About the Book

"Battleground South Asia offers a sweeping, eyewitness account of the political storms, wars, and power struggles that have shaped one of the world’s most volatile regions. Drawing on decades of on-ground reporting, Prem Prakash traces the arc of history from the decline of colonial rule to the rise of modern nation-states—India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, the Maldives and Afghanistan—each grappling with identity, ideology, and external interference. The narrative revisits decisive moments: India’s constitutional birth, Pakistan’s repeated military takeovers, Bangladesh’s violent liberation, China’s growing footprint as it maps its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, Afghanistan’s tragic descent into geopolitical conflict, the Sri Lankan civil war, and the recent shifts that have redrawn alliances. With personal accounts from battlefields, border crossings, and diplomatic flashpoints, Prem Prakash presents a vivid portrait of South Asia’s past and the dangerous uncertainties of its present. As global superpowers compete for control and influence, the region, now pitted against the turmoil in West Asia, stands at a critical turning point. Battleground South Asia explains how history brought us here—and what the future may demand from nations still searching for stability."

About the Author

Prem Prakash, founder and chairman of ANI, India’s premier multimedia news agency, is a veteran journalist. He has worked with foreign broadcasters such as Gaumont Actualités in France, Deutsche Wochenschau in Germany, and Warner– Pathé News in the US—all pioneers of their time. He was also part of the group that launched the news agency Visnews in London in 1957. With a career spanning over seventy-five years, Prem Prakash has travelled the world, covering major global events. He was at the forefront of war reporting during the 1962 India-China War, as well as the 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan Wars. Over the decades, he has interacted with every Indian Prime Minister—from Jawaharlal Nehru to Manmohan Singh. Now, he dedicates his time to writing books.