INDIA'S NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY !

MEANING AND DEFINITION

A nation’s destiny is linked to its neighbourhood- this specifies the need of a

peaceful and integrated neighbourhood. India’s foreign policy that actively focuses
on improving ties with India's immediate neighbours which is termed as
Neighbourhood first policy.Former PM A.B. Vajpayee once famously said ‘You can
change your friends but not neighbours’. For India to play a vital role in the
emerging multipolar world politics, it is important to develop enduring linkages
between its domestic priorities and its foreign policy objectives.
India's neighborhood policy, often referred to as the "Neighborhood First" policy,
is a diplomatic approach aimed at fostering positive and cooperative relations with
its immediate neighbors. India shares land and maritime borders with several
countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia, and the neighborhood policy is designed
to enhance regional stability, economic cooperation, and mutual understanding. The
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is the government agency responsible for the
conduct of foreign relations of India. With the world's third largest military
expenditure, second largest armed force, fifth largest economy by GDP nominal rates
and third largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, India is a prominent
regional power and a rising superpower.According to the MEA, the main purposes of
Indian diplomacy include protecting India's national interests, promoting friendly
relations with other states, and providing consular services to "foreigners and
Indian nationals abroad. In recent decades, India has pursued an expansive foreign
policy, including the neighborhood-first policy embodied by SAARC as well as the
Look East policy to forge more extensive economic and strategic relationships with
other East Asian countries. It has also maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity,
which involves its "no first use" nuclear policy and its neutral stance on the
Russo-Ukrainian War.

India's relations with the world have evolved since the British Raj (1857–1947)
when the British Empire took responsibility for handling external and defence
relations. When India gained independence in 1947, few Indians had experience in
making or conducting foreign policy. However, the country's oldest political party,
the Indian National Congress, had established a small foreign department in 1925 to
make overseas contacts and to publicise its independence struggle. From the late
1920s on, Jawaharlal Nehru, who had a long-standing interest in world affairs among
independence leaders, formulated the Congress's stance on international issues. As
Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs from 1947, Nehru articulated
India's approach to the world.India's international influence varied over the years
after independence. Indian prestige and moral authority were high in the 1950s and
facilitated the acquisition of developmental assistance from both East and West.
Although the prestige stemmed from India's nonaligned stance, the nation was unable
to prevent Cold War politics from becoming intertwined with interstate relations in
South Asia. On the intensely debated Kashmir issue with Pakistan, India lost
credibility by rejecting United Nations' calls for a plebiscite in the disputed
area.

HISTORY

India's international influence varied over the years after independence. Indian
prestige and moral authority were high in the 1950s and facilitated the acquisition
of developmental assistance from both East and West. Although the prestige stemmed
from India's nonaligned stance, the nation was unable to prevent Cold War politics
from becoming intertwined with interstate relations in South Asia. On the intensely
debated Kashmir issue with Pakistan, India lost credibility by rejecting United
Nations' calls for a plebiscite in the disputed area

Even before independence, the Indian colonial government maintained semi-autonomous

diplomatic relations. It had colonies (such as the Aden Settlement), that sent and
received full missions. India was a founder member of both the League of Nations
and the United Nations. After India gained independence from the United Kingdom in
1947, it soon joined the Commonwealth of Nations and strongly supported
independence movements in other colonies, like the Indonesian National
Revolution.The partition and various territorial disputes, particularly that over
Kashmir, would strain its relations with Pakistan for years to come. During the
Cold War, India adopted a foreign policy of not aligning itself with any major
power bloc. However, India developed close ties with the Soviet Union and received
extensive military support from it.The end of the Cold War significantly affected
India's foreign policy, as it did for much of the world. The country now seeks to
strengthen its diplomatic and economic ties with the United States, the European
Union trading bloc, Japan, Israel, Mexico, and Brazil. India has also forged close
ties with the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the
African Union, the Arab League and Iran.Though India continues to have a military
relationship with Russia, Israel has emerged as India's second-largest military
partner while India has built a strong strategic partnership with the United
States.The foreign policy of Narendra Modi indicated a shift towards focusing on
the Asian region and, more broadly, trade deals.

INDIA'S POLICY DURING CONGRESS-

The Prime Minister is however free to appoint advisers and special committees to
examine various foreign policy options and areas of interest.[citation needed] In a
recent instance, Manmohan Singh appointed K. Subrahmanyam in 2005 to head a special
government task force to study 'Global Strategic Developments' over the next
decade.[37] The Task Force submitted its conclusions to the Prime Minister in 2006.
The report has not yet been released in the public domain.

Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, promoted a strong personal role for
the Prime Minister but a weak institutional structure. Nehru served concurrently as
Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs; he made all major foreign policy
decisions himself after consulting with his advisers and then entrusted the conduct
of international affairs to senior members of the Indian Foreign Service. He was
the main founding father of the Panchsheel or the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-
existence.At the same time, India was more focusing giving importance to neighbour
countries. it is difficult to define particularly congress period foreign policy,
but yes because of the long-time governed by the congress party that is way just
for understanding it has broadly divided into congress and non-congress period.
Let’s understand India’s Neighbourhood Policy during the congress period.

India's second prime minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri (1964–66), expanded the Prime
Minister's Office and enlarged its powers. By the 1970s, the Office of the Prime
Minister had become the de facto coordinator and supra-ministry of the Indian
government. The enhanced role of the office strengthened the prime minister's
control over foreign policymaking at the expense of the Ministry of External
Affairs. Advisers in the office provided channels of information and policy
recommendations in addition to those offered by the Ministry of External Affairs
The prime minister's control and reliance on personal advisers in the Office of the
Prime Minister was particularly strong under the tenures of Indira Gandhi (1966–77
and 1980–84) and her son, Rajiv (1984–89), who succeeded her, and weaker during the
periods of coalition governments. Observers find it difficult to determine whether
the locus of decision-making authority on any issue lies with the Ministry of
External Affairs, the Council of Ministers, the Office of the Prime Minister, or
the prime minister himself.

India's loss to China in the Indo-Chinese border war of 1962 showed the unpleasant
reality of world politics. After the Indo-Pakistan War in 1965, India's foreign
policy was put to the test in a big way. This led to a shift toward adoption
policies that put security as India's highest-ranked interest. Muni says that
“India's approach to its neighbours is shaped in part by the styles and
personalities of its diplomats”. When Indira Gandhi came into power in 1966, she
said that the problems of developing countries needed to be solved "not just by
idealism, not just by sentimentalism, but by very clear thinking and a hard-headed
analysis of the situation." (Appadorai, 1982). It can say within congress period
from Nehru (1947-1964) to Indira Gandhi (1966-1977), we can see the shift from
idealism to become realism.

Indira's regime marked a turning point in India's foreign policy, establishing it

as a regional force in South Asia. Some of her foreign policy successes include the
creation of Bangladesh (1971) and the assertion of Indian power in South Asia;
normalizing relations with Pakistan via the Shimla Agreement (1972) improving
relations with China; boundary and sea zone pacts with Sri Lanka (1974 and 1976)
with Indonesia (1974) and Bangladesh (1974 by solving the Berubari union issue);
friendship with Iran , the merger of Sikkim as the 22nd state of the Indian Union
(1975) and a robust nuclear deterrent.

INDIA'S POLICY AFTER CONGRESS.

The former Prime Minister, Inder Kumar Gujral, propounded the Gujral Doctrine when
he was the Union Minister of External Affairs from 1996 to 1997 in the H.D. Deve
Gowda Government. The Gujral doctrine was a five-point roadmap that sought to build
trust between India and its neighbours, solve bilateral issues through bilateral
talks, and remove immediate quid pro quos in the diplomatic relationship between
India and her neighbours. In addition, the ‘Doctrine’ emphasized the importance of
unilateral accommodation for friendly and warm relations with India’s neighbours.
I.K. Gujral formulated five principles to deal with the immediate neighbours of
India. These principles are:
First, with neighbours like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka,
India does not ask for reciprocity but gives and accommodates what it can in good
faith and trust.
Second, no South Asian country should allow its territory to be used against the
interest of another country in the region.
Third, no country should interfere in the internal affairs of another.
And fourth, all South Asian countries must respect each other's territorial
integrity and sovereignty; and,
Finally, they should settle all their disputes through peaceful bilateral
negotiations.
According to Gujral, these five principles, if scrupulously adhered to, would
achieve a fundamental recasting of South Asia's regional relationships, including
the problematic relationship between India and Pakistan. Further, implementing
these principles would generate a climate of close and mutually benign cooperation
in the region, where the weight and size of India are regarded positively as an
asset by these countries (Murthy, 2008).
The Gujral Doctrine was essential because it showed India how important it was to
have good relationships with its neighbours. It gave them a sense of direction and
purpose, which will always be one of the goals of Indian foreign policy. The Gujral
Doctrine is still relevant in India's current foreign policy dealing with its
neighbours.
LIST OF MAIN POLICIES BY INDIA

Act East Policy

The Act East policy is an effort by the government of India to cultivate extensive
economic and strategic relations with the nations of Southeast Asia to bolster its
standing as a regional power and a counterweight to the strategic influence of the
People's Republic of China. Initiated in 1991, the Look East policy by Indian
government marked a strategic shift in India’s perspective of the world.It was
developed and enacted during the government of Prime Minister Narsimha Rao (1991–
1996) and rigorously pursued by the successive administrations of Atal Bihari
Vajpayee (1998–2004) and Manmohan Singh (2004–2014).

