5:36am OO ¢ © ¥ wll # 73% India’s foreign | Increase Font Size 3.2. External Factors 3.2.1, Regional Environment The incidents in nearby regions necessarily have a direct influence ‘on_the foreign policy _of India. Mutual relations of South Asian countries, reduction of tension in this region, free from weapons and military alliances, free from outside interventions will have positive impact while non-coop- eration, competition, struggle and cold war will have negative impact on foreign policy. From this point of view, the role in determining the India’s foreign policy can be evaluated under the following old and new cooperation _and_con- flicts of South Asia:- a 0 a =a5:36am @ <@ ¢ © ¥ wl 873% “1 increase Font Size flicts of South | ieressotenttae | aj Boundary disputes of India with Pakistan and China. “Dy The second most important element, India got from its neigh- bours in legacy, is an ethnicity problem. India and SriLanka are fighting with the problem of Tamil people since their independence. The same problem is there due to the refugees_of India and Bangladesh. The Chakama refugees of Bangladesh have created a situation of serious crises in Tripura. c) One more important problem is associated with the attitude of small neighbours towards India. Area, population, military capability, J Oo = T5:36am <@ O° © ¥ wu 873% Increase Font Size ALE ame population, military capability, _——————— economic changes etc of India are the symbols of fear for its small neighbours. Its neighbours, particularly small nations, see these elements as a power of India to dominate the South Asia. Treaties_and agreements by_ India with these countries time to time have cre- ated a doubt in “These countries towards the policies of India for these coun- “ties. Beside this, two steps taken by India in hear past—- sending of peace forces in Sri Lanka (1987) and mili- tary_intervention in Maldives (1989)- — have also proved more clearly | India’s image of a country having regional dominance. The produc- J Oo = T5:36am <@ O° © F wtull B 73% India’s image q_ increase Font Size regional dominance. The produc- tion and use of missiles named ‘Prithavi,’ ‘Agni,’ ‘Akash,’ ‘Nag,’ and ‘Trishul’ under the ‘Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme’ started in 1983 have also strengthen their perception about India as a power of military intervention. Along with the above negative attitude about India, there have been Some positive functions also. All these nations have strength- ened _the_position_of SAARC_to- gether. On one side, they have prepared a code of conduct for consensus on some matters mu- tually for all the nations through various conferences and on the other side: thev sot imnortant J O = T5:36am <@ @ * © ¥ wll # 73% OQ 2s ooks.inflibnet.ac.in @ : Started in Increase Font Size strengthen their perception about India as a power of military intervention. Along with the above negative attitude about India, there have been some positive functions also. All these nations have strength- ened the position of SAARC to- gether. On one side, they have prepared a code of conduct_for consensus on some matters mu- tually for all the nations through various conferences and on the other side; they_got_important achievements in the ec i ASM EGCL does not mean that regional environment is in favour of India. There are still many im- portant issues. a 0 a =a(-5:36am <4 @ ° © F wtull B 73% regional enwin Increase Font Size of India. There = portant issues. 3.2.2. International Environment International political environ- ment is directly associated with the international nation. If this environment is according to the situations of a country it can play sounder role on interna- tional fronts/platforms. If the en- vironment is against, then such possibilities become nil. In Indian context, the importance of this factor,can be studied in two parts =) Cold War Period (1947-1991) and (2) Post Cold War Period (1992 onwards). Cold-War Period: As a result of cold war, the era of military al- J Oo = T5:36am <@ @ ¢ © ¥ wll # 73% onwards). Increase Font Size Cold-War Period: As a result of cold war, the era of military_al> liances started. In this context, the multilateral __alliances by America_like—-CENTO,_SEATO NATO and bilateral alliances like— — America-Pak Military Alliance (1948) are worth mentioning. But, India wanted to follow the non- aligned _policy. India was not in- terested in joining any group, and wanted to examine every issue on the basis of its merits and demer- its. But both the superpowers took it in a wrong way in the envi- ronment of cold war, and assumed the India’s foreign policy doubtful. That's why India has to face a tough struggle and opposition of great powers while justifying its policy of non-alignment. a =a a 05:36am <4 © ¥ wall 73% Increase Font Size Second important event was the militarisati f India America militarised the who area by converting the Diego Garcia as a military base which caused the danger. to the sovereignty and security of newly emerged nations of Indian Ocean. As a result, UN declared this re- gion as ‘Indian Ocean Peace Zone’ in 1971 on the initiative of these newly emerged nations but it could not be actualised till date because of the opposition of the great powers. All these activities around India became a source of tension for it. Hence, India will have to_struggle tough to liberate this region strategically from the conflict_of_superpowers_because every event happened in this re- gion was having a_direct_bearing an Tndiata and a 0 a =a5:37am @ O° © ¥ wll # 73% OQ 2s ooks.inflibnet.ac.in @ : Garcia as a nf Increase Font Size caused the danger to the sovereignty and security of newly emerged nations of Indian Ocean. As a result, UN declared this re- gion as ‘Indian Ocean Peace Zone’ in 1971 on the initiative of these newly emerged nations but it could not be actualised till date because of the opposition of the great powers. All these activities around India became a source of tension for it. Hence, India will have to struggle tough to liberate this region strategically from the conflict of superpowers because every event happened in this re- gion was having.a direct bearing on India’s security _and sovereignty. —_—_— a 0 a =a5:37am <@ ] ¢ © ¥ wll # 73% on™ Increase Font Size One more