Which of the following is evidence of religious tension in south Asia
a.British colonization of India
b.Pakistani government attacking East Pakistan
c. Civil War in Sri Lanka
b. Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
All of the options provided can be seen as evidence of religious tension in South Asia, as they all involve conflict or political issues influenced by religious differences.
a. British colonization of India: The British colonization of India resulted in religious tensions between Hindus and Muslims. These tensions eventually led to the Partition of India and the creation of Pakistan as a separate Muslim-majority state.
b. Pakistani government attacking East Pakistan: The conflict between West Pakistan (now Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1971 had religious implications. The majority of East Pakistan practiced Islam, while West Pakistan was predominantly Muslim but with a significant Hindu minority. The Pakistani government's policies and actions, including an attempt to impose Urdu as the national language, sparked religious tensions and contributed to the Bengali nationalist movement and later the Bangladesh Liberation War.
c. Civil War in Sri Lanka: The civil war in Sri Lanka, which lasted from 1983 to 2009, had various factors including ethnic and religious tensions. The conflict primarily arose between the Sinhalese Buddhist majority and the Tamil Hindu minority. The Tamil minority felt marginalized, leading to the formation of militant groups advocating for an independent Tamil state. Religious tensions played a role in the conflict as clashes occurred between Buddhist and Hindu religious communities.
d. Soviet invasion of Afghanistan: While not directly related to South Asia, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979-1989) had repercussions for the region. This event led to the rise of religiously motivated insurgencies, particularly by the Mujahideen, who received support from various countries including Pakistan. Pakistan, in turn, faced religious tensions and instability due to the influx of Afghan refugees and the subsequent emergence of extremist groups influenced by Islamic ideologies.