Foreign Relation

Belgrade Conference was conducted in the year 1961. It mainly focused on peace, human rights, and nuclear disarmament.

Philosophy of Panchsheela was established by Gautama Buddha that means to practice moral values.

Panchsheela was established between India and China on 29^th April 1954 and these principles are accepted by all the Asian countries.

The 18^th conference of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) was conducted in Nepal in November 2014.

India did its first nuclear test in the year 1974 in Pokhran under the guidance of Lt. Dr. A.PJ.Abdul Kalam.

Peace, Friendship, and Equality are the foundation of Indian foreign policy. The foreign policy of India is based on co-operation and virtue.

The most important element of the aim of foreign policy is to secure national interest. It also focussed on developing a friendly and peaceful relationship with all nations.

The major elements of Indian foreign policy are included in article 51 of the Indian constitution and shape the foreign relation.

Pandit. Jawaharlal Nehru of India, Marshal Tito of Uganda, Naser of Egypt and Sukarno of Indonesia had given direction to non-alignment movement.

South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) is an association for regional co-operation in South Asia.

Former President of India Dr. A.PJ.Abdul Kalam was the stage- manager of Indian nuclear policy because of his contribution towards nuclear power.

India supports the United Nations Organization for International peace and promotion of fraternity. It is an agency to create harmony and security among all the nations’ states.

The major ideal of Indian foreign policy was based on Peace, Friendship, and Equality. Humanitarian ideals and excellent life values and global fraternity are the foundation of foreign policy. These values are embedded in Indian culture from time immemorial and are repeated during our freedom struggles through various stages. Thus Indian foreign policy built on the principles of decency, mutual respect for rights and interest, and also for dispute settlement.

The Non-Aligned Movement is a forum of 120 developing world states that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. It has faith in freedom and justice and does not agree with any military pact. Non- Alignment policy has friendly and balanced relations with all nations and tried to achieve the goals of economic development.

Geographical factors played an important role in making foreign policy. It has been an essential tool for examining International Relations. It has been developed and tested as a tool of politics for centuries. For instance India, it is covered by powerful neighbors such as China on one side and Pakistan on the other. Therefore, it should include both strategies of peace and security.

The utility and relevance of the Non-Alignment movement are proved after the end of the cold war by solving different problems in the field of neo-colonialism, human rights, and environment, regional, economic and social complexities. It tried to handle the situation and contribute toward creating a peaceful world. It emerged as a great moral force and initiated the co-operation for world peace in the cold war era.

Panchsheela is the five principles established by Gautama Buddha for developing a friendly and peaceful relationship with all nations. It mainly emphasized the power of moral values. It is a policy of non-interference and focussing on equality and mutual benefit. Giving respect to territorial integrity is also one of the main concerns of the Panchsheela treaty established on 29^th April 1954 between India and China.

Peaceful co-existence is one of the principles of Panchsheela that emphasized on the living with dignity without any interference and develop a friendly and peaceful relationship with reciprocal enemy countries. It concerned with existing together in peace in spite of its differences. India has followed it by supporting disarmament and violence.

South Asian countries including India are under the threat of terrorism as it is one of the greatest challenges that need to be addressed soon. There are more than 31 active terrorist groups in India J&K and POK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir) regions such as Jaish-e-Mohammad, Laskar-e-Taiba, etc, had caused a number of deaths. Terrorist groups are wasting the human resource and ruined the peace of the country. India has taken its steps to eliminate this through different discussions and conferences with other nations.

United Nations Organization is an international agency for making peace and security worldwide. It has been established after World War II with the aim of preventing war in the near future and international co-operation. India has been a member of this organization since its beginning and supported the policies of it. The role of India in the context of the United Nations Organization can be understood during the issue of India and Pakistan when the decision of the United Nation is supported by India.

India represents a clear and strong foreign policy that is based on co-operation and virtue. There are different elements that played an important role in determinating foreign policy. These are as follows:

a) India decided to keep away from alliance and military groups and formed Non -Aligned policy. This means India is not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc.

b) Security is a motto of the Indian government and for which it created a strong defense system. Country's integrity and unity are also an important matter.

c) Geographical factors played an important role in making Indian foreign policy. For instance India, it is covered by powerful neighbors such as China on one side and Pakistan on the other. So peaceful co-existence is important for the smooth functioning of the nation.

d) The values of Ancient Indian culture such as Global fraternity, Peace, and Humanity helped in making Indian foreign policy. Even our freedom fighters and political leaders had left its impact.

Thus these are the elements that determine in the making of Indian foreign policy.

Article 51 of the Indian constitution incorporated the objectives of Indian foreign policy. These are as follows:

a) Indian foreign policy work towards International peace and security.

b) It tries to provide a solution to international disputes through mediation.

c) It builds a peaceful and respectful relationship among all states.

d) Indian foreign policy has been away from any military pacts and alliances.

e) It involves in the protest of imperialism, colonialism, and apartheid. It also tries to help other states in their freedom.

f) Promoting easy access to trade, industry and technology transfer with other nation states.

g) It tries to keep its position strong in South Asia by strengthening itself with the principles of fraternity and co-operation.

The major key features of Indian foreign policy are discussed below:

i)Non-Alignment: It is a policy India that does not formally align with either the United States or the Soviet Union. It mainly emphasized on self-determination, political freedom and independence.

ii) Panchsheela: Panchsheela is the five principles of developing a peaceful and friendly relationship with other nation states by non-interfering internal matters.

iii) Peaceful co-existence: Panchsheela treaty is based on Peaceful co-existence that emphasized on the living with peace with reciprocal enemy countries.

iv) Protest of Colonialism and Racialism: Anti-Colonialism and Racialism are always the basic ideas of foreign policy. It supports the idea of self-decision and equality of all people.

v) Support of the United Nations Organization: United Nations Organization is an international agency for making peace and security, developing friendly relations among all nations. India as its member supports its decision.

vi) Nuclear policy of India: India shapes its nuclear policy after 1960 that determines India is a nuclear power state and used nuclear weapons only on retaliation against nuclear attack.

vii) SAARC: South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) is an association for regional co-operation in South Asia.

viii) Protest of terrorism: Terrorism in India poses a threat to the people of India and it needs an urgent solution. It led to the number of deaths, and ruined resources. India has taken steps in eliminating terrorism with an effort with a different nation.

The major power bloc nation i.e. the USA, China, and Russia do not want India to remain strong in terms of nuclear power. But with the efforts put by Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, India became an independent country with nuclear power and ballistic missiles. India would never forget his contribution and for which he was called as Stage manager of nuclear power in India. With the changing scenario of International politics, India did its first nuclear test at Pokhran in 1974 and second in the year 1998 at Khetolai. The policy makes clear for India that it has faith in disarmament and would use nuclear weapons only to destroy nuclear attacks. It would not discriminate the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and keep for minimum use of defensive nuclear weapons.

Indian foreign policy is mainly based on human values and tries to protect the national interest. India had undergone extensive reforms and policies with other nations. This can be analyzed with building a good relationship with the USA, China, and Russia or South Asian nations. India broke the monopoly of European countries and Chinese policies on nuclear testing issues. The Government of India carrying out a number of official foreign visits in order to improve relations. India's bilateral and regional initiatives have across the entire Indian Ocean region. The Chinese approach to maintain peace along borders marked a significant in a global relationship. Thus India enhanced its position in the international arena through its impressive diplomatic policy.