UNIT 4

INDIA AND SOUTH ASIA

INTRODUCTION

1. INDIA AND NEPAL RELATIONS

Nepal and India have had very steady bilateral ties. This was largely founded on the age old connection
of history, culture, tradition and religion which cemented their relations in a close and comprehensive
manner. India and Nepalís diplomatic relations go back to June 1947. It got a formal recognistion when
Indo- Nepal friendship treaty was signed in 1950. It was based on the principles of peaceful coexistence,
sovereign equality, and understanding of each otherís aspirations and sensitivities has been the firm
foundation on which our bilateral relations have been growing further. This was reaffirmed when Nepal
had continuously protected its territory to be used against India to create unrest. The open borders
between the two countries are a unique feature of this relationship. Frontier without restriction has
greatly facilitated the free movements of people of these two countries and helped to sustain enhanced
interactions.

INDIA AND NEPAL POLITICAL RELATIONS

India-Nepal political relations have always been manifested with treaties and agreements between the
two countries. There have also been frequent high level visits by political leaders from time to time. In
2018 both the countries Prime ministers visited each other. These vistis have cemented the bilateral
relations to newer heights on the basis of equality, mutual trust, respect and benefit. Apart from taking
effective measures for the implementation of all the agreements and understandings reached in the
past, the need for reinvigorating the existing bilateral mechanisms to promote cooperative agenda
across diverse spheres has been underscored. India has also been extending help to Nepal in developing
their new constitution after the overthrow of monarchy . In recent agreements between the two
countries there has been an accord to advance and develop new partnership in agriculture, and extend
connectivity by expanding rail linkages between Kathmandu and Raxaul which will be supported by
India. It will also develop advance inland waterways and benefit from rivers flowing between the two
countries. These waterways will help in movement of cargo and in providing access to sea for Nepal.

INDIA AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS

India is the largest trading partner with Nepal. Following the massive earthquakes in Nepal in April and
May 2015, India promptly offered helping hands. The Government of India has also been substantially
supporting Nepalís reconstruction efforts and trying to develop the country. India has also aided Nepal
in the construction of an air-strip at Gaucharan. This is largely because India wants to minimize Nepalís
land-lock geographical feature and help to develop independence. India has also been assisting Nepal in
the infrastructure development and capacity development of human resources in Nepal. A Nepal- India
joint oversight mechanism has been constituted to review the investments made by India in Nepal and
to resolve deadlocks in a time bound manner. This mechanism was requested after the state visit of
Prime minister of Nepal Pushpa kuamr Dahal took place in 2018. India has invested in following
infrastructure projects to help her gain self reliance. B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan;
Emergency and Trauma Centre at Bir Hospital, Kathmandu; and Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic at
Biratnagar are some of the flagship projects completed and operationalized under the Indian
assistance.A MoU on Development of Railway Infrastructure at five points along the Nepal-India border
was signed in 2010. The construction process has been ongoing for Jayanagar-Janakpur-Bardibas-
Bijalpura and Jogbani-Biratnagr sectors.
India and Nepal have signed important trade agreements that will help India get electricity from Nepal
and attain energy sufficiency. For this two mega hydropower projects will be developed in upper karnali
and Arun III.

