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Journal of Contemporary Politics

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Terrorism in South Asia: The History of Its Genesis
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Journal of Contemporary Politics

DOI: 10.53989/jcp.v4i4.25.78

Year: 2025, Volume: 4, Issue: 4, Pages: 167-173

Original Article

Terrorism in South Asia: The History of Its Genesis

Prasanta Sahoo1,∗

1Associate Professor, Centre for International Politics, Organisation and Disarmament, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, 110067, New Delhi, India. 

∗ Corresponding author.
Prasanta Sahoo
Email: [email protected] 

Received Date:31 August 2025, Accepted Date:25 October 2025, Published Date:01 December 2025

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

South Asia continues to be the hot spot of international terrorism, which makes it one of the world’s biggest crisis regions in the 21st century. South Asia stands as one of the world's most complex and volatile regions regarding terrorism, hosting a very complex, diverse web of extremist movements and terror networks that have evolved over decades. This article explores the history of the genesis of terrorism in South Asia, examining the complex reasons that have contributed to its emergence and survival in the region. It delves into the political, social, and economic factors that have possibly driven extremist ideologies and violent movements like insurgency and terrorism across countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. The article tries to examine the role of ethnic tensions, state policies, and foreign interventions in shaping the reign of terrorism in the region. By analysing the South Asian states through the historical contexts, the article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the linked complexities surrounding terrorism in South Asia. Ultimately, it emphasises the need for inclusive governance, economic development, and community dialogue as essential components in addressing the root causes of terrorism and fostering long-term peace and stability in the region.

Keywords

Extremism, Insurgency, Kashmir, Security, Terrorism

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Copyright

© 2025 Published by Bangalore University. This is an open-access article under the CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) 

  • 12 January 2026

Year: 2025, Volume: 4, Issue: 4

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