Political Science XII CHP 11

India’s External Relations CHAP T ER :11
• The foreign policy of India is guided by the principles laid down in Article 51.
• India decided to maintain its foreign relations with an aim to respect the sovereignty of all other nations and
to achieve security through the maintenance of peace.
NEHRU AND NON ALIGNMENT POLICY

• Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India and apart from this he was also the first
foreign minister of India.
• There were three major objectives of his foreign policy. His first objective was to preserve the sovereignty of
India. The second objective of Nehru was to ensure the territorial integrity of India and the third was to
bring rapid economic development in India. These three visions guided his foreign policies.
• For achieving these policies Nehru chose the path of Non-Alignment. He did not joined any of the capitalist
(US) and communist blocs (USSR).
• In his policy of Non-Alignment Nehru received support from several other nations who have been sufferer of
the imperial policies of the West. Some of the nations were Ghana, Egypt and Yugoslavia.
PANCHSHEEL ACCORD AND 1962 WAR

• In the Panchsheel accord of 1954, India and China decided to respect each others territorial integrity. India
also accepted the claim of the China over the lands of Tibet.
• In the year 1956, the Chinese premier Zhou Enlai visited India. He was also accompanied by the spiritual
guru of Tibet, the Dalai Lama. Who informed Nehru about the worsening situation of Tibet. Nehru could not
do anything as he had recognised the autonomy of China over Tibet.
• In the year 1958, there was armed uprising in Tibet against the China's occupation. This occupation was
suppressed by the China. In 1959, the situation became worse and the Dalai Lama sought and obtained
political asylum in India. This strained the relationship between China and India.
• The Chinese launched an offensive against India in October 1962.
• The Chinese attacked both the disputed areas within Indian territory i.e. the Aksai Chin area and the region
of Arunachal Pradesh.
• In the same month, the Chinese made a unilateral ceasefire declaration and its troops withdrew to where
they were before the invasion began.
• This brought an end to the Indo-China war of 1962.
1965 & 1971 WAR

• Another important matter in the foreign policy of India was its relationship with the Pakistan.
• India and Pakistan came in direct conflict in the year 1965. When Pakistan launched armed attacks in the
area of Rann of Kutch in Gujarat which was followed by a bigger offensive in Jammu and Kashmir in
August-September.
• Lal Bahadur Shastri made a smart choice of releasing the pressure from the Kashmir. He ordered Indian
troops to launch counter-offensive on the Punjab border. In a fierce battle, Indian army succeeded and
reached close to Lahore.
• The hostilities between the two nations came to an end after the intervention of the United Nations. In
January 1966, the Indian Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistan’s General, Ayub Khan signed the
Tashkent agreement which was brokered by the Soviet Union.
• This peace did not last long as there was another confrontation between the two nations in 1971.
• After the influx of millions of Muslim Bengalis in the states of India, the situation became out of control.
• There were diplomatic efforts made to avoid full scale war but they went in vain and the war took place
between the two nations in the month of December.
• There was a strong retaliation from India by involving army, navy and air force on the Western and Eastern
front of the border.
• There were 90,000 Pakistani soldiers who surrendered to the Indian army and with this East Pakistan
(Bangladesh) was declared independent.
1999 KARGIL WAR

• After this there was peace for several years, however, situation again started to deteriorate in 1999.
• The Kargil confrontation took place in the year 1999 in the month of May and June.
• The Indian army was suspecting that this occupation has the involvement of the Pakistan army. The Indian
forces began its reaction to this occupation. Soon there was direct confrontation between the Indian and
Pakistan army.
• The conflict continued from May to July. Ultimately, India was successful in recovering all the territories by
July 26, 1999.
• Kargil war was seen as a worldwide event as in the year 1998 both India and Pakistan successfully tested
the nuclear weapons.
• This conflict also brought change in the political scenario of Pakistan and soon the civilian government in
the country was overthrown by the military.
SOME AREAS OF GENERAL CONSENSUS AMONG ALL PARTIES

• There is main focus on ensuring the national integration of the nation. All the states should have a national
identity despite having disputes among each other.
• The international boundaries of the nation should be ensured proper safety by deployment of forces.
• The national interest should guide the foreign policy of India. This is a general trend which is followed by
almost every party in power.
• The unity of political parties can be seen during the situation of crisis in the wars of 1962, 1965, 1971 and
1999.
• The national interest and protection of boundaries is the supreme priority of the ruling government in India.

Political Science XII CHP 11

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Political Science XII CHP 11

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India’s External Relations CHAP T ER :11

NEHRU AND NON ALIGNMENT POLICY

PANCHSHEEL ACCORD AND 1962 WAR

1965 & 1971 WAR

1999 KARGIL WAR

SOME AREAS OF GENERAL CONSENSUS AMONG ALL PARTIES

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