This compendium of 16 papers, presented at the 7th South Asia Conference, organized by the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) at New Delhi, seeks to identify and examine the various strands of regional perceptions in South Asia, with particular focus on India.

The contributors discuss at length the reasons for the prevailing—many a time negative—perceptions among the SAARC partners vis-à-vis India and vice versa. They also analyse the inadequacy of the effort on the part of India to be more sensitive to the natural fears and apprehensions of smaller countries, and being unable to reinforce its image of being a developmental partner for them. The need for greater people-to-people contacts has been highlighted as well.

Contents: Foreword. Introduction/Vishal Chandra. 1. Shaping of perceptions in South Asia. 2. Mutual perceptions and expectations. 3. Perceptions on regional cooperation. Index.