INDIA'S FOREIGN POLICY - IAS Score

1 FOREIGN PolicyFrom the time india first attained independence in 1947, its FOREIGN POLICY during the Cold War period evolvedfrom being pro-Soviet and antithetical to Western interests, to now becoming an important Western strategicpartner and providing a counterweight to China. Over the last six-and-half decade india has massively expandedits influence worldwide, primarily through diplomacy and trade, which has seen it emerge as an influentialpower in global politics. There are many aspects that played important role in determining india s FOREIGN policyover period of of india s FOREIGN PolicyPanchsheelThe guiding principles of india s FOREIGN POLICY have been founded on Panchsheel, pragmatism and pursuit ofnational interest.

2 The five principles of peaceful coexistence or Panchsheel was evolved during talks betweenIndia and the People s Republic of China in 1954. The five principles which formed the basis of the non-aligned movement were laid down by Jawaharlal Five Principles are: Mutual respect for each other s territorial integrity and sovereignty Mutual non-aggression against anyone Mutual non-interference in each other s internal affair Equality and mutual benefit Peaceful co-existenceThese five principles was believed to serve the need of the newly decolonized state which had more pressingneeds to address rather than getting engaged in hostility with the neighbors.

3 The underlying assumption for thefive principles was the development of new and more principled approach to the International relations by thenewly independent decolonized , the history of the first major enunciation of the five principles is not wholly encouraging. China hasoften emphasized its close association with the five principles. It had put them forward as the five principlesof peaceful co-existence, at the starting of negotiations that took place in Delhi from December 1953 to April1954 between the delegation of PRC (People s Republic of China) government and the delegation of theIndian government on the relations between the two countries with respect to the disputed territories of AksaiChin and South Tibet.

4 The 29 April 1954 agreement was set to last for eight years. When it lapsed the relationswere already soaring, the provision for renewal of the agreement was not taken up and the Sino-Indian warbroke out between the two , in the 1970s, the five principles again came to be seen as important in the Sino-Indian relations andmore generally as norms of relations between states. They came to be widely recognized and accepted duringthe 'S FOREIGN POLICYN otesINTERNATIONAL RELATION2016 EDITION2 Indian FOREIGN PolicyAfter 60 years of its origin and working Panchsheel still remains a mere paperwork for China which was amajor party to the agreement and more than anxious to sign it.

5 A great tragedy is that the agreement isremembered not for its content, which concerns the trade relations between india and Tibet, but for itspreamble which directly caused the destruction of an ancient, spiritual way of life .Another misfortune is that the idealistic five principles were never been followed either in letter or in spirit byChina, particularly, non-interference in other s affairs and respect for the neighbour s territorial integrity .Chinese intrusion into the Indian Territory after three months of the agreement was a testimony to this. Thus,in a way, the agreement opened the door to the China s military control of the roof of the world by the People sLiberation Army.

6 This further translated into building a network of roads and airstrips heading towards theIndian frontiers in NEFA (North East Frontier Agency) and Ladakh. This was aggravated by the refusal ofsome of Nehru s advisors to bargain for a proper delimitation of the border between Tibet and india , againstthe relinquishment of india s right in Tibet (accrued from the Simla convention).The POLICY is remembered more as a basis for NAM (Non Aligned Movement), established in Belgrade, in1961 and a diplomatic spoof for the country hitherto incapable of sorting out her border tangle.

7 On a morepositive note, it can be concluded that the agreement proved to be of lasting significance as it was the firstof its kind where india and China agreed for mutual tolerance and peaceful co-existence so much so that thefive principles today form the centre-piece of their current CSBMs (Confidence and Security Building Measures).NAM (Non-Aligned Movement)On 1 Sep 1961 the heads of 28 nations gathered in Belgrade to launch the Non-Alignment Movement. Fiftyyears on, NAM has grown to more than 120 nations and represents a majority voice in the United of NAM initially had disputes on some issues due to gap in the level of technological and economicaldevelopment.

8 The major difference was between Asian and African countries as the Asian countries rose andAfrican countries went down. Also, the disputes between india and Pakistan questioned the very basic principleof NAM peaceful coexistence. In the post cold war period NAM was considered as sleeping in today s world, NAM has got a great task of questioning the monopoly of America in UNO and , NAM has made significant discussions on several issues of world importance. The extent of its need,importance and fame of this movement can be approximated from the increase in its membership.

9 It s mostimportant achievement include postponing of wars, reducing their intensity and in some cases disputes werecompletely solved. NAM can be said to have played a vital role in maintaining world peace in this nuclear brought cold war to ceasefire. It beefed up the role of UNO in which all countries have equal aligned countries have been successful in establishing a foundation of economic cooperation amongstunderdeveloped countries. South South dialogue has been summoned from the non aligned countries noteworthy fact is that it has transformed from a political movement to an economical movementwhereby the developing and underdeveloped nations are demanding a New International Economic Order.

10 It sbeen increasingly argued that in order to control the situation, to protest against the monopoly of US in amonoaxial world, to induce forceful dialogue between developed and underdeveloped countries, protestingagainst neo-colonial exploitation, maintaining North-South dialogue, South-South dialogue, combating internationalterrorism, global economic crisis and bringing about NIEO (New International Economic Order), NAM andG-77 will have to work togetherCold War Era in IndiaDuring the cold war india s POLICY was that of a neutral observer inclined towards self-interest rather thanseeking alignment with any of the major power blocs.