Revisiting India’s Foreign Policy With Special Reference To Its Neighbours

“If we understand the mechanism and motives of the group mind, it is now possible to control and
regiment the masses according to our will without them knowing it.”

-Edward Bernays

ABSTRACT- India has been a practitioner of diplomacy since ancient era due to her relations with
countries as far as the Mediterranean west and to the South East Asia. India’s International relations have
always been applauded. As a growing superpower and economic booster, it is incumbent for the nation to
safeguard its interest. India is a respected member of many world forums and these provides us the chance
to ensure that our views are well respected at the global platform. This is more so while dealing with
nations like China and Pakistan wherein strategic and economic affairs are involved. There is need for us
to understand these complex relations. India’s foreign policy starts global attraction since the beginning of
economic reforms in modern times. Today 50% of India’s GDP comes from foreign trade.

Sejal Sharma
University Five Year Law College
India’s Role Regionally

The world expects India to play a larger role in south Asian region. PM Modi have visited more than 60
countries since 2014 which also points a reference towards India’s stand in the world. India can be a
monolithic entity in the field of strategic thoughts. Need of the hour is to instill Indian Diplomatic
strategy. Looking at the historical relevance of foreign relations, Kautilya’s Arthashastra in 4th centaury
B.C was the first to emphasize on strategic relations. Diplomacy according to Kautilya does not seek to
avoid war but to ensure victory in Warfield. Kantilla also firmly believes that neighbors are most likely to
become enemy. The Ramayana’s, Mahabharata and Puranas also gives reference to the need of diplomatic
relations and especially with the neighboring countries.

Consensus post-India Independence

It was the era of Nehru’s consensus. J.L Nehru was the architect of Indian Foreign Policy. It is worth
noting that India does not have an independent Foreign minister till after Nehru’s death. Pt. Nehru’s views
were distill from Indian context as he firmly believes in Gandhi’s views. Thus non-alignment, panchsheel,
anti-colonialism, disarmament, Asian outreach and good relations with neighbors were the central tenants
in the Indian Foreign Policy. India is a piece loving nation based on the Gandhi’s principals and
articulations.

Neighbors

There is by and large consensus that the objective of Indian Foreign Policy is to ensure that the
transformation of India into a secular and prosperous nation. To achieve this goal a peaceful and
economically stable and secure periphery is a desired objective. India aspires for a peaceful environment
regionally and globally. To pursue this objective India should seek to create the required ambience that
help to focus on the essential task of growth and development. For India, stability and resolution of
conflicts is a logical pursuit consistent with our national interest. Looking at the map of our region India
sits by in the middle of the SAARC region comprising maximum percentage of land area, population,
GDP and other incenses. But an enduring paradox of south Asia is that it is a region that lacks meaningful
integration and connectivity. They have only 6% foreign trade among themselves despite the common
history and culture share by them. South Asia has 27% of world’s population but only &7% of global
GDP.

 Bhutan

PM Modi chose Bhutan as his first foreign visit. India’s ties with Bhutan are exceptionally strong. India
provides financial grants and aid projects to it. Bhutan today has the highest per capita income in
SAARC. India funds its hydro-electric project. On the security front also it is very important as it sits
above the chicken’s deck. The latest Dokhlam conflicts is an example of the same. China has been
continuously sniff ring around Bhutan. India has multiple military missions with Bhutan and hence a very
strong foreign relations.

 Bangladesh

Bangladesh emerges as an independent country through a bloody liberation war of 1971 which left its
society deeply divided into seculars and Islamists. We have strong Bengali cultural bonds with
Bangladesh. Bangladesh shares its border only with India and the 4096 km India-Bangladesh border is the
largest border we have with any country and its also quite porous. Different issues of border management
including Illegal migration, smuggling do creates irritants at times but is dealt quite maturely by both the
sides. Bengali culture, assured literature and national anthem written by Rabindra Nath Tagore are bonds
that both sides cherish. India-Bangladesh relations have been enlightened under the leadership of
Narendra Modi government. Bangladesh have also shown tremendous effort in perusing relations with
India resulting in significant results in economic, industrial and security affairs. India has contributed
generously to Bangladesh’s economic development and Bangladesh has emerged as India’s largest
trading partner in SAARC. Even Bangladesh is supporting fully in controlling anti-sergeant groups
against India. The need of the hour is to speed up connectivity projects like roads, Railways and
upgrading Border infrastructure with Bangladesh.

 Maldives

Maldives is a close friend of India. It is important because of its strategic role in Indian Ocean. Indian
Ocean today is one of the important sea lanes of communication and an energy corridor with countries
like Japan, Korea etc.

 Myanmar

Myanmar is not a member of SAARC. Pt. Nehru enjoys close relations with Burmese leaders. India help
draft Burmese constitution. There was a time when Myanmar drove into the arms of china. But the
bilateral relations are quite different today. Myanmar is changing and it’s also our bridge to ASEAN.
Myanmar is pragmatic to have good ties with India. India’s relations with it are on a right track.
Myanmar’s real significance is that it shares a border with 4 of ours 7 eastern states and Myanmar can
play a key role in transforming the economy of these states as it is a rich country and economic and
border ties can be a lifeline to some of these states.

 Nepal

India shares a very special and unique relationship with Nepal because of its religious significance. But
sadly Nepal is in a domestic turmoil. India supports Nepal in many ways like electricity, connectivity etc.
Nepal has a huge capacity of hydro-electricity. There is also a growing Chinese influence in Nepal
including its billion dollar project in Lumbini (Birth place of Buddha).

