This book is an attempt 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 endeavor by the area/country specialists at the South Asia Centre of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) to further explore and understand the role of a key institution, the Army, in shaping the political destiny and defining the ideation evolution of the (nation-) states 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, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Various chapters in the book, focusing on the armies of individual countries, discuss the security environment in which each country is situated, its Geo-political 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 trace out the likely trajectory of the future role and position of the armies in the given or evolving national and Geo-political settings.

Contents

Chapter One: Afghanistan’s National Army: Expectations and Scepticism • Bangladesh Army: Evolution, Structure, Threat Perception and its Role

The Royal Bhutan Army • Maldives’ Security Dilemma and Its National Defence Force • Nepal Army at the Crossroads

The Army of Pakistan: Dominant by Default • ‘Defenders of the Nation’: Evolution & Role of the Sri Lankan Army