The success of the Look East policy enthused Indian foreign ministry officials to
develop the policy into more action-oriented, project- and outcome-based policy.
After a couple of decades, India’s Act East policy, which was announced in 2014 by
the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration, became a successor to the Look
East policy.In her visit to Hanoi, Sushma Swaraj stressed the need for an Act East
Policy, which she said should replace India's over two decade-old Look East Policy
to put India in a more proactive regional position.[25][26] The Modi administration
stated that India would focus more on improving relations with ASEAN and other East
Asian countries as per India's 1991 Look East Policy which focused on improving
economic engagement with eastern neighbors. This policy became a tool for forging
strategic partnership and security cooperation with countries in that region in
general and Vietnam and Japan in particular. While the Look East Policy aimed to
build allies beyond the Soviet Union, it overlooked alliances with smaller border
nations, such as Myanmar and Bangladesh. China leveraged this oversight, increasing
trade rates with Myanmar and Bangladesh more so than India was able to.

Indian Ocean outreach

The Indian Ocean region (IOR), which has long been considered as India's nautical
backyard, is steadily turning into a hotspot thanks to growing Chinese strategic
presence over the region's numerous strategically located archipelagos.[43] To
counter the recent moves made by China in the name of President Xi's pet Maritime
Silk Road project, India started to reach out its maritime neighbors in the IOR
with proposals of enhanced economic and security cooperation.[44] The policy
towards IOR started to unfold during Sri Lankan president's visit to New Delhi in
early February 2015.[45] Following that Modi embarked on a three nations Yatraa
(travel) to Mauritius, Seychelles and Sri Lanka,[46][47] although Maldives was also
initially part of this outreach, the recent political turmoil in that country led
to the last-minute cancellation of the scheduled visit.[48]

Ahead of Modi's scheduled visit to Beijing in May 2015, India wanted to project
that it commanded a strategic supremacy over the IOR and that its relations with
its maritime neighbors were far more cordial than that of China's with particular
reference to South China sea

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the regional
intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of states in South Asia. Its
member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal,
Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. SAARC comprises 3% of the world's land area, 21% of the
world's population and 5.21% (US$4.47 trillion) of the global economy, as of 2021.

SAARC was founded in Dhaka on 8 December 1985. Its secretariat is based in

Kathmandu, Nepal. The organization promotes economic development and regional
integration.[5] It launched the South Asian Free Trade Area in 2006. SAARC
maintains permanent diplomatic relations at the United Nations as an observer and
has developed links with multilateral entities, including the European Union.
However, due to the geopolitical conflict between India and Pakistan and the
situation in Afghanistan, the organization has been suspended for a long time, and
India currently cooperates with its eastern neighbors through BIMSTEC.

Member Countries:
SAARC consists of eight member countries, which are:

Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Objectives of SAARC:

Promotion of Economic and Regional Integration: SAARC aims to foster economic and
regional integration among member countries to promote collective self-reliance and
mutual cooperation.

Social and Cultural Development: SAARC encourages collaboration in the fields of

education, culture, and sports to enhance the social and cultural ties among member
states.

Poverty Alleviation: SAARC seeks to address common issues related to poverty and
socioeconomic development in the region. The member countries work together to
implement programs aimed at poverty reduction.

Environmental Protection: SAARC is concerned with environmental issues and works

towards sustainable development by addressing environmental challenges in the
region.

Combating Terrorism and Transnational Crime: SAARC emphasizes the need for
collective action to combat terrorism, extremism, and transnational crime,
promoting regional security and stability.

Institutions of SAARC:

Summit: The highest decision-making body of SAARC is the Summit, held annually,
where leaders of member countries discuss and make decisions on various issues.

Council of Ministers: Comprising foreign ministers or other designated

representatives, the Council of Ministers meets regularly to review and coordinate
policies.