INDIA AND NEPAL DEFENCE CO-OPERATION

India and Nepal have a robust defence co-operation. To deal with increasing croo- border terrorism, and
resolve border disputes, India has established Joint working group (JWG) on border management. It has
also established integrated posts to stop anti-social activities.
Nepal and India had a robust defence relations till recently when Prachanada visited China and has also
purchased defence equipments from China. China surpassed Indiaís investment after 2015 earthquake.
This largely happened due to supposedly allegations on Indiaís controversial role in instigating madhesi
population against the new constitution that was being adopted. China took this opportunity and
started investing in Nepal. This could help China in pushing back Indiaís big brother image and extend
Chinaís sphere of influence. As a result China has increased scholarship for Nepalese student. China is
investing heavily in Nepalís infrastructure development there are plans to extend Lhasa railway project
to Nepal. This will benefit Nepal as it no longer has to rely upon Indiaís accessibility and give her greater
bargaining power. Nepal has already agreed to be part of Chinaís one belt one road policy which is being
looked critically through security lens by India.
India-Nepal Relations during Covid times When the world was reeling under covid crises and new
scientific developments was going on to stop the spread of this deadly virus, India invented vaccine
diplomacy. As a result it extended its friendship with Nepal when immediately after having joint
discussion between both the countries foreignís affairs minister India provided one million doses of
Oxford-AstraZenecaís Covishield vaccine to Nepal as grant assistance to generate goodwill among the
Nepalese people, which was manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII), the largest producer of
vaccines in the world.

2. INDIA-BHUTAN RELATIONSHIP
India- Bhutan relationship dates back to 1949 when Indo- Bhutan friendship and cooperation treaty of
1949 was signed that established religious, cultural, historical, political relationship. This treaty was
based on Indiaís commitment to non- interference in the internal matters of Bhutan. India showed its
friendly gesture when it returned 32 miles of territory from Assam to Bhutan which was commercially
important for her. However relationship did not pick up due to geo-political reasons which made Bhutan
apprehensive if it may be annexed by India as Tibet was done by China. With Bhutanese kingís Jigme
Dorji Wangchukís visit to India, this air of mistrust was uplifted and a new era of friendship began. Like
Nepal, Bhutan is also a landlocked country and it relies heavily on India to provide this access. India has
played an important role in making Bhutan self ñreliant. It had sponsored Bhutanís five years plans.
India has helped Bhutan in building air links, radio towers, postal mailing system and other
communication infrastructure. India also guided Bhutan in agriculture sector, building schools and
developing health facilities. Bhutan has abundant hydro-electric resources. Its harnessing was sponsored
by India and today it accounts for 25 percent of Bhutanís economy. In fact India is the largest buyer of
this resource. India has aided Bhutanís admission in various international forums like United nations,
Universal postal union etc. Bhutan has also developed diplomatic ties with several countries with the
help of India.
In return to making Bhutan self-dependent, Bhutan has stood as a strong ally with India. Bhutan
understands chinaís annexation policy as is sensitive towards Indiaís North east frontiers which is always
at the tenterhooks between India- china conflict. This was the reason that Bhutan did not agree to
exchange territories with china in Chumbi valley which would have been detrimental to Indiaís security.
This was the reason that in the recent Doklama crises both India and Bhutan stood like an ally and
forced china to retreat. This is because any kind of major advantage in the chumbi valley will threaten
Indiaís borders along Sikkim state and undermine the security of North Eastern States as Siliguri corridor
that connects it with mainland India is very close to the valley. This will thus cut the entire North Eastern
region from whole of India. Furthermore, Chinese upper hand in the Siliguri Corridor will also threaten
the states of India

