Quarterly of Geopolitics 11 (1): 101–34, 2015.
Bajpai, K. Managing Conflict in South Asia, Regional Conflict Management, Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 209-237. 2003.
Barbara F. Walter, Explaining the Intractability of Territorial Conflict, international studies Review, Pp 137-153. DOI: 10.1111/j.1079-1760.2003.00504012. x. 2003.
Barzegarzadeh Zarandi, Moein. Territorial Conflicts in the South Asian Region. Uneversity of Tehran, 2016.
Camp, J., & Harkaway, R. Strategic Geography of the Middle East Conflicts and Findings - Volume II. In Institute Strategic Studies (hosseini m), Tehran, 2004.
Carter B. David. The Strategy of Territorial Conflict, American Journal of Political Science, Pp 969-987. DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-5907.2010.00471. x. 2010.
Cohen, B. The geopolitics of the global system (K. Abbas), International Studies & Research Institute, Tehran, 2008.
Country Policy and Information Note. Afghanistan: Hazaras, Independent Advisory Group on Country Information, Home Office, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/736134/Afghanistan_-_Hazaras_-_CPIN_-_v1.0__August_2018_.pdf. 2018.
Cox, K. R. Political geography: territory, state and society. John Wiley & Sons. 2008.
D’Souza, S. M. Afghanistan in South Asia: Regional Cooperation or Competition? South Asian Survey, 16 (1), 23-42. 2009.
DFAT THEMATIC REPORT. HAZARAS IN AFGHANISTAN, Australian Government, Department of foreign Affairs and Trade.18 September.http://dfat.gov.au/about us/ publications/ Documents/ country- information-report-hazaras-thematic.pdf. 2017.
Dieng, Adama. United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide on the situation in northern Rakhine State, Myanmar, available.from:http://www.un.org/en/preventgenocide/adviser/pdf/29%20November%202016_Statement%20AD%20on%20northern%20Rakhine.FINAL.pdf. 2016.
Drysdale, A. & Blake, J. Political geography of the Middle East and North Africa, (Mir-Heydar, D) Office of Political and International Studies, Tehran, 1990.
Galahr, C. & Others. Basic Concepts in Political Geography ( mohammad hasan Nami & mohammad pour Hasan). Green Olives Quarterly, Tehran, 2012.
Haider, Z, Crises of Regional Security Dialogue. NO: 32. 423-437.DOI:10.1177/09670100010302004004. 2001.
IRIB, R. of. Investigating the Status of Takfiri Wahhabism, Secularism and Islamism in Bangladesh. Http://Arc.Irib.Ir. 2018.
Omar, Hinduising India: secularism in practice, Third World Quarterly 29, no. 8, pp: 1550–57. 2008.
Kloose, Piter. Globalization with localization. Zharfaa, 2, 103–122.Tehran, 2006
Kroon, S. Enduring tensions: Explaining conflict occurrence between India and Pakistan beyond deterrence theory (Master's thesis). 2018.
Lal, C.K , The Complexities of Border Conflicts in south Asia. South Asian Survey. NO: 13. P253-263. DIO: 10.1177/097152310601300206. 2006.
Landinfo’s reports. Report Hazaras and Afghan insurgent groups, Country of Origin Information Centre, https://www.landinfo.no/asset/3483/1/3483_1.pdf. 2017.
Mirheydar, D. Foundations of Political Geography (O. Rasti & F. Mirahmadi). SAMT, Tehran, 2013.
Mojtahedzadeh, P. Political geography and geopolitics (2nd ed.). SAMT,2013.
pishgahifard, zahra, & Ghodsi, A. Geopolitical Analysis of Pakistan and its Effects on Its Relation with other Countries, Human Geography Reaserch Quarterly, 63, 81–99, 2008.
Ranjan, A. Conflicts in South Asia Will Go on and on: A Review Article, South Asia Research, 36(1), 115-126. 2016
Roostayie, A, & Arashpur, A. Ethnic-cleansing of Myanmar's Muslims; Crimes against humanity or genocide? nternational Federation of Human Rights, 4, 16, 45-73, Tehran, 2017.
Rubinoff, A.G. The Multilateral Implications of Ethno-Nationalist Violence In South Asia, South Asia Survey 7, 273-293, 2000.
Savarkar V.D. Essentials of Hindutva, Savarkar content/pdfs/en. 1969.
Shafiee, N., & Mahmoodi, Z. Pakistan’s special stance in the war on terror. Journal of central Asia and the Caucasus studies, 18(78), 77–106, 2012
Taraki, O. Pashtuns: Great people without a home. Ariana Afghanistan Online, 1–9. http://www.arianafghanistan.com, 2018.
Zarni, M., & Cowley, A. The slow-burning genocide of Myanmar's Rohingya, Pac. Rim L. & Pol'y J., 23, 683. 2014.
http:// www.akairan.com
http://dictionary.cambridge.org.
http://shafaghona.com/persian