 Sri Lanka

Formal relations are friendly with Sri Lanka. Tamil Nadu politicians have played a parochial role in it.
Elimination of Prabhakaran in Sri Lanka is a positive note. However, a stable solution to the Tamil
minority in Sri Lanka remains elusive. There are certain positive initiates with respect to friendly relations
with Sri Lanka like the free trade agreement taken by the Indian govt. The issue still burning with the two
nations is the fisherman’s issue going across and getting caught, unnecessarily sapping our diplomacy.
The big picture gets lost with these small matters.

 Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s commitment towards democracy is pioneering. India’s relations with Afghan have always
been traditionally friendly except the Taliban era. Afghanistan’s strategic assistance is that it provides a
gateway to India in central Asia for trade, pipelines and infrastructure Example- The Tapi oil pipeline
project.

 Pakistan

Given the history of Pakistan’s birth as a nation, the untimely death of its founder, the bloodshed
accompanying partition, the Kashmir issue have contributed for not having hostile relations between India
and Pakistan. Pakistan’s founding myth as a homeland of Muslims in the continent was on shaky grounds
as many Muslims opted to stay in India. Pakistan has built up a national narrative of grievances and
territorial claims against India, portraying India as the implacable force and a distention treat. Irrespective
of the fact that the two nations share a sub continental cultural heritage. Culture of hate, extremist religion
and exclusivist ideology has born terror groups that are destroying the social fabrics of Pakistan.
Pakistan’s government and army support these extremist groups against a war with India. Ironically,
Pakistan today seeks at war with itself with the rebellion in Baluchistan and bombing its own people in
the tribal area. It finds today itself in a situation where its economy is below 3%. Even its supporters the
USA, China and Saudi Arabia cannot bail it out from the hole it had dig for himself. Signs of emerging
consensus with Pakistan are only possible if it stops backing terrorism. India has made it crystal clear that
terrorism and normalization cannot go hand in hand. For normal relations the shadow of Terrorism must
be roll back and visible results have to be seen. Hence it’s a challenge for India to deal with Pakistan in
the years to come.

 China

It’s our largest and most important neighbor. We share a border of plus 4000 km, much of which is
disputed. India-China relations are the most watched relations in Asia as the two of them are the most
populated countries in the world. The unresolved borders, reside of Dalai Lama in India, Tibet conflict,
China as an all weather friend of Pakistan are all complicated areas between the two nations. China’s
economic growth has capitulated to be the 2nd largest economy in the world. There in need for economic
ties and tranquility with China as these is a mosaic of relationships between India and China. Adding to it
is the China-Pak nexus, wherein China uses Pakistan as a proxy to keep India box in. It is to be noted here
that China is pragmatic enough to built its relations with India on a positive note.

India’s Foreign Policy

India’s look east policy1:- It is the renewed vision to seek closer relations with the ASEAN countries and
was first time articulated by PM Narasimha Rao in 1994 for having prismatic outlook for south-east Asia.
India’s historic ties with South-East Asia have been since ancient Kalinga. Examples of ancient links are
:- Bangkok’s International Airport is called Suvarnabhoomi, the national airlines of Indonesia is called
Garuda etc.

1
"India's Look-East Policy". Indianmba.com. Retrieved 21 November 2009
Fast-track diplomacy:- on the completion of the first 100 days of govt. the external affairs ministery
published a booklet called “Fast Track Diplomacy”. Show-casing the achievement made in foreign policy
arena by the government.

Para Diplomacy:- It is one of the innovate idea of Modi govt. where each city or state will be forged to
have some special relation with countries. Example- Town twinning agreement between Mumbai and
Shanghal, Varanasi and Kyoto etc.

Benefits of regional cooperation

The changing socio-economic scenario of the South-Asian countries and the impact it has on the
dynamics of foreign relations is of great significance. But it is also a fact that creating structure for
regional cooperation are extremely challenging but India has take many steps including several
asymmetric ones which basically is that it gives advantage to its small neighbors. It is true that the South-
Asian region is the fastest growing region of the world with an average growth rate of 8% in the last 5
years. But our biggest challenge today is of course terrorism and we need to work together to beat this.
India has given a significant push to faster connectivity and mutual peace in this region. Example is the
India’s electricity bid connection with Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. PM Narendra Modi to his first
foreign visit in Bhutan said that “a strong India is good for the region.” Efforts have been done by the
govt. to have friendly relations with the neighboring countries. SAARC food bank, disaster management
centre, South-Asian university at Delhi are such institutes impish in this regard.

Conclusion

India has adopted a new paradises in foreign policy under the regime of the NDA govt. India’s strategic
interest in the Indian ocean is to keep trade and commerce inclusive. The conflict in south-china sea is
worrying for all countries as China claims the disputed islands and the whole of South-China sea as its
territory. It poses a challenge to India as well. It is a growing need felt by many countries to balance
China’s dominance and this can be done by an effective role of India in this regard. PM Modi’s
spectacular victory in Indian elections have set a message across the world that a government with an
absolute majority in India led by a decisive leader will be able push reforms and rejuvenate the economic
status of the country. India will have to hedge and build a web of relationships particularly with its
neighbors. Indian foreign policy have witness a major shift under the regime of the present govt. and the
road ahead offers great opportunity for the nation. It’s time for India to emerge as a global leader
especially in the south-east Asian region.