The Hindu Editorial Analysis - 20th March 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

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People have always marvelled at how little Bhutan with an area of 38,394 square kilometre and a population of 7.7 lakh as compared with its giant neighbour India with an area of 3.28 million sq.km and a population of 140 crores have been the closest of partners and the best of friends over the past 50 years and more.

India's Neighbourhood First Policy

• The India's Neighbourhood First Policy was established in 2008 to enhance relationships with key countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
• This policy underscores India's commitment to fostering amicable and mutually advantageous ties with all neighboring nations. India actively participates as a development partner, engaging in numerous projects within these countries.
• Emphasizing a people-centric approach, India's Neighbourhood First Policy aims to establish cooperative regional frameworks for stability and prosperity.
• India's interactions with these countries are based on a consultative, non-reciprocal, and results-driven strategy, focusing on delivering benefits such as enhanced connectivity, upgraded infrastructure, expanded development cooperation in various sectors, security enhancements, and increased people-to-people exchanges.
• Guided by principles such as respect (Samman), dialogue (Samvad), peace (Shanti), prosperity (Samriddhi), and culture (Sanskriti), India seeks to enhance its engagement with neighboring countries.
• This policy plays a crucial role in managing external threats, garnering support in international forums like the UN, and countering Chinese influence in the region.
• India actively engages with partner countries through various projects.
• Active development partner: India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy aims at establishing mutually beneficial regional frameworks.
• Consultative approach: India's interactions with these nations are focused on non-reciprocal, outcome-driven strategies such as enhancing connectivity and infrastructure.
• Key principles guiding engagement include respect, dialogue, peace, prosperity, and culture.
• The policy is crucial for managing external threats, garnering support in global forums, and counterbalancing Chinese influence in the region.

Purpose of India's Neighbourhood First Policy

India's Neighbourhood First Policy underscores the nation's commitment to fostering strong relationships with neighboring countries. This approach prioritizes collaborative efforts to enhance regional stability and prosperity. Through this policy, India seeks to build trust, promote dialogue, and foster peace within the region. By focusing on respect, dialogue, peace, prosperity, and culture, India aims to deepen its ties with neighboring