ABSTRACT
The scale of violence is obviously central to defining the term ‘armed conflict’ and making it relevant for security analyses. Viewed from a state perspective, this data is sufficient to initiate peace processes for containing and ending ‘armed conflict’. However, there are obvious inadequacies in these Uppsala Conflict Data Program definitions when applied to ‘major armed conflicts’ in South Asia. All these problematical issues and newer threats are excoriating South Asia and have informed the present exercise to study armed conflicts in this region. It is proposed to review the broad trends that have manifested themselves within the armed conflicts in South Asia over 2006 and 2007, and those that seem likely to either persist and/or exacerbate over the coming years. It is apparent that the new challenges to security, especially intrastate security, are more likely to ignite armed conflicts in South Asia.
