Paper short abstract:

South Asia is characterized by a variety of security challenges from territorial disputes, religious terrorisms to left wing extremism and the threat of nuclear warfare. In recent years new security cooperation between India and her neighbors helped to overcome traditional security dilemmas.

Paper long abstract:

South Asia has long been known as a region of chronic instability. The region is still characterized by a variety of security challenges ranging from territorial disputes, religious terrorisms to left wing extremism and the threat of nuclear warfare. On the one hand, regional security is still fragile especially with regard to relations between India and Pakistan. The Mumbai attack of 2008 has shown the fragility of their bilateral rapprochement. On the other hand, India has intensified bilateral security cooperation in the region with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. The paper looks for causes and consequences of the new security cooperation that mark a fundamental shift from previous policies that may help to overcome traditional security dilemmas and strengthen cooperation in other areas as well.