Influence of Religion on International Relations of South Asia Examining the Case of India and Pakistan with Special Reference to Hindu and Muslim Identity

Abstract

India and Pakistan are two essential significant regional players of South East Asia, both vary greatly in terms of geographic size, location, religious, political and social customs, economic and political system, type of government, and interaction with major powers. The south Asian states have had varying political backgrounds since their emergence from English rule in the late Forties, with the regular democratic interludes in Pakistan, with increasing impact for Islamist political parties and movements; and a long-established, secular democracy in India, significantly affected recently by Hindu nationalism. The Kashmir issue is the bone of contention between Pakistan and India which could be an atomic flash point between two traditional spiritual and religious enemies of the region. This paper focus the religious influence on the policies of India and Pakistan toward each other. This is because in both states several religious leaders are essential politically both locally and with regards to state foreign policies and worldwide relations. For each of these two states of Asian region, it determine that: local political system and procedure have tossed up politically significant political leaders which often seek to effect global outcomes, and religious goals do not take priority over state security issues in these South East Asian states’ foreign policy. This article is descriptive in its framework and looks for to increase the analytical framework on the topic.