Indian foreign policy and Pakistan
By Afshain Afzal • Jul 17th, 2010 • Category: Lead Story • 3 CommentsThe basic principles of the Indian foreign policy claim that India will keep faith in maintaining good relations with neighbors as well as all other countries round the globe, non-interference with the sovereignty of all nations, non-partisan outlook towards world powers with stress on non-alignment and resolution of conflicts between nations through peaceful negotiations.
However, the Indian foreign policy has seen several shifts over the years. First, India became one of the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). However, it then developed extremely close relationship with the Soviet bloc. Then came the Americans and New Delhi wholeheartedly embraced them, leaving no doubt that it had little interest in maintaining its non-aligned status.
With regard to Pakistan , the Indian foreign policy has always been extremely belligerent and greatly offensive. At present, the Indian foreign policy towards Islamabad has four cornerstones.
First, try to depict Pakistan as the mentor of all terrorist activities not only in the region but also throughout the world. In this regard, the Indian police and law enforcement agencies blame Pakistani intelligence for creating unrest in India . The fact is that it is the Indian state policies that are causing unrest in the Indian heartland and forcing people to confront the state. Pakistan or its agencies have no role in this regard. At the same time, Indian diplomats have been going around, claiming that the Pakistani state and some militant outfits, which they claim have Islamabad’s support, are involved in terrorist activities around the world. Nothing can be farther from the truth. It is Pakistan that has sacrificed thousands of its military personnel and civilians in the fight against terrorism.
Second, the Indian foreign policy seeks to sideline the Kashmir issue and tell the world that it is a bilateral matter and of little significance. However, the Kashmir issue has led to three Indo-Pak wars and made the region hostage to conflicts. The Indian foreign policy has not worked successfully as the world now realises that the Kahsmir issue should be sorted out to keep peace in the region.
Third, the Indian foreign policy tries to deny Pakistan acquisition of weapons for its legitimate defence. It is astonishing that while Pakistan does not condemn arms purchases by India , which are at a massive scale and in excess to its requirements, New Delhi keeps on harping on the same tune in order to deny Pakistan all sorts of conventional weapons.
Fourth, another cornerstone of the Indian foreign policy is to gain a foothold in Afghanistan and destabilize Pakistan from the west. However, despite investing more than a billion dollars in the war-torn country, India has been unable to achieve this goal.
In order to develop good relationship with Pakistan , which a smaller country as compared to India ’s massive size and economy, it is imperative for the Indian leadership to change its outlook and resolve issues that have stalled progress in the region. The Composite Dialogue should move forward and India should show magnanimity in sorting out issues with all neighbours.
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I am a freelance writer by profession and have an experience of writing freelance for both the online and the print media. My articles regularly appear in Pakistani newspapers including The Frontier Post, Pakistan Observer, The Post, The News. In foreign press, my articles have been published in Bangladesh Today, Holiday international and Sri Lanka Guardian. Besides completing Masters in History and International Relations, I am also pursuing M Phil in Rural Development. I am a Law graduate. I spend most of the time in affairs relating to social work and writing articles.
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its sad how one sided this article is
the writer is yet another example of the epitome of thought which suffers from the delusion, that the whole world is against pakistan.
although some of his claims are valid, the others are bogus.
One example is the belief that India bears the sole responsibility of destabilisation of pakistan.
The reality might be a little hard to digest for most jingoistic individuals, but Pakistan has been actively involved in indian destabilization ALSO.
It has funded groups such as harkatul mujahedeen, and used them against india, in indian occupied kashmir and some interna matters. this is not to say india has nto been involved in such cladestine activites in pakistan, however it is true that the RAW, is under the MOD in India, while in Pakistan, the ISI seems to be the higher power in ALL matters.
The writer has reduced any intellectual criticism of the matter to demagoguery and wild thought.
What pakistan needs right now is not to vollow in greater conspiracy theories and believe the world is against them, but realize that their own mistakes have possibly cost them, their land, and now in future even their existence. Instead of realizing that the bug is far greater at our side, but deflecting our problems on others we are yet again allowing the masses to sleep in that deadly slumber.
Afshain You are my witness as I had predicted & categorically stated ——– Pakistan & India Bilateral Talk(s) are Just Wastage of Pakistanis’ Precious Time in other words in TOTALITY declared I used the words USELESS & FRUITLESS as well if you may remember so otherwise Go into Archives ——- this was almost 3 months ago in your article moreover before the same I’ve been predicting for the last elven years on different forums that India shall never be ready to resolve Pakistan Burning Issue i.e. IOK.
*I.H. = Inn Hukumranoun/these Jiyalay Rulers or Active Fauji Generals who are Policy Makers of this Poor & Ignored Nation = Taliban & Alqaida are even better than our English Speaking Ruling Elite who knows only Slavery of America & other rest of the WEST. They know better than us — how to fight for own Rights.
*N. N. S. = Nadan Nahee Samjhtay = As Pakistan’s English Speaking Ruling is quiet FAR from Quran & Sunnah therein it is MENTIONED clear like crystal in NEGOTIATION if someone tries to DODGE you only once this is your religious duty Never Believe them AGAIN, thereafter this is an another clear cut Quranic Teaching that — “O-Muslims as per your Religious Duty — You are bound to SNATCH your Genuine Bona-fide DUE Rights Instead of “SHOWING OF” your entire Butteess Dant (32 Teeth) as often our beloved one & only president Madari Sb does.
Azmay Hoay Ko Nahee Bar Bar - Azmatay-
Latoun Kay Bhoot Batoun Say Nahee Mantay-
*N. N. S. - Haqooq Mangay Nahee Cheenay Jatay-
Ju Hukumran AllahJj Aur Rasool Ss Kee Talimat Ko Chortay -
Wooh Aaisay Hee Duniya Kay Samnay Zalil-o-Ruswa Khuwar Kee-ay Jatay-
*I.H. Say Tu Lakh Durjay Behtar Taliban-o-Alqaida Ju Iss Baat Ko Khub Samjhtay-
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=S.M.+Krishna+in+Pakistan&aq=f
The blogger has given a nice input, but I do not know why our media men talk to ourselves only and cannot appeal to world’s conscience. Period. But the reason is quite obvious. Indian media men criticize the government but are rock behind their government on national issues. Our media men want to root out the government before she does anything good. As a consequence, on Indian voice the world is all ears, while Pakistan’s voice is given a damn. Indians have politiicians and have the support of media. The game of dialogues is their necessity more and our necessity less. They want civil nuclear plant and they want a permanent seat in Security council. There is opposition in American congress on the sole point that India has the oldest dispute of Kashmir with Pakistan and have engaged three wars with the latter. India has very wisely started bilateral series of dialogues to show the world that there is now no friction with Pakistan. To a great extent they have succeeded and voices against India in American congress are subsiding. Now in the record, it shows India is negotiating with Pakistan as a peaceful country does. But in reality, in every talk they keep Pakistan on backfoot by first raising the issue of Terrorism. They would continue to keep Pakistan on backfoot and tell the world we are negotiating to settle the issues. They are real politcians.