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Human security has emerged as the vantage point of security studies that has broadened favourably to include human lives which is the core of human rights. The United Nations Development Programme since the 1990s has recognized the threats to human security throughout the world and South Asia. The latter is a difficult terrain with rifts, dissensions, terrorist violence, wide gaps in criminal justice system and great chasm amongst countries considering human development indices. In the light of recent developments in the region for instance the political crisis in Afghanistan, the complete decimation of political and economic system of Pakistan, which is almost at the verge of collapse; the economic stagnation in Sri Lanka and India’s ever-changing diplomacy and foreign policy stances, its all the more necessary to explore the human security and human rights scenario in South Asia.

This edited volume is the compilation of chapters on human security and human rights with South Asian perspectives which was long overdue. It’s not because there has not been extensive research on security studies in South Asia; in fact, the security studies discourse in South Asia is diverse and empirical but human security is considerably a new concept that has emerged in post-cold war scenario. In face of innumerable imminent threats in South Asia with tensed and ruptured politico-economic situations states are no longer the referral point for preserving security.