Features of Indian Foreign Policy

   Features of  Indian Foreign Policy

Article- 51 of the Indian Constitution Lays down some Directive Principles of State Policy on Promotion of International Peace and Security. Basically, foreign policy is the some  principles, interests and objectives which a country promotes while interacting with other countries.

Features are..

A.   Panchsheel

Panchsheel, or the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, were first formally iterated in the Agreement on Trade and Intercourse between the Tibet region of China and India signed on April 29, 1954, which stated, in its preamble, that the two Governments “have resolved to enter into the present Agreement based on the following principles: –

1.   Respect each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,

2.   Mutual non-aggression,

3.   Mutual non-interference,

4.   Equality and mutual benefit, and

5.   Peaceful co-existence.

These principles of Panchsheel were later incorporated in the Bandung Declaration, signed in the Afro-Asian Conference held in 1955 in Indonesia. They are the core principles of Non-alignment and still guide the conduct of India’s foreign policy.

B. Policy of Non-alignment

The aim of Non-alignment was to maintain national independence in foreign affairs.

Non-alignment was neither neutrality nor non-involvement nor isolationism. It was a positive and dynamic concept. Furthermore, Non-Alignment gained popularity in the developing countries.

Consequently, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was created and founded during the collapse of the colonial system and the independence struggles of the peoples of Africa, Asia, Latin America and other regions of the world.

Its core element is to maintain independence in foreign affairs by not joining any military alliance formed by the USA and Soviet Union, which emerged as an important aspect of cold war politics after the Second World War. 

It postulates taking an independent stand on international issues according to the merits of each case but at the same time not committing to coming under the influence of any military bloc.

India’s policy of non-alignment got many supporters in the developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America as it provided them opportunity for protecting their foreign policy independence amidst the cold war pressures and tensions. India played a lead role in popularizing and consolidating the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

C. Policy of Resisting Colonialism, Imperialism

India has been victim of colonialism and racism and was as such opposed to these evils in any form. India was the first to bring the issue of Apartheid¹ in the UN in 1946. Due to India’s consistent efforts through NAM and other international forums, 14 African countries were liberated from the yoke of colonialism in 1964.

D. Anti Racism

India firmly opposed the infamous apartheid policy in South Africa. Not only India had cut off diplomatic relations with South Africa in 1949 but also used her influence in the application of comprehensive sanctions (later) against the white minority racist Regime of South Africa.

E. Foreign Economic Aid

After independence, India realised the importance of economic development.  India was lacking funds, technical know-how and machinery.

By adopting NAM policy, India killed two birds with one stone. Amazingly, India took the best of both the worlds. Moreover, India approached USSR and USA for help and it went well for India. USSR helped India with technology. Also, USA came up with grains in 1965 famines.

F. Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes

One of the core elements of India’s foreign policy is its faith in the political solution and peaceful settlement of international disputes. This principle has been included in the Constitution of India, under the Directive Principles of State Policy as well as in the Charter of the UN. India has played leading role in the resolution of Korean conflict and supported negotiated settlement of Palestine issue, Kashmir problem, border problems with neighboring countries and other such disputes and problems.

G. Support to UN, International Law and a Just and Equal World Order

India has deep respect for the international law and/or the principles of sovereign equality of nations and non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations as adopted by the UN. India has supported the cause of disarmament pursued by the UN. In 1988, India proposed a very ambitious programme of nuclear disarmament before the UN. Though, this proposal was not accepted by the other members of the UN, India stands committed to the cause of universal disarmament even today. 

India has played a key role in preserving world peace by participation in UN peacekeeping activities. In order to make the composition of the Security Council more realistic and democratic, India has proposed and supported the reform of Security Council and other UN agencies. India is one of the claimants of permanent membership of the Security Council.

H. Afro –Asian relationship

India established good relations with other newly independent states in Asia and Africa, throughout the 1940s and 1950s.

Notably, Nehru was an ardent advocate of Asian Unity. As a result, Under his leadership, India convened the Asian relation conference in March 1947.

As stated earlier, India also made honest efforts for the early realisation of freedom of Indonesia from the Dutch colonial region. Also, India convened an international conference in 1949 to support the freedom struggle of Indonesia.

Furthermore, the Asian conference held in the Indonesian city of Bandung in 1955 commonly known as the Bandung conference marked India’s engagement with the newly independent Asian and African Nations. Later, the Bandung conference led to the establishment of the NAM.

Meaning

1.    Apartheid : a policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race.