Northwestern South Asia

Geographical region in South Asia

"Western South Asia" redirects here. For the west coast of the Indian subcontinent, see Western India.

Not to be confused with Northwest India (pre-1947).

Northwestern South Asia

A handshake between soldiers at the India–Pakistan border.

Countries|

* Afghanistan
* China (Aksai Chin)
* India
* Pakistan

Time zones| UTC+05:30; UTC+05:45; UTC+06:00
Calling codes|

* +91
* +92
* +93

Religions| Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Irreligion, Sikhism
Ethnic groups| Indo-Aryan, Iranian, Tibeto-Burmese

Northwestern South Asia is a geographical area in South Asia. It includes modern-day Afghanistan, north-western India, and Pakistan.

Northwestern South Asia is the site of one of the first civilisations of the world, the Indus Valley Civilisation.[1][2] It was historically the most-conquered region of South Asia because it is the first region that invading armies coming from the west had to cross to enter the Indian subcontinent;[3] notable conquests include the Indian campaign of Alexander the Great in the fourth century BCE and several Muslim invasions from the 8th century CE to the 18th century.[4][5] Because of these many invasions, Northwestern South Asia has significant influences from various sources outside of South Asia, mainly from the Muslim world. Prior to Islamic influence, the region was largely Hindu and Buddhist, and was home to hotbeds of Buddhist activity such as Gandhara.[6]

## Definition

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Main article: South Asia § Northwestern boundary (Afghanistan and Pakistan)

## History

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See also: History of Afghanistan, History of Pakistan, and Northwest India § History

### Ancient era

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Greek invasions of Northwestern South Asia over 2,000 years ago produced the Indo-Greek Kingdom and a syncretised culture.[7] Buddhism was prominent in this region, and traveled from here to China through Central Asia.

Afghanistan was conquered by Muslims starting in the 7th century after Arabs had crossed Persia. Sindh was the first region in the subcontinent to be conquered by Muslims, falling to the Umayyad Caliphate in the first Islamic century.[8] During the subsequent Muslim invasions of the region, the religion of Sikhism was born, producing a warrior class with affinities to both Hindus and Muslims that was persecuted by and that fought against the invaders.[9] Buddhism vanished from the region during Muslim rule, prompted by persecution and conversions.[10]

### Modern era

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Main article: India–Pakistan relations

The end of colonial rule in the region saw most Indian Muslims in Northwestern South Asia become part of the new nation of Pakistan during the 1947 Partition of India.[11]

The 20th and 21st centuries saw Afghanistan invaded several times, with the Taliban having intermittently been in charge of the country.[12]

## See also

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* Northern South Asia
* Northwest India (pre-1947)
* Western Himalayas

## References

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1. ^ "Decline of the Indus River Valley Civilization (c. 3300-1300 BCE)". Climate in Arts and History. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
2. ^ Thornton, Christopher P.; Cable, Charlotte (2016), Introduction: Between Two Civilizations, University of Pennsylvania, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, ISBN 978-1-934536-06-3, retrieved 5 October 2023
3. ^ South Asia’s Geography of Conflict https://www.files.ethz.ch/ Robert D. Kaplan
4. ^ Thornton, Christopher P.; Cable, Charlotte (2016), Introduction: Between Two Civilizations, University of Pennsylvania, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, ISBN 978-1-934536-06-3, retrieved 5 October 2023
5. ^ Anjum, Tanvir (2007). "The Emergence of Muslim Rule in India: Some Historical Disconnects and Missing Links". Islamic Studies. 46 (2): 217–240\. ISSN 0578-8072. JSTOR 20839068.
6. ^ Neelis, Jason (2010). Early Buddhist Transmission and Trade Networks: Mobility and Exchange within and beyond the Northwestern Borderlands of South Asia. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-19458-8.
7. ^ Behrendt, Kurt (1 January 2004). The Buddhist Architecture of Gandhāra. BRILL. doi:10.1163/9789047412571. ISBN 978-90-04-13595-6.
8. ^ "How Colonial Myths About the Arrival of Muslims in Sindh Still Divide the South Asian Mind". The Wire. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
9. ^ Singh, Pashaura (2023), Kitts, Margo (ed.), "Sikhism: Exploring the Notion of a Righteous War (Dharam Yudh)", The Cambridge Companion to Religion and War, Cambridge Companions to Religion, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 141–163, ISBN 978-1-108-88407-5, retrieved 5 October 2023
10. ^ Truschke, Audrey (2018). "The Power of the Islamic Sword in Narrating the Death of Indian Buddhism". History of Religions. 57 (4): 406–435\. doi:10.1086/696567. ISSN 0018-2710. S2CID 165825418.
11. ^ "Why the Partition of India and Pakistan still casts a long shadow over the region". History. 2 August 2022. Archived from the original on 2 August 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
12. ^ "A historical timeline of Afghanistan". PBS NewsHour. 4 May 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2023.

Places adjacent to Northwestern South Asia

| Central Asia | Central Asia | China (specifically Tibet)

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West Asia |

Northwestern South Asia

| North India
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Arabian Sea | Western India | Central India

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