3. INDO-SRI. LANKA RELATIONS- ASK

4. INDIA- AFGHANISTAN RELATIONS

India and Afghanistan share strong historical, cultural links. After the fall of Taliban government in 2011,
India established diplomatic links with new Afghanistan. Both the nations had signed the strategic
friendship treaty. India was 5th largest donor for reconstruction of new Afghanistan. India helped in
operationlising the Zaranj to Deleram road in Afghanistan that will connect Afghanistan to Chahbahar
port. India also helped in construction of Salem Dam and was also responsible for designing and building
new parliament o Afghanistan. India had been sending team of doctors to train and provide for medical
staff in the rural region. India had been constantly giving scholarship to Afghanistan students who are
pursuing various technical and skill based higher education program in different universities of India.
President Hamid karzi was invited as the chief guest in Indiaís republic day program. President Modi had
also visited Afghanistan as part of it ‘neighbourhood policy’ India had also been supplying fortified
biscuits to school children of Afghanistan. India had also made Afghanistan join the South Asian
association for regional co-operation (SAARC). It had also supported Afghanistanís candidature in lot of
regional and international forums. However after the recapturing of Afghanistan by Taliban again India is
worried about cross border terrorism that could affect Kashmir and jeopardize Indiaís security. This is
largely seen when the ISI chief was seen present after the recent takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban.
Taliban funding is based on poppy cultivation which is grown in huge amounts in Afghanistan leading to
drug trade and arms trade and black money and terrorism. Indiaís investment in Afghanistan was due to
geo-strategic concerns as it was trying to build an alternative route to Central Asia via Iran Afghanistan
and central Asia. Had this plan been successful, India could have challenged Chinaís one belt, one road
policy by having an alternative route. In order to break the China ñ Pakistan nexus, Afghanistan as a
strong ally would have boosted Indiaís stature in International forum. However the Talibanís
government closeness to Pakistan will be more detrimental to Indiaís security. This was the reason that
India was not invited in the recent talks that was held in Afghanistan.

4. INDIA-BANGLADESH RELATIONS
India and Bangladesh relations date back to history when India played a seminal role by defeating
Pakistan in 1971 and helping Bangladesh achieves its Independence. It was known as East Pakistan
earlier. Economically both the countries share robust bilateral trade. And they share lots of commonality
on cultural grounds like music, literature, language, art etc. Politically Awami League, the party of Sheik
Mujibur Rehman, who was pro-liberation leader, took support of India to gain independence for
Bangladesh so this party has positive relations with India, while on the other hand Bangladesh
Nationalist party does not see India as a neighbor in a positive manner.

INDO- BANGLADESH RELATIONS AT POLITICAL LEVEL

India Bangaldesh relations are based on shared traditions of allegiance and natural friendship. As a
result there have been high level visits from both the countries. After becoming Prime Minister (PM) in
2014, PM Narender Modiji reoreiented Indiaís foreign policy and gave preference to Indiaís
neighbourhood by launchingí Neighbourhood firstí policy. In a reciprocal attitude, President of
Bangladesh, Sheikh Hassina visited India in 2017. The two neighbours also enjoy membership of various
other international organizations like SAARC (South Asian Association for regional cooperation),
BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), Indian Ocean
Regional Association (IORA) and the Commonwealth. BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India Nepal) network is
also in pipeline, conceptualized by India to counter Chinaís initiative of encircling India. However the
visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in mid-2015, which also saw closure to the long awaited Land
Boundary Agreement between the two countries in which land exchange took place through the
enclaves that were there in each other countries. Previously, in the year before, an international court
helped the two neighbours resolve a similarly long-standing maritime dispute.

INDIA-BANGLADESH DEFENCE CO-OPERATION

India and Bangladesh have entered into defence co-operation. They hold regular joint military exercises
by the name Sampriti and Naval exercise by the name Milan regularly. Bangladesh had also helped India
in stopping cross border terrorism. Having developed trust they have started railway link between
Haldibari (India) and Chilahati (Bangladesh). In a recent visit by Sheikh Hassina, several MOU were
signed that helped committed towards buying of defence equipments from India. It also gave access to
India to use Chattogram or Chittagong and Mongla ports in Bangladesh for movement of goods to and
from India, particularly from Northeastern India. This is a positive development in the wake of
agreement between china and Bangladesh defence co-operation whereby Bangladesh had given
Chittagong airport to be used by chinaís navy and secondly Bangladesh had bought two submarines
from China. So many policy experts were seeing this kind of development as part of Chinaís string of
pearls theory that was trying to encircle India and put her at risk.

INDIA-BANGLADESH ECONOMIC RELATIONS

India-Bangladesh economic relations is very prosperous. It received a fresh impetus when South Asian
free trade agreement (SAFTA) was signed which gave duty free and quota free access to goods and
services to India. Bangladesh is Indiaís largest trading partner in south Asia. These factors have further
cemented their relations in a strong manner. Despite such a robust relationship there are major irritants
in their relations.

