Directorate of Distance Education UNIVERSITY OF JAMMU JAMMU STUDY MATERIAL M.A. POLITICAL SCIENCE SEMESTER IV COURSE NO. POL - 402 INDIA’S NEIGHBOURHOOD, EXTENDED NEIGHBOURHOOD AND NEAR ABROAD Prof. Baljit Singh Dr. Mamta Sharma Course Coordinator Teacher In-Charge HOD, Deptt. of Political Science, P.G. Political Science, University of Jammu. DDE, University of Jammu. All copyright privileges of the material are reserved by the Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, JAMMU-180 006 __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, MA Political Science, Semester IV, India’s Neighbourhood 1 INDIA’S NEIGHBOURHOOD, EXTENDED NEIGHBOURHOOD AND NEAR ABROAD Course Editor : Course Contributors : Dr. V.V. Nagendra Rao Dr. Baljit Singh Dr. V.V. Nagendra Rao Dr. Rajnesh Saryal Dr. Suneel Kumar © Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, 2021 * All rights reserved. No Part of this work may be reproduced in any form, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission in writing from the DDE, University of Jammu. * The Script writer shall be responsible for the lesson / script submitted to the DDE and any plagiarism shall be his/her entire responsibility. Printed by : J&K Revolution Printers / 2021 / 700 __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, MA Political Science, Semester IV, India’s Neighbourhood 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Writer Page UNIT INDIA, SOUTH ASIA AND CHINA I 1.1 India’s Neighbourhood Policy : Continuity and Change Baljit Singh 2 1.2 India’s Policy towards Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan Baljit Singh 19 1.3 India’s Policy towards, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan Baljit Singh 53 1.4 China in South Asia and Its implications for India Baljit Singh 80 UNIT INDIA, SOUTH EAST ASIA AND FAR EAST II 2.1 India’s Policy towards South East Asia: V. Nagendra Rao 100 Changing Dynamics 2.2 Indo-Myanmar Relations : Trends, Challenges V. Nagendra Rao 127 and Prospects 2.3 India and Japan : Emerging Economic, Political V. Nagendra Rao 149 and Strategic Equations 2.4 India’s Relation with Vietnam : Patterns V. Nagendra Rao 171 and Trends UNIT WEST ASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA III 3.1 India’s Policy towards West Asia : Continuity Rajnish Saryal 195 and Change 3.2 Indo-Iran Relations : Trends, Problems and Prospects Rajnish Saryal 219 3.3 India-Israel Emerging Political and Strategic Equations V. Nagendra Rao 241 & Rajnish Saryal 3.4 India’s Policy towards Central Asia : Major Trends Rajnish Saryal 257 UNIT INDIA AND NEAR ABROAD IV 4.1 India and IBSA : Convergences and Partnership Suneel Kumar 279 4.2 India and Indian Ocean : Maritime Security and Suneel Kumar 300 Naval Diplomacy 4.3 Indo-Australian Relations : Opportunities and Challenges Suneel Kumar 327 4.4 Indo-Canadian Relations : Trends, Issues and Prospects Suneel Kumar 343 SOURCES AND FURTHER READINGS 360 __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, MA Political Science, Semester IV, India’s Neighbourhood 3 M.A. Political Science, Semester IV, Course No. 402, India’s Neighbourhood UNIT – I: INDIA, SOUTH ASIA AND CHINA 1.1 INDIA’S NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY: CONTINUITY AND CHANGE - Baljit Singh STRUCTURE 1.1.0 Objectives 1.1.1 Introduction 1.1.2 India’s Concerns in South Asia 1.1.3 India’s South Asian Diplomacy: Legacy of Raj 1.1.4 India’s South Asian Policy: Indira Doctrine 1.1.5 Reluctant Multilateralism in India’s South Asian Diplomacy 1.1.6 India’s Changing Perspective on South Asia: Gujral Doctrine 1.1.7 India’s South Asian Policy: Focus on Active Multilateralism 1.1.8 India Needs Creative Diplomacy in South Asia 1.1.9 Let Us Sum UP 1.1.10 Exercise 1.1.0 OBJECTIVES In this lesson you will study the continuity and change in India’s neighbourhood policy in an historical perspective. After going through this lesson, you will be able to know: __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, MA Political Science, Semester IV, India’s Neighbourhood 4 • the legacy of British Raj in the evolution of India’s neighbourhood policy; • the influence of some of the important leaders, particularly Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Gujral, in formulating India’s neighbourhood policy; • multilateral framework in South Asia and India’s involvement in them. 1.1.1 INTRODUCTION A state can choose its friends but not its neighbours because neighbours of a state are given and they are the product of hard fact of geography. A state has to deal with its neighbours, notwithstanding this