Foreign Policy of India Since Independence

India’s foreign policy shaped different segments of the nation, including economy, geography, history, and culture. The first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, helped shape the country’s policy at a crucial time. At this time, while implementing foreign policies, India aimed at preserving certain objectives like world peace, independence for Afro-Asian nations and disarmament.

Principles of Indian Foreign Policy

• Preservation of national interest, disarmament, achievement of world peace, and independence for Afro-Asian nations have been important determinants of Indian foreign policy.
• The principles on which India’s foreign policy since independence is built include the panchsheel principles, anti-colonialism, non-alignment, anti-racism, and anti-imperialism.

1. Panchsheel

Jawaharlal Nehru was a true believer in world peace and emphasised on friendly relations with all countries, especially the powerful ones as well as India’s immediate neighbours. He called this objective ‘Panchsheel’. This included the following principles:

1. Mutual respect for territorial sovereignty and integrity.
2. Non-aggression pact.
3. Mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.
4. Mutual benefit.
5. Peaceful coexistence.

2. Non-alignment Movement 

An essential element of India’s foreign policy since independence has been non-alignment. The non-alignment movement intended to retain national independence in international affairs by refusing to join any military alliance created after WWII by the United States and the Soviet Union. Non-alignment did not promote isolationism. It was a fluid idea that meant not committing to any military alliance and instead adopting an independent stance on foreign affairs based on the needs of the situation and the need for development. 

The non-alignment movement approach attracted many adherents in developing nations because it allowed them to defend their sovereignty while maintaining their freedom of action during the tense Cold War period.

India was instrumental in the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). The notion of NAM developed through time. In 1947, Nehru was the driving force behind the Asian Relations Conference in New Delhi. In 1955, 29 Asian and African countries convened in Bandung (Indonesia). This was the first gathering of its sort, with participants vowing to collaborate for colonial freedom, peace, cultural, economic and political collaboration.

The Various Determinants Of Foreign Policy: 

Size of the State Territory: 

• A state’s size, which comprises both people and non-human resources, is crucial for determining its foreign policy. 
• Nations with many human and non-human resources are usually big powers, and they have a better possibility of becoming influential powers in the international community.

Geographical Factors: 

• The geography of a country is one of the most constant and steady determinants of its foreign policy.
• The key geographical factors that determine foreign policy are location, the topography of the land, climate, and fertility. 

National Interests:

• Every country conducts its foreign policy in the pursuit of national interest. Some national interests have remained constant over time, while others have changed. Everything is dependent on a country’s level of development.
• In general, every country strives to improve its economic and social development to ensure the prosperity of its population. Every country is at a different stage of development, so policies must be adjusted accordingly.
• India relies heavily on local consumption and international investment to meet its development goals. India’s foreign policy since independence aligns with these development goals as well.

International Challenges for India

• The foreign policy must constantly adjust to the changing external environment. For example, the disintegration of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the dissolution of the socialist bloc resulted in significant changes in practically every country’s foreign policy.
• The issue of the new international economic order, the problem of international resource distribution, the energy crisis, the protection of human rights, the issue of nuclear proliferation, the elimination of international terrorism, and other issues 

Tashkent Agreement 1965

In the war of 1965, Pakistan attacked the armed area of Rann of Kutch in the state of Gujarat. It was a contentious battle that took place in various regions. However, the hostilities ended when the UN intervened as soon as the Indian army reached Lahore. Although afterwards, the then Indian Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, and Pakistan’s General Ayub Khan signed the Tashkent agreement in 1965. It is to be noted that the war of 1965 added to India’s ongoing economic situation. 

Conclusion 

India follows certain basic principles in its foreign policy from which it has not deviated much. The primary objectives of India’s foreign policy since Independence are sought to be accomplished through some principles viz. Panchsheel; anti-colonialism, non-alignment movement, anti-racism principles in the UN, and anti-imperialism. Expanding these principles would be beneficial for the entire world. Some of its basic features, like the non-alignment movement, remain relevant.