MAJOR IRRITANTS BETWEEN INDIAAND BANGLADESH

Firstly is the river water dispute especially the construction and operation of Farakka barrage on River
Hooghly that creates a problem for Bangladesh. This is because during lean season India being upper
riparian country stores water while during excess it releases it thus creating distress for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is asking for a fair and just system for sharing of water. This was the reason that in 2015, a
Joint River water commission was set up to resolve the dispute. In this regard President Sheik Hassina
visited India in 2017 to resolve the dispute but it did not happen.
Secondly a number of illegal terrorist organizations are operating on Bangladesh land that is accusing
security issue in North east part of India
Thirdly a lot of Bangladesh illegal migrants have crossed India through porous borders thus creating a
change in demographic profile and causing unrest.
Fourthly there are lot of border clashes and killings happening that is creating distrust among the
countries. This is because there is transfer of fake currency, drug proliferation and trafficking of girls for
prostitution and the like. Therefore, this is something which has social and security dimensions and
requires to be worked out as both countries have initiated economic activities on the border like border
haats (markets).
Fiftly sharing of teesta river water is a major problem between the two countries. The teesta deal was
supposed to be signed during PM Manmohan Singhís visit in 2011 but was cancelled due to objection
raised by west Bengal government. Bangladesh request for a just transfer of river because during lean
period of the river water flow comes down to 1,000 cusecs from 5,000 cusecs thus creating distress in
Bangladesh. West Bengal state government is skeptical and confused about sharing of the water and in
return the state government has requested for sharing of other river waters which was not acceptable
to Bangladesh. Thus this deal in a limbo till political agreements are reached.
Sixtly the fleeing of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar to India has created another problem. This is
because in the recent Supreme court judgment, the Rohingya refugees were told to go back to their
country which is Bangladesh. This is not acceptable to them as they fear their lives.

Way forward
Bangladesh has emerged as a close ally of India, in order to grow, India is utilize this trust and co-
operation so as to reap maximum benefits from this relations. Inter alia, India must resolve to address
the water disputes, the sticking thorns being the Farakka barrage dispute on the Ganges and the Teesta
dispute.

5. INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS
India and Pakistan right from its inception have shared a bitter history. This is largely due to the
chequred past that was froth with communal discords and mistrust that this relation has always been
strained. As a result these two countries are involved in history of wars and conflicts. Starting from
creation of India and Pakistan in 1947 there have been regular wars first in 1947, second in 1965, third in
1971, fourth in 1999. Along with this there has been lot of cross border terrorism and flares up that have
disrupted peace of this region. In fact whenever normalcy comes in the relations some kind of violent
incident happens that disrupts the peace. That is why this relationship is termed as history of war and
conflicts. Some of the major conflict between these two countries are as follows
Firstly is the sharing of waters. India and Pakistan share lot of rivers. Most of it flow from Jammu and
Kashmir to enter Pakistan. In 1948 India in order to take revenge for intrusion in Jammu and Kashmir cut
off water supply to Pakistan creating unrest. A long dispute came to an end when Indus water treaty
(IWT) was accepted by both the parties. However tensions resurfaced again when Pakistan complained
of violation of IWT by India when it had built a dam on river Chenab. However as of now both the
countries are managing the agreement enered upon by them.

Sir Creek
Sir creek was a strong strip of marshy land between India and Pakistan in Rann of Kutch area. This area
was claimed by either side however in 1968, this dispute got settled through international arbitration
when India got 90% of its request, while Pakistan got 10%. Thus ending a long dispute

Siachen glacier
This is a high glacier in Karakoram range, in which both the countries claim entire Siachen as part of its
territory. India launched operation Meghdoot in 1984 and captured the entire glacier. The access to this
glacier from Indian side is very tough as a result India spends crores to rupees to maintain it and in such
harsh conditions many soldiers lives have also been lost, while for Pakistan the terrain is easy. However
the problem is this is creating a very tense situation with no way forward.
Cross border terrorism
India has alleged Pakistan for providing instability in India by sponsoring cross border terrorist activities
like invasion, bombing, assassination and kidnapping. Some of these attacks are Phulwana attack, Uri
attack, attack on Mumbai on 26/11, Parliament attack, Hyderabad killings. In many instances the onus of
these attacks are taken by terrorist groups who have secured safety nets in Pakistan territory. India has
time and again raised this issue at international forums but Pakistan refuses to disband these groups
which are a source of tension between these two countries.

