Abstract:
South Asia has been increasingly overwhelmed with an assortment of events, political violence and terrorism. Terrorism is not a new phenomenon to South Asian Region in which plenty of unsettled issues still remain in the region. It is however, the transnational nature of terrorism that is playing a significant role in transforming the tension and challenges in South Asia. It is commonly believed that South Asia is plagued with major terrorist groups, ethnic, political violence/ instability and economic downwards. Afghanistan, Pakistan and India are amongst the top ten countries in the world that are mostly impacted by terrorism. Recently Bangladesh and Sri Lanka became victims of terrorism due to ethno-political agendas. Terrorism in South Asia is a multifaceted reality, which has developed in practically all countries in South Asia. Therefore, it is important that SAARC focuses on taking security measures that are likely to be effective against terrorism to ensure peace and stability in South Asia. Although SAARC brings out many prospects to its members, the South Asian region is faced with diverse challenges that threatens the security and the political stability in the region. One of the daunting challenges the countries in South Asia encounters is terrorism which not only places national security at risk but also threatens the national and international peace. Moreover, the international interferences in the domestic affairs of South Asia is another prominent cause of the turmoil in the region as often international interferences causes instability in the region thus resulting in escalation of terrorism in South Asia. SAARC as a whole faces this threat of terrorism and the failure to address the issue have caused the ineffectiveness of SAARC as a regional organization in South Asia. However, since the establishment of SAARC, the organization has taken many initiatives to address the terrorism implementing policies to counter terrorism in the region. This paper examines the counter terrorism endeavor by South Asian countries and focuses on the recent up rise of terrorism in Sri Lanka. Further the influence of ethno - political agenda to the terrorism in Sri Lanka is highlighted referring to the new challenges of terrorism within the state and its implications to the South Asian region. Moreover, this paper analyses the extent the challenge of terrorism threatens the political and security scenario in South Asia. The data of the study is derived from the literature review, document analysis and observation. Practical implication of the study is pointing out the challenges directly affects the security and political scenario of the region, collapse of the powerful governments and the deterioration of nation states.
