Essays

India is situated in South Asia, which comprises majority of the Indian sub-continent, India has a coastline which stretches over 7000 km and shares its borders with Pakistan to the west; the People's Republic of China and Nepal to the north; Bhutan to the north-east and Bangladesh and Myanmar (formerly Burma) on the east.  

On the Indian Ocean, India is adjacent to the island nations of the Maldives on the south-west, Sri Lanka on the south, and Indonesia on the south-east India also claims a border with Afghanistan to the north-west.

The official name of the country. India, is derived from the river Indus (known as Sindhu in ancient times). As a growing power, India depends extensively on her relationship with the countries in and around her neighbourhood. Maintenance of peace and security within and outside its immediate borders at a satisfactory level is a pro-requisite to create the conditions necessary for one billion citizens of the country to help them enjoy the fruits of economic growth and social development.

The first four decades after independence were truly difficult years. As a new nation emerging from the throngs of two centuries of colonialism, which had sapped the country's progress, the impact of centrifugal and unstable forces in the country and its neighbourhood, made the task of economic and social development a steep and arduous journey, External and internal conflicts during this period added to the burden of our nascent emerging economy designed to fulfil the aspirations of the new found freedom of our people. Despite this truly difficult situation, the country grew in slow measure and we largely avoided large-scale crisis However, our growth was stunted in this period and this no doubt contributed to large swathes of our population remaining under grinding poverty. At the end of the Cold War period, the country achieved moderate results in its efforts to promote education, health care and empowerment of women, and growth of all sectors of the economy, but it was clear that the country has many more miles to go.

The year 1991 is and will always be remembered by the country and the world as a major turning point in India's economic orientation, especially for its effort to integrate its economy to the global system and for introduction of reforms in its internal functioning. What is not well-documented is the; gradual evolution of South Asian t-o-operation in the form of SAARC, which observed its twentieth anniversary, recently. In this connection, India's role is significant. Together with India's 'look east' policy, the country has also repeatedly and tirelessly, addressed all issues of contention with its immediate neighbours. This has paid off dividends with improved relations with all its neighbours, and with China, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. Even the grave shock of December 2001, when Parliament faced a dastardly attack from outsiders, did not deter us from seeking improved ties with all our neighbours. Prim'-- Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh reiterated this message at a SAARC Summit meeting in Dhaka.

India's improved relation with all the major powers of the world has contributed to its relaxed attitude and ability to deal with its neighbourhood in a rational and responsible manner. Once, the rest of the world acknowledged India's stand that it could solve its problems peacefully and bilaterally with its neighbours without outside interference, the strategic situation in the region changed for the better. Even the fear that India's nuclear tests in 1998, followed by Pakistan's immediate reaction, would lead the region into a nuclear quagmire, has subsided considerably on the understanding that India is a responsible nuclear power, not given to adventurism or proliferation activities. The international community now realizes that India can and will do all it can to maintain and strengthen peace and security in the region. Within the sub-continent, India's national security interests are closely linked to her immediate neighbours— Bangladeshi Bhutan, China, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Her relations with Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives are stable and based on friendship and understanding.

Regular interactions and exchanges at different levels with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal and Myanmar have succeeded in extending and deepening the broad-based relationships that exist in diverse areas. The government's focus has been on enhancing mutually beneficial linkages in the economic and infrastructural fields, thus, promoting mutual trust and co-operation in key areas. There are high-level interaction in different areas including water resources, trade and defence. Recently, international dialogue on key issues relating to border management and security-related matters included Home Secretary-level talks, Director General-level meeting between the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) in New Delhi and in Dhaka and the meeting of the Joint Working Group from respective Home Ministries in New Delhi.

India's largest neighbour, China is working towards the goal of achieving superpower status in the new millennium. Today, China occupies approximately 38,000 sq km of India's territory. In addition, under the so called Sino-Pak boundary agreement, Pakistan has illegally ceded 5,180 sq km of India's territory to China in POK. China also claims approximately 90,000 sq km in Arunachal Pradesh. It is rapidly modernizing its armed forces. According to a recent report by the Washington Post, "China is quickly modernizing its military and has set its sights on extending its influence deep into the Pacific and Indian oceans now that the military balance with its longtime nemesis, Taiwan, is tilting in its favor." Today, China has the most active land-based ballistic and cruise missile program in the world. Beijing now possesses one of the largest forces of surface-to-air missiles in the world, and it has the largest force of principal combatants, submarines, and amphibious warfare ships in Asia. Also, a recent revealation by WikiLeaks warned that, "As China's international presence and nationalist sentiment grow, commensurate with greater political, economic and military might. Chinese analysts anticipate a more assertive Chinese foreign policy.”

The asymmetry in terms of nuclear forces is strongly in favour of China which alarmingly, has helped Pakistan to build missile and nuclear capability, China is a declared nuclear power with a wide range of military capabilities.

India and China have an unresolved boundary. Although the border areas have remained largely peaceful, from time to time, on account of differences of perception of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), tough situations have arisen on the ground that could have been avoided, had the LAC clarification been completed. The two sides have reiterated their commitment to adhere to the provisions of the 1993 and 1996 Agreements.

A series of high-level visits between the two nations have helped to improve their mutual relations. In 2003, India formally recognized Tibet as a part of China, and China recognized Sikkim as a formal part of India in 2004. Since 2004, the economic rise of both China and India has also helped forge closer relations between the two. Sine-Indian trade reached US$36 billion in 2007, making China the single largest trading partner of India. The increasing economic reliance between India and China has also brought the two nations closer politically, as both India and China are eager to resolve their boundary dispute. Similar to Indo-US nuclear deal, India and China have also agreed to cooperate in the field of civilian nuclear energy. However, China's economic interests clash with those of India as both the countries are the largest Asian investors in Africa and have competed for control over its large natural resources.

Over the sixty years since Independence. India has been able to maintain a high level of harmony, social order and security within its borders. Arising out of the redrawing of borders, the uprooting of whole communities on religious and ethnic grounds and the division of economic assets on non-economic factors, South Asia has been repeatedly engulfed with bouts of strife and instability that has at times challenged the very foundation of India's democratic fabric. Despite India's obvious pride in its democratic track record, it has also steadfastly followed the twin tenets of (a) no export of ideology, and (b) no territorial ambitions in its dealings with all countries, including its neighbours. Such a clear-cut stand has no doubt contributed to maintaining peace and stability in the region.