Essay on Indias relation with her

neighbours.
by Swati Gupta | category Essay

Essay on Indias relation with her neighbours.

India is a vast country. She occupies a very strategic position in the South
East Asia. With a long history of cultural advancement, India has
maintained good and friendly relations with all her neighbours. India has
always believed in peace, freedom and mutual co-operation among the
nations. Her foreign policy is based on the principles of Panchsheela, nonalignment a disarmament.

Image Source: indiandefencereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Map_India.jpg

Indias immediate neighbours are Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal,

Bhutan, Maldives, Burma, China and Afghanistan.
With Sri Lanka India has a traditionally good relations. A large number of
Tamil of Indian origin lived in Sri Lanka. This created ethnic problem in Sri
Lanka. Although the problem of the people of Indian origin settled In Sri
Lanka was solved by P.M. Lal Bahadur Shastri in an amicable manner, but
the killings of the Tamil in large numbers in that country embittered the
relations between the two countries. With the signing of Indo-Sri Lanka
Accord in 1987 relations improved. The Indian Peace-keeping Forces have
returned to India after having performed their job. Assassination of Rajiv
Gandhi by LTTE activities put the relations between the two countries in
doldrums.
Pakistan has been hostile to India all along. India has always tried to
improve and stabilize relations with Pakistan. Pakistan has been acquiring
arms and equipments from the USA. India feels that it would create tension
in the region. Pakistan is assisting and training terrorists in Punjab and
Kashmir. Pakistan has been raising the Kashmir issue on various
international forums. India has conveyed her concern to Pakistan over all
these issues. India has assured Pakistan that she would never attack
Pakistan, but the activities of Pakistan are contrary to the principles of
bilateralism enshrined in the Simla Agreement. Thus the relations between
India and Pakistan are far from satisfactory.
Bangladesh and India share a common heritage. They are friendly and
trying to solve the problem of waters of Ganga at Farakka and Tin Bigha
corridor in a spirit of give and take. India has helped Bangladesh in the
rehabilitation of cyclone victims in 1985. Broadly speaking the relations
between the two countries continue to be cordial. The only issue to be
settled is that of about 145,000 Chakma refugees who crossed over to India.
The relations between India and Nepal are based on centuries old cultural
ties. India has helped Nepal in her development projects. The trade and
transit treaty issue created some differences between the two neighbours.

But the issue has since been sorted out. Fortunately there has always been
good a understanding between the two countries.
Traditionally close and friendly relations between India and Bhutan have
further strengthened. Co-operation in economic field between the two
countries has benefited them. India has helped Bhutan in the field of
industry. Telecommunications, hydel survey, education and forestry.
Indias relations with Maldives continue to be friendly and cordial. Indian
troops landed in Maley in November 1988 and rescued Maldivian hostages
who had been seized in a coup. Maldives has been assured by India of her
full support and assistance in the economic development.
Burma is a close neighbour with whom India shares a long and sensitive
border. Relations between the two countries have been cordial. When
serious unrest erupted in Burma in 1988, India expressed sympathy for the
democratic aspirations of the people in that country. Further India allowed
Burmese citizens to stay in camps in Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.
China is Indias immediate neighbour with whom India had traditionally
close and friendly relation. In 1962 China invaded India and occupied large
areas. Since then the relations between the two countries continue to be
strained. India has been trying to improve relation with China. She wants a
just and fair solution of the boundary question. China, unlike India, wants
to postpone solution to the border issue. With regard to the boundary
dispute Indias stand is very clear. In 1988 P.M. Rajiv Gandhi said that any
solution to Indo-China boundary issue must be equitable not only to the
two government but also to the people of the two countries. Rajiv Gandhis
visit to China in December 1988 marked a new beginning in the relations
between the two countries. It was felt that a favorable climate and condition
should be created for fair solution to the question. Visit of Chinese P.M. Li
Peng to India in December 1991 helped in creating an atmosphere of
understanding. Ail-though co-operation and exchange of delegations in
areas like culture, sports and trade has been resumed, but the boundary
question remained to be sorted out.

Indias relations with Afghanistan have been marked by increasingly

friendly co-operation in economic, technical land cultural fields. India welcomed the UN-sponsored Geneva Agreement on Afghanistan in 1988. She
reiterated its stand for a sovereign, non-aligned and independent
Afghanistan. She further felt that the Afghans themselves should be allowed
to decide upon their future without external pressure. India provided Rs. 10
crore assistance for relief and rehabilitation of Afghan refugees. India is
also assisting Afghanistan in public health, small-scale industries,
education etc.
India is anxious to have peaceful and friendly relations with all her
neighbours. If Pakistan land China see reason and behave as a good
neighbor, peace can be restored in this sub-continen