Kashmir issue
This happened when Pakistan sponsored tribal invasion took place in jammu and Kashmir (J &K), till
then J & k had enjoyed autonomy, however in a rush Instrument of Accession was signed between
Maharaja of J & K and India which gave her full rights to wage the war. As a result the Indian army was
able to push back the invaders. However due to international pressure the line of control was drawn
whereby many parts of J & K continue to be under Pakistan rule. Due to porous borders lot of infiltration
activities were going on. Many wars were also fought and lot of military has been used by India to keep
this region under India. In between to return to normal situation a Srinagar Muzzaffarabad bus service
was allowed in lines with samjhauta express train service, Thar express train service and Delhi Lahore
bus service. However all of these have been suspended due to the claims by Pakistan to include Kashmir
as part of it.

Economic relation
In order to revamp its relations India had accorded Most favoured nation (MFN) clause to Pakistan that
would give primacy to Pakistan exports and also reduce the inter country tariff. A burgeoning economy
would help in elimination of mistrust between the countries and steep up co-operation. This got a fresh
impetus when SAFTA was announced and Pakistan had ratified in 2006. However under both these
clauses India and Pakistan relations could not be revamped due to mistrust and suspicion that has erode
it

China- Pakistan Axis

After the 1962 war, China has colluded with Pakistan to surround India. It had occupied many parts of
Kashmir. Since then both these countries friendship has been growing. China has helped Pakistan in
building defence capabilities especially nuclear bomb. China has been providing Pakistan with hardware
advance military capabilities which have been causing disruption to Indiaís security. Pakistan is actively
participating with China in One belt one road initiative and has given a nod to China Pakistan economic
corridor( CPEC). This is a major cause of concern from Indiaís security point of view.

Way forward
People to people contact is one of the best ways through which this distrust could be lessened. this
came with the hope of Kartarpur corridor . this corridor aims to connect Gurudwara associated with
Guru Nanakji lives. It will connect Darbar sahib Gurudwara located in Pakistanís Narowal district with
Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district of Punjab in India. This will be done through easy visa
process and help to bring people closer to each other.
6. INDIA IN SOUTH ASIA
As per the policy and regional experts, it has been seen that SAARC is the most underperformed regional
organization of the world. This is mainly due to Indo- Pakistan rivalry that has stalled all areas of co-
operation. As per regional experts this regional organization would have flourished the maximum, even
more than European Union due to regional, historical, cultural, ethnic similarities but partition of Indian
sub continent that came with violence and distrust has marred it. In fact insecurities in the region has
grown so much that Indiaís early Neighbourhood policy during PM I.K Gujral times has been seen as Big
brother syndrome by countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh also which led to them drifting towards
China. It was PM Modiís tenure that with its ëneighbourhood Firstí policy and vaccine diplomacy after
the Covidí19 protocol that has amended Indiaís relationship in the region. There are structural
challenges arising out of animosity from the history especially the partition that prohibits India from
exercising its sphere of Influence in the region. If the huge amount of human, natural and geographically
resources could be tapped then this region would show a tremendous growth in the economic sphere.
Further challenge that arises is bring peace and stability in Afghanistan after the ecent recapture by
Taliban forces. All the countries of this region has huge stake because lack of instability will give impetus
to crossborder terrorism, drug trade and arms race which will be further detrimental for the region. So
the time is ripe to forget personal animosity and strengthen the SAARC and make it functional.