India's Foreign Policy

India's foreign policy governs its relations with other nations in the pursuit of its national interests. It is shaped by multiple interacting factors:

• Geography - India's strategic location in South Asia
• History and tradition - Colonial past and civilisational heritage
• Social structure and political organisation
• International milieu - World political climate, global opinion, multilateral organisations
• Economic position and military strength
• Public opinion and quality of political leadership

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1. Promotion of World Peace

India's foundational foreign policy goal is the promotion of international peace and security. Article 51 of the Constitution (a Directive Principle) directs the Indian state to promote international peace, maintain honourable relations between nations, respect international law and treaty obligations, and encourage resolution of international disputes through arbitration. Jawaharlal Nehru articulated this succinctly: peace for India is not merely a hope but an urgent necessity.

2. Anti-Colonialism

India's foreign policy has consistently opposed colonialism and imperialism in all forms. Colonial exploitation perpetuates global inequality and undermines world peace. India actively supported liberation movements in Afro-Asian countries - Indonesia, Malaya, Tunisia, Algeria, Ghana, Namibia, and others - and expressed solidarity against colonial powers including Britain, France, Holland, and Portugal. India also resists neo-colonialism and neo-imperialism in its contemporary manifestations.

3. Anti-Racialism

Opposition to racialism is a cornerstone of Indian foreign policy. India views racial discrimination as similar to colonialism in its exploitation of one group by another and its disruption of world peace. India was among the most vocal critics of apartheid - the policy of racial discrimination practised by South Africa's white minority government. India severed diplomatic relations with South Africa in 1954 as a protest. Relations were restored in 1994 when the apartheid regime ended and Nelson Mandela's democratic government came to power. India also played an active role in the liberation of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) and Namibia.

4. Non-Alignment

At independence in 1947, the world was divided into two rival ideological blocs - the capitalist bloc led by the USA and the communist bloc led by the USSR. India refused to join either and adopted the policy of non-alignment. Nehru explained: India's goal was to stay out of power group politics that had historically led to world wars, and to contribute to preventing conflict. Non-alignment means:

• No military alliances with any bloc or nation
• An independent approach to foreign policy
• Maintenance of friendly relations with all countries

5. Panchsheel

Panchsheel refers to the five principles of conduct in international relations. They were embodied in the Preamble of the Indo-China Treaty on Tibet, signed in 1954 by Jawaharlal Nehru and Chinese Premier Chou-En-Lai. The five principles are:

1. Mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty
2. Non-aggression
3. Non-interference in each other's internal affairs
4. Equality and mutual benefit
5. Peaceful co-existence

Panchsheel became internationally popular - adopted by Burma, Yugoslavia, Indonesia, and others. Together with non-alignment, Panchsheel represents India's most significant original contribution to the theory and practice of international relations.

6. Afro-Asian Bias

Despite its formal commitment to maintaining friendly relations with all nations, India has consistently demonstrated a special affinity for Afro-Asian countries. India has worked to give these nations a stronger voice in international bodies and has sought development assistance for them. India convened the first Asian Relations Conference in New Delhi in 1947, and played an active role at the Afro-Asian Conference at Bandung (Indonesia, 1955). India also contributed to the formation of the Group of 77 (1964), Group of 15 (1990), SAARC (1985), and the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (1995).

7. Links with the Commonwealth

In 1949, India declared its continued membership of the Commonwealth of Nations and accepted the British Crown as Head of the Commonwealth. This was an extra-constitutional declaration that does not impair India's sovereignty - the Commonwealth is a voluntary association of independent nations. India neither owes final allegiance to the British Crown nor does the Crown have any functions to discharge in relation to India. India maintains Commonwealth membership for pragmatic benefits in economic, political, and cultural spheres. India hosted the 24th Commonwealth Summit at New Delhi in 1983.

