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Alliances Between India and Neighbours

India maintains strategic relationships with its neighbors to counter regional threats and promote development. However, several issues strain these relationships. SAARC has been ineffective due to Pakistan-India tensions, while BIMSTEC gained prominence but lacks regular summits. China is increasing its influence through infrastructure projects in the region. Going forward, India must strengthen relationships through tailored strategies like reassuring Nepal, supporting Bhutan and Sri Lanka, managing competition with China, and engaging Pakistan to resolve disputes.

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48 views2 pages

Alliances Between India and Neighbours

India maintains strategic relationships with its neighbors to counter regional threats and promote development. However, several issues strain these relationships. SAARC has been ineffective due to Pakistan-India tensions, while BIMSTEC gained prominence but lacks regular summits. China is increasing its influence through infrastructure projects in the region. Going forward, India must strengthen relationships through tailored strategies like reassuring Nepal, supporting Bhutan and Sri Lanka, managing competition with China, and engaging Pakistan to resolve disputes.

Uploaded by

Naveen Kr
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Alliances between India and neighbours

Brief analysis of Indias strategic relationship with its neighbours (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, China,
Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar).

The Indian sub-continent continues to be one of the epicentres of global geopolitical tensions due to
colonial legacy issues like undecided boundaries between countries along with continued influence of
differentiating factors like religious extremism, majority-minority struggles, domestic civil violence
etc. There are several regional/sub-regional intergovernmental blocs comprising a combination of all
these countries which aims to fight the common challenges and bring development to a region which
houses a significant portion of the global population.

SAARC and BIMSTEC are two regional blocs/organizations for inter-governmental cooperation and
geo-political manoeuvring bringing together most of these nations in one platform. SAARC is a South
Asian bloc and has as its members all of Indias neighbours barring Myanmar & China while BIMSTEC
is initiative centred on Bay of Bengal which means Pakistan, Afghanistan & China are not member
countries. BCIM is another sub-regional grouping of India, China, Bangladesh & Myanmar aimed
towards integration of trade & development and BRICS is another large forum which sees active
participation of both India & China.

SAARC formed in 1985 has historically been a stronger alliance of countries with regular summits but
presence of Pakistan and its continued hostility with India and Afghanistan means SAARC summits
have always fallen short of stated objectives of regional integration and connectivity initiatives.
BIMSTEC on the other hand formed in 1997 has never had regular summit meets and all its members
considered BIMSTEC to be of secondary importance to them since all nations were either primary
members of either SAARC or ASEAN. However due to continued hostility with Pakistan, India is now
trying to revive the BIMSTEC grouping and as a matter of intent, invited the BIMSTEC grouping to the
Goa BRICS summit of 2016 in place of SAARC.

India prefers to maintain bilateral relationships with all nations even if they are present among
different blocs and has signed and maintains strategic relationships with more than 20 countries
including China and Afghanistan among its neighbours and shares special relationships with Bhutan.
Indias relationship with the Nepal is facing some difficulties in the recent times due to several factors
and increasing influence and outreach of China into Nepal. While India is having good relationships
with the governments of Sri Lanka, Myanmar & Bangladesh, there are sporadic disputed points with
these. One recent trouble has been the influx of Rohingya refugees into India from Myanmar and the
governments position that they cannot be accepted.

Way forward

India needs to adopt different strategies to improve its relationships with all of its neighbours in the
coming years as illustrated in the below table. Chinas overarching regional and global presence will
be an important aspect India will have to counter. China has already made inroads into Bangladesh,
Sri Lanka and Pakistan through various infrastructure projects and all these countries except Bhutan
has been a part of the recent Belt & Road Conference held in Beijing in May 2017.
India Nepal Due to increasing outreach of China towards Nepal seen through the opening
up of transportation networks between Nepal & China and apathy shown by
Indian side to many domestic affairs.

India needs to re-align & re-assure Nepal of its support and help in building
infrastructure and supplies and ensure a repeat of the diplomatic struggle of
2015 doesnt happen. India will need to remind Nepal of the cultural
similarities and match Chinese contributions to keep Nepal a friendly ally.
India Bhutan India continues to enjoy good relations with Bhutan and needs to continue
its present strategy of supporting Bhutan with defence and continue to invest
in projects in Bhutan.
India Sri Lanka Sri Lanka is facing the heat of Chinese debts through investments in
infrastructure and India needs to reassure Sri Lanka that it will be a less
obtrusive neighbour and ally and support in needs of Sri Lanka through
collaboration rather than by force.
India - China India has taken a tough stance during the Doklam face-off and needs to
continue a two-pronged approach in its relationships with China. It should
promote business/people relations and leverage the growing business
relations to improve the political relations and work on solving the boundary
issue.
India - Myanmar Indias relationship with Myanmar is expected to strengthen with lot more
bilateral agreements. India supports the government and party led by Aung
Sang Suu Kyi and should continue to partner with Myanmar for opening
eastern corridor. In due course of time, India should look forward to
strengthen the diplomatic, economic and military relationship
India - Afghanistan India should keep continuing its existing strategic relationship with
Afghanistan supporting in defence, Infrastructure development and whole
around political support.
India - Pakistan India should engage with political & military leadership of China to find a
solution for the nearly 70 year old dispute of Kashmir and on the sides
improve trade & business relationships.

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