India And Its Neighborhood Relations In Overview

India is considered as a peace-loving country. Maintaining healthy and

peaceful relations with the neighbouring countries has always been the
priority of India. India being the 2nd most populous country and the largest
Democracy, it has established political relations with many other nations.
Being a regional power, India is also playing a vital role in global affairs and
aspire to be a global power in coming times.
Having a prominent voice in the global business, India is also considered as
an industrialised nation. India is also a founding member of various
organizations including the United Nations, The Asian Development Bank, G-
20 along with the Non-Aligned Movement. There are many other
organizations including East Asia Summit, International Monetary fund, IBSA
Dialogue forum, etc. , of which India plays a prominent role. All this furthers
India's national interest and gives a voice in global affairs.

It can be said that while framing the foreign policy, India prioritises in
maintaining amiable relations with its neighbouring countries. Thus, factors
including commonality in terms of culture and history play a vital role in
connecting with the neighbouring countries.
The foreign relations of India are being taken care of by the Ministry of
External Affairs. During 1950s Indian relations with both East and West were
prestigious but during the cold war, India failed to prevent politics and thus
became closer to South Asian countries. India also shares its borders with all
the South Asian nations.
Many scholars are of the opinion that bitterness lies in the regional
perspective as India wants to dominate all the South Asian countries. But
India maintains cordial relations with the South Asian countries since
ancient times. Countries nearby India includes Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal,
Bhutan, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma and Maldives.
Afghanistan
India maintains healthy relations with Afghanistan as both the countries are
cooperating in terms of cultural, technical and economic grounds. UN-
sponsored Geneva Agreement on Afghanistan in 1988 was appreciated by
India. India wanted Afghanistan to decide independently and provided
assistance of about ten crore rupees for the rehabilitation and relief of
Afghan refugees. India also provides assistance in education, public health
and small scale industries in Afghanistan.
Bangladesh
India shares strategic relations with Bangladesh. There are many instances in
the past which proves that India provided its back to Bangladesh during the
time of hardships. One of its examples can be traced during the war of 1971,
when about one million Bangladeshi residents came to India as refugees,
lived in the North Eastern States and West Bengal. Military assistance along
with the training was also provided to ‘Mukti Bahinis’. Indian interference in
East Pakistan resulted in the defeat of Pakistan and thus, liberated
Bangladesh. India played a positive role which was appreciated by the leader
of Awami League, Mujibur Rehman, who later formed the provisional
government in Bangladesh.
‘India Bangladesh Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation of 1972’ was also
signed. A dispute regarding the sharing of Ganga water erupted after the
death of Mujibur Rehman. But Bangladesh adopted a negative attitude
towards India during the era of Zia-ur-Rehman as it attempted to
internationalise the water sharing dispute of river Ganga after the
construction of Farraka Barrage on Ganga by India. During the 1980s, issues
regarding illegal migration, settlement of borders have erupted. But in 1997,
Sheikh Hasina concluded a Water sharing treaty with India till 2026.
Bangladesh is trying to claim some pieces of Indian territory including Padua.
The Indian New Moore Island no longer exists, which Bangladesh claims to
be a part of Satkhira district. India criticizes them for providing shelter to
extremists groups like ULFA.