fact that most of the time it is in conflict with them. It becomes more precarious when a country of big size has to handle its small neighbours which look like its satellite for all practical purposes. India has been facing similar kind of situation in its neighbourhood since independence. India’s geographical location has not only given its neighbours but also problems driven by geography like boundaries disputes and conflict over sharing of transnational river water, migration, spill over of ethnic and religious conflicts, etc. Theoretically, relations amongst states are based on the principle of sovereign equality but in reality their relations are shaped in the realm of real politics in which the power of state matters a lot. Hence symmetrical relations are not possible amongst asymmetrical players. Indo-centric character of South Asia reflects the power asymmetry that exists in the region, whereas the small states like Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have always desired their bilateral relations with India to be based on the principle of sovereign equality. In practice their relations with India have always remained asymmetrical as there existed power differential between India and their capabilities. Transition of space from Indian sub-continent to South Asia has been remained quite problematic in this region. The term Indian-sub-continent was popularly used before partition to explain the political, economic and strategic reality in today’s South Asian region. First time the American area studies experts used the term South Asia to spell out the changed geo-political, geo-economic and geo-strategic realities in this region because Pakistan emerged as an independent country and Sri Lanka and Myanmar became __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, MA Political Science, Semester IV, India’s Neighbourhood 5 independent like India. Indian sub-continent term was considered most appropriate till the British ruled Sri Lanka and Myanmar and controlled the Nepal and Bhutan while ruling India. After British withdrawal from Indian sub-continent material reality changed considerably in this region as Pakistan emerged as new state, Sri Lanka became independent and Nepal and Bhutan also lost the status of British protectorate. In order to explain all these changes in this region, the use of the South Asia was preferred over Indian sub- continent as the later was identifying the region with India, whereas the former considered as the country neutral term describing this region in more inclusive way. Despite all these changes this region continued to be Indo-centric because India occupies the largest landmass, population and natural resources apart from acquiring the capabilities like political stability, economic vibrancy, strategic superiority and regional leadership vis-à-vis the other states from this region According to the structural approach to power, India occupies an advantage position in the South Asian region. In terms of vital physical links, India shares borders with all South Asian countries. India constitutes 72 per cent of the land surface, 77 per cent of population and 75 per cent of economic output of the South Asia. The economic potential, relative political stability and military capabilities have made the India a regional power in the South Asia. Since India constitutes the maximum part of South Asian landmass, it has always identified its security with this region and wanted to sanitise it from the influence of external players; however, the small countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh always invited external powers like UK, USA and China to address the power differential that exists between India and them and thereby to ensure their security. It has resulted into divergence of security perceptions between India and its neighbours. They feel secure when external players are present in South Asia. However, the presence of external players in the region is detrimental to India’s security. Small South Asian states are of the opinion that India is an interventionist state, which has been interfering in their internal affairs ranging from Pakistan to Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. India always articulated that developments in domestic politics of these states have political, economic, social and security implications for it as the cultural, religious and linguistic connections exist across national borders. Bilateralism has always remained dominant approach of India while dealing __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, MA