important event was the India-Soviet_ Friendship of 1971. This_treaty_was_signed_in August 1971 on the basis of com- pulsions of both the countries but basically Former Soviet Union wanted this kind of alliance with India under Brezhnev’s thinking of ‘collective security in Asia’ which was rejected humbly by India. But it became necessary keeping in view the entry of refugees from. East Pakistan in 1971 and emerging disputes between both parts of élement of India and erstwhile Soviet Union resulting from the developing alignments of Washington, _Islamaba and Tokyo has also been responsi- ble for bringin: Union closer. As a result of this, ——— J Oo = T5:37am 2° © ¥ w Ful # 73% and Tokyo has] Increase Font Size ble for bringing India and Soviet Union closer. As a result of this, India-America relations got_dete- riorated while Pak-America rela- tions became good. Though this kind of relations remained stable for some time (1975-79) when de- tente was witnessed between su- perpowers. But then new cold war started as a result of Soviet- Afghan intervention in 1979, and the earlier situation was restored. No special change was witnessed in this situation due to the cold war and India’s foreign policy res ceived a setback while establish- M@g the relations with western countries. During the cold war, particu- larly after 1970, nuclear prolifera- tion has also influenced the India’s foreign noliev in a hio wav The J Oo = T5:37am @ -@ * © ¥ wll # 73% countries. Increase Font Size During the cold war, particu- larly after 1970, nuclear prolifera- tion has also influenced the India’ foreign policy in_a big way. The Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1971 and India’s refusal to sign it is a main cause of pressure of nuclear powers on nc la. Post-Cold War Period: Though cold war ended_as a result of events in Europe (1989-91) and disintegration of Soviet Union in 1991 but still a Justifiable world ‘System, based on equality and sovereignty for all nations, has not been established. Hence, the neg- ative and positive aspects Oo pects __of India’s foreign policy, with same nature or changed, still exists. One chapter. particularly of J 0 = T :5:37 am 4 4 s © ¥ wll # 73% a Increase Font Size India’s Fenedlum nature or changed, still exists. One chapter, particularly of ee friendship and treaties, which continued for a Tonger time (1954- 1991, finished with the disintegra- tion of Soviet Union. —— In_the post cold war_era, there is a situation of detente in the world in general and in the bilat- eral relations in particular. In this tension free environment, where on one side, the peace is estab- lished in Cambodia and Philistine, there is unification of Germany also on the other side (this process is hindered in Korea due to some reasons) but India and — Pakistan have_not_changed their earlier stands in any way. End of significance to political J Oo = T5:37am @ @ * © ¥ wll # 73% to some Teasq increase Font Size Pakistan have Tot change er earlier stands in any way. End_of significance to political issues and preference to eco- nomic issues is an important — change in this new_world system. Economically sound countries are becoming centres of main activi- ties. Hence, the direction of for- eign policy is decided by interna- tional trade, capital investment, Tberalisation, globalisation, ex- ———— ee - pansion of means of communica- Tions, important role of multina- tional companies, economic re- . ——= Torms etc. India also has to make —_—_—_— basic changes in its foreign policy in this changed scenario. After the cold war era, India’s foreign policy now has started taking special interest in the long J Oo = T5:37am @ O° © ¥ wll # 73% OQ 2s ooks.inflibnet.ac.in @ : in this changed Increase Font Size After the cold war era, India’s foreign policy now has started SE SRST Te Ton g special interest m the Tong ignored sector. Hence, the foreign olicy after 1991 can be termed as ‘stress towards East. Under this, the main attraction of India’s for- —— eign policy is South East Asia along with Japan, Taiwan, Korea etc. This region under the new World system has become most important for India due to the strategic, trade and _ political reasons. 3.2.3. International Organisations5:38am <@ @ ¢ © ¥ woul 72% Increase Font Size 3.2.3. International Organisations Transformation of world a through international organisa- tions has a direct relation with India’s foreign policy. If we see the political traditions of India, we will come to know that these have been in favour of establishing a peaceful, non violent and equi- table world structure. Beside this there is coordinati values of India’s freedom _move- ment and the objectives of United Nations. India has been a continu- ous partner in the activities of in- ternational organisati i context of its national interests and has always been in a leading role. Though India tried always to vlav a neutral and obiective role in J O = T5:38am << © ¥ wal 72% Vue paruier ut : . Increase Font Size ternational or! context of its national interests and has always been in a leading role. Though India tried always to play sqemiaaad ohective rele jective role in UN but great powers opposed this and denied many times to discuss the important issues raised by India by saying that India is a sat- ellite state. | | Above situation continued in post-cold war era also. Only the issues of debate have changed. The Gulf war has posed the ques- tion mark on UN. Beside this, it is “Tow open that use of Part VII (Co- ercive methods) ) of UN_is increas- ing instead_of I (peaceful means). It means Security Council has become more import: General Assembly. Hence, the de- J Oo = T5:38am <@ @ ¢ © ¥ woul 72% OQ 2s ooks.inflibnet.ac.in @ : Increase Font Size Above situation continued in post-cold war era also. Only the issues of debate have changed. The Gulf war has posed the ques- tion mark on UN. Beside this, it is now open that use of Part VII (co- ercive methods) of UN is increas- ing instead of Part VI (peaceful means). It means Security Council has become more important than General Assembly. Hence, the de- mand for democratisation of Security Council raised by India is justified and sound. But it_looks “impossible to attract the attention of five permanent ers hav- ing veto power towards this issue. ! ————