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INDIA-NEPAL RELATIONS
Nepal shares a border with the five states of India and being a friendly
neighbour, there is a tradition of free movement of people across the
borders. The relationship existing between the governments of the two
countries is fragile whereas, between the people of both countries, it is
economic and cultural. A Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the two
was signed in 1950, according to which, national and reciprocal treatment
for each other’s citizens were adopted. Relations between the two got
strained during 1989 during the imposition of 13 long months economic
barrier of Nepal. Relations were normalized during PM Modi visit to Nepal in
2014, where he focussed on the 4 Cs- Cooperation, Connectivity, Culture
and Constitution to enhance bilateral relations. But, the Prime Minister of
Nepal has adopted a policy to remain equidistant from both India and China.
Nepal also acted as a buffer zone between India and China.
INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS
India does share historical, ethnic and cultural links with Pakistan but, since
Partition in 1947, the relations between the two are troublesome. Some of
the factors behind the distrust include the issue of Kashmir, the USA
providing arms to Pakistan, terrorists getting assistance from Pakistan, etc.
This all started with infiltration of Kashmir by Pashtun tribesmen, then, Indo-
Pak war of 1965. India backing Bangladesh during the 1971 war accelerated
the tensions further. India carried out Nuclear test, Pokhran-II in 1998,
which was followed by Pakistan’s Chegi-I tests. Both countries went on war
again in 1999. India also tried to maintain friendly relations by organizing the
Agra Summit in 2001, but it was not a success. Parliament attack India
during 2001 was also backed by Pakistan. Although, Peace process started in
2003 and somehow, improved relations. Srinagar-Muzaffarabad service
started in 2005 followed by the 2008 Mumbai attacks. A recent
development is opening of Katarpur Corridor for Indian pilgrims by Pakistan.

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INDIA-BHUTAN RELATIONS
India’s relations with Bhutan remains a model worthy of emulation. Bhutan
has never shown a trust deficit in terms of its relations with India as both
have shared a close relationship with each other, which has been enhanced
by the economic cooperation between the two. India-Bhutan Treaty of
Friendship and Cooperation has been signed in 1949, according to which,
Bhutan and India are natural partners with inseparable future. The treaty
was revised in 2007. Bhutan also supported India during the war of 1962.
Package deal which was offered by China since 1990, had been rejected by
Bhutan. Moreover, since the Nehruvian era, India has provided
developmental assistance to Bhutan.
INDIA-SRI LANKA RELATIONS
India and Sri-Lanka shares an amiable relationship as there are huge
numbers of Tamils of Indian origin are living in Sri Lanka. We can’t deny that
due to this, many cultural problems have erupted in Sri Lanka which was
solved by PM Lal Bahadur Shastri. Killings of Tamil people had worsened the
relations but Indo-Sri Lankan accord in 1987 somehow, improved the
relations. Again, LTTE assassinated Rajiv Gandhi which again, strained the
relations. Detentions of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy is also an
issue which needs to be addressed in the current scenario. In spite of that
both the countries share commercial, economic and investment relations.
INDIA-MYANMAR RELATIONS
PM Narendra Modi has mentioned that Myanmar is India’s gateway to
ASEAN. India and Myanmar have established political relationships since
1948 when the latter got independence from Great Britain. Myanmar
possesses huge natural resources including forests, oil and gas and is a
source of pulses for India. Due to the collapse of democracy and
establishment of Military rule, India gave little preference to Myanmar but
has always supported pro-democracy fraction, without caring about the
personal gains, which resulted in the loosening grip of Myanmar under the
China’s influence which had also become a safe haven for the North-East

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insurgent groups. An Operation Golden Bird in 1995 was conducted jointly
by the Government of India and Myanmar in dealing with the insurgent
groups of North-East. But the issue of Rohingyas is also creating an unstable
environment.
INDIA-MALDIVES RELATIONS
The Maldives is located in the south of Lakshadweep Islands in the Indian
Ocean. India shares multi-dimensional and cordial relationship with the
Maldives due to commercial, religious, ethnic and linguistic links existing
since ancient times. A trade agreement between the two was signed in
1981, according to which, the export of important commodities is provided.
As the Maldives is critical for India’s security, thus, there lie many joint
military activities between the two. An operation Cactus is being carried by
India in the Maldives to protect the government of Abdul Gayyam from SL-
Tamil Militant group in 1988. But recently, Maldives is becoming closer to
Pakistan and China while distancing from India.
India-China Relations
The relations between the two have been more of a roller-coaster ride with
many ups and downs. Initially, both were sharing-friendly relation but China
invaded India during 1962 strained the relations. Border issues were there
but PM Rajeev Gandhi visit to China in December 1988, marked a new
beginning. Chinese PM Li Peng visit to India during 1991 proved a good
understanding. In 2003, India recognized Tibet as an internal part of China,
in reverse, China also accepted Sikkim as the internal part of India.