Question

Which of the following is evidence of religious tension in South Asia?

Civil War in Sri Lanka

Soviet Invasion of Afgghanistan

Pakistani government attacking East Pakistan

British Colonization of India

Answer 1

All of the events listed can be related to religious tension in South Asia, but they each highlight different aspects of those tensions. Here are brief explanations of how each event is connected to religious tensions:

1. **Civil War in Sri Lanka**: The civil war between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority, who were predominantly Hindu, was significantly influenced by ethnic and religious identity, leading to substantial violence and tension.

2. **Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan**: The invasion led to significant upheaval in Afghanistan, where religious identities played a role in the resistance against foreign intervention, contributing to a long-term legacy of conflict driven by both political and religious elements.

3. **Pakistani government attacking East Pakistan**: The conflict that led to the Bangladesh Liberation War was partly fueled by religious and ethnic identity, as the East Pakistanis (now Bangladesh) felt marginalized and oppressed by the West Pakistani (Muslim) majority's government.

4. **British Colonization of India**: The British colonial policy often exacerbated divisions between Hindus and Muslims as part of their "divide and rule" strategy, leading to the eventual partition of India in 1947, which was a significant event marked by religious violence and mass migrations.

While each of these events showcases elements of religious tension, the **Civil War in Sri Lanka** and the **Pakistani government attacking East Pakistan** are particularly direct examples of religiously influenced conflict within the region.