Standing Committee: The Standing Committee comprises the Foreign Secretaries of

member countries and is responsible for overseeing the implementation of SAARC
decisions.
Secretariat: The SAARC Secretariat, located in Kathmandu, Nepal, serves as the
principal executive body of the organization. It is headed by the Secretary-
General, appointed by the Council of Ministers.

Specialized Bodies: SAARC has various specialized bodies and mechanisms to address
specific issues, such as the SAARC Development Fund, SAARC Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, and the SAARC Arbitration Council.

Despite the organization's potential, SAARC has faced challenges in achieving its
objectives due to geopolitical tensions among member countries. Nevertheless, it
remains an important platform for fostering regional cooperation in South Asia.

Project Mausam

On the back of growing Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean region, which
India considers its area of responsibility, the Modi administration has introduced
Project Mausam,[53] which is believed to rival the Chinese Maritime Silk Road (MSR)
initiative. Mausam which means weather or season in many South and Southeast Asian
languages is highlighted because of its profound role in cultural exchanges in the
region as in ancient time maritime trade used to depend on seasonal monsoon winds.
The project, which is still in the evolving phase, is being planned with the
Cultural Ministry, that will focus on the ancient trade and cultural linkages with
emphasis on future maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean region stretching from
Southeast Asia to East Africa with the central location of India, from where the
ocean derived its name.

Key Objectives and Components:

Cultural Diplomacy:
Project Mausam emphasizes cultural diplomacy as a means to strengthen relationships
with countries in the Indian Ocean region. By highlighting shared historical
narratives, cultural practices, and traditions, the project aims to foster a sense
of unity and understanding among the diverse communities in these regions.

Historical Research and Documentation:

The initiative involves extensive historical research and documentation to uncover
and understand ancient maritime routes, trade networks, and cultural exchanges.
Scholars and researchers collaborate to piece together the historical narrative of
India's maritime interactions with neighboring countries.

Archaeological Exploration:
Archaeological explorations are a significant component of Project Mausam.
Excavations and studies of underwater archaeology are conducted to unearth
submerged cultural heritage sites, shipwrecks, and other artifacts that provide
insights into ancient trade and navigation.

Cultural Festivals and Exchanges:

To promote people-to-people connections, Project Mausam organizes cultural
festivals, exhibitions, and exchanges. These events showcase the diversity and
richness of the shared cultural heritage of the Indian Ocean region, fostering a
sense of camaraderie among the participating nations.

Capacity Building:
The project also focuses on capacity building and skill development in the field of
cultural conservation, preservation, and management. This aspect is crucial for
ensuring the sustainable safeguarding of cultural heritage sites and artifacts.
Promotion of Tourism:
Project Mausam recognizes the potential of cultural tourism as a means to boost
economic ties between countries in the region. By promoting tourism around
historical and cultural sites, the initiative seeks to contribute to the economic
development of the participating nations.

Partnerships and Collaborations:

Collaboration is at the heart of Project Mausam. India actively engages with
partner countries, international organizations, and academic institutions to foster
a collaborative approach to historical research, cultural preservation, and the
promotion of shared heritage.

CONCLUSION

In summary, India is a huge country with multiple cultures. It occupies a high

position in Southeast Asia. Due to the great cultural advancements that India has
made, India has good sociable relations with all its neighbors. India's foreign
policy is to maintain international peace, freedom, and collaboration. Its foreign
policy is founded on Punch Sheila's ideology of non-aligned disarmament. Sri Lanka,
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives, Burma, China, and Afghanistan
are India's immediate neighbours. All of these states have historical, religious,
economic, ethnic, and linguistic ties to India.. India's main challenge was to
promote internal cohesion and manage often problematic relations with neighboring
countries. In India, despite many conflicts in the past, political leaders and the
public still look forward to friendly relations with neighboring countries.
Common political issues such as the sharing and use of water are only addressed if
they are less noticed, combined with larger security or border issues, or in the
event of a natural disaster. However, water policies have far-reaching consequences
for national prosperity and security. This transboundary issue is an important
aspect of these countries' national development policies, but the countries
involved in transboundary water sharing agreements need to do a better job of
analysing and understanding it. These difficulties could be resolved in the light
of experience by critical debate of these agreements, active engagement of regional
organisations, and mutual understanding of shareholders. If successful, these less
formal types of cooperation could ultimately make countries more willing to
consider formal multilateral forums.

BIBILOGRAPHY !

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_policy_of_the_Narendra_Modi_government

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_India#:~:text=Policy,-

https://jgu-dev.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/angana-das.pdf