8. Support to the UNO

India has been a founding member of the United Nations (1945) and has actively supported the UN's objectives and programmes. Dimensions of India's engagement:

• Used the UN platform to fight colonialism, imperialism, and racialism
• In 1953, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit of India was elected President of the UN General Assembly
• Actively participated in UN peacekeeping missions in Korea, Congo, El Salvador, Cambodia, Angola, Somalia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Yugoslavia, etc.
• Participated in working groups on UN strengthening; India was co-chair of a working group that submitted its report in 1997
• Has been a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council several times
• Currently seeking a permanent seat on the Security Council

9. Disarmament

India is opposed to the arms race and has consistently advocated both conventional and nuclear disarmament. The aims are: promoting world peace, reducing tensions between power blocs, and freeing resources currently consumed by arms manufacture for economic development. India convened a six-nation summit at New Delhi in 1985 with concrete proposals on nuclear disarmament.

India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT, 1968) or the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT, 1996), which it views as discriminatory - perpetuating a system where only five nations (USA, Russia, China, UK, and France) may legitimately possess nuclear weapons.

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India's foreign policy pursues the following overarching objectives:

1. Protect India's core national interests in a changing international environment by building international understanding and support.
2. Preserve the autonomy of India's decision-making and play a pioneering role in building a stable and prosperous global order.
3. Strengthen international campaigns against terrorism, a global threat.
4. Build an international environment conducive to India's rapid economic growth: higher investment, expanded trade, access to technology, and energy security.
5. Work closely with P-5 nations and build strategic partnerships with the USA, EU, Japan, Russia, and China.
6. Strengthen ties with neighbouring countries through mutually beneficial cooperation, acknowledging each other's legitimate concerns.
7. Work towards realising SAARC as an economically integrated and peaceful region.
8. End cross-border terrorism from Pakistan and dismantle the infrastructure supporting it.
9. Further the gains of India's Act East Policy (formerly Look East Policy) and deepen engagement with ASEAN countries.
10. Strengthen ties with Gulf countries (home to over 4 million Indians; a major energy source).
11. Leverage regional organisations - BIMSTEC, Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, IBSA, IOR-ARC - for economic growth.
12. Work with G-20 and EU for India's international interests.
13. Reform and restructure the UN Security Council and support multipolarity.
14. Promote equitable relations between developed and developing nations.
15. Pursue the goal of global nuclear disarmament within a time-bound framework.

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The Gujral Doctrine is a landmark formulation in Indian foreign policy, propounded by I.K. Gujral in 1996 while he was Foreign Minister in the Deve Gowda Government. It was inspired by the recognition that India, as the largest South Asian nation, should extend unilateral concessions to smaller neighbours without demanding reciprocity.

The doctrine rests on five principles for guiding India's relations with immediate neighbours:

1. With Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka: India should not ask for reciprocity but give what it can in good faith.
2. No South Asian country should allow its territory to be used against the interests of another country in the region.
3. No country should interfere in the internal affairs of another.
4. All countries must respect territorial integrity and sovereignty of each other.
5. All disputes should be resolved through peaceful bilateral negotiations.

Gujral's strategic reasoning: Since India faces two potentially hostile neighbours - Pakistan (west) and China (north) - it must maintain total peace with all other immediate neighbours to contain their combined influence in the region.

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India adopted its nuclear doctrine in 2003. Its salient features:

1. Credible Minimum Deterrent: India will build and maintain the minimum nuclear capability needed to deter adversaries.
2. No First Use (NFU): Nuclear weapons will only be used in retaliation against a nuclear attack on Indian territory or Indian forces anywhere in the world.
3. Massive Retaliation: Nuclear retaliation to a first strike will be designed to inflict unacceptable damage on the aggressor.
4. Civilian Political Authority: Only the Nuclear Command Authority - specifically the Political Council, chaired by the Prime Minister - can authorise nuclear use.
5. Non-use against Non-Nuclear States: India will not use nuclear weapons against states that do not possess nuclear weapons.
6. Exception for CBRN Attack: If India faces a biological or chemical weapons attack of major scale, it retains the option of nuclear retaliation.
7. Export Controls: Continued strict controls on exports of nuclear and missile-related materials; participation in Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty negotiations; observance of the nuclear testing moratorium.
8. Nuclear Disarmament Goal: Commitment to the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world through global, verifiable, and non-discriminatory disarmament.

Nuclear Command Authority Structure:

• Political Council - Chaired by the Prime Minister; the sole body authorised to order nuclear use
• Executive Council - Chaired by the National Security Advisor; provides inputs for decision-making and executes directives of the Political Council

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) reviews the operationalisation of the nuclear doctrine, command structures, readiness, targeting strategy, and chains of command.

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India launched the Connect Central Asia Policy in 2012 to strengthen ties with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Key elements of this broad-based policy:

1. Political relations - High-level exchanges; engagement at bilateral and multilateral fora
2. Strategic and security cooperation - Military training, joint research, counter-terrorism coordination, Afghan engagement
3. Multilateral engagement - Through SCO, Eurasian Economic Community, and Customs Union
4. Energy and natural resources - Central Asia as a long-term partner in energy supply
5. Healthcare - Setting up hospitals and clinics in Central Asia
6. Education - Proposing a Central Asian University at Bishkek; leveraging India's cost-competitive higher education
7. E-network - Central Asian e-network (tele-education and tele-medicine) with a hub in India, linking all five Central Asian states
8. Infrastructure and connectivity - Reactivation of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC); land and air connectivity improvements
9. Trade and banking - Encouraging Indian banks to expand into the region
10. Tourism and people-to-people - Promoting Central Asia as a tourism destination; cultural and youth exchanges

The Connect Central Asia Policy is aligned with India's broader Eurasian engagement strategy and its relations with China, Pakistan, and Russia.

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In 2014, the Modi Government upgraded India's 'Look East Policy' (first initiated in 1992 by PM P.V. Narasimha Rao) and renamed it the 'Act East Policy' - signalling a shift from passive engagement to active, results-oriented outreach.

PM Modi announced the change at the India-ASEAN Summit, 2014: India's Look East Policy had become the Act East Policy.

Key features of the Act East Policy:

1. Extended neighbourhood: Focus extends to the broader Asia-Pacific region, going beyond just Southeast Asia.
2. Strategic partnerships upgraded: India has strategic partnerships with Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, and ASEAN as a bloc.
3. Multilateral engagement: Active participation in ASEAN, ARF, EAS, BIMSTEC, Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC), and IORA.
4. Domestic linkages: Aligning with India's domestic agenda - infrastructure, manufacturing, trade, skills, smart cities, Make in India.
5. Objective: Promote economic cooperation, cultural ties, and strategic relationships through bilateral, regional, and multilateral engagement; enhance connectivity with North-Eastern states including Arunachal Pradesh.
6. North-East as gateway: The North-East is a priority - positioned as a bridge between India and ASEAN.
7. Connectivity projects: Building transport infrastructure; airline connectivity enhancements; academic and cultural institution linkages.
8. Buddhist and Hindu cultural links: Civilisational connections are being energised to deepen people-to-people contacts.
9. ASEAN economic integration: The ASEAN-India Agreement on Trade in Services and Investments entered into force for India and seven ASEAN countries from 1 July 2015.
10. Security convergence: Closer cooperation on counter-terrorism, maritime security (based on international norms), and regional stability.

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• Article 51 of the Constitution (DPSP) is the constitutional basis for India's peace-oriented foreign policy.
• Panchsheel was embodied in the 1954 Indo-China Treaty on Tibet - signed by Nehru and Chou-En-Lai.
• India severed diplomatic ties with South Africa in 1954 (apartheid) and restored them in 1994 (post-apartheid).
• Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit was the first woman President of the UN General Assembly (1953).
• India has not signed the NPT (1968) or CTBT (1996) - both are considered discriminatory.
• The Gujral Doctrine (1996) prescribes non-reciprocity with five smaller neighbours: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka. Pakistan and China are not included.
• India's Nuclear Doctrine (2003) has a No First Use policy and places sole authority to authorise use with the Political Council chaired by the PM.
• Connect Central Asia Policy was launched in 2012.
• Act East Policy replaced Look East Policy in 2014; Look East was initiated by P.V. Narasimha Rao in 1992.
• The ASEAN-India Trade in Services agreement entered into force from 1 July 2015.