Theme T113 · International Relations
Pakistan & Afghanistan: terror, distrust, soft power, surgical strikes, ISAF withdrawal
3PYQs
2GS2
1GS3
2013–20163 distinct years
What UPSC asks
UPSC asks whether soft power (sports, culture) can build goodwill despite terror and distrust, the strategic impact of hot pursuit and surgical strikes, and security implications of ISAF's withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Prepare these
- Trust deficit: cross-border terrorism, Kashmir, Indus Waters
- Soft power tools and their limits
- Surgical strikes (2016), Balakot (2019): deterrence and escalation
- Afghanistan: ISAF/US withdrawal, Taliban return, India's engagement and interests
Answer writing
- Strategic analysis: interests, options, risks
- Cross-link with internal security themes
Directive words in these PYQs: Discuss (2), To what extent (1), Examine (1).
Linked themes
Builds on: study these first
These come earlier in the roadmap. Questions in this theme use them.
Comes back later in
Later themes that take this one further.
On the map
Map module 2: Drainage & water bodiesMap module 10: Neighbourhood & sea routesMap module 11: Borders & internal security
Syllabus lines covered
- GS2-L17 — India and its neighborhood- relations.
- GS3-L17 — Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
All 3 PYQs, newest first
- GS32016GS3-SEC-02-M2016-S01
- GS22015GS2-IR-01-M2015-S01
- GS22013GS2-IR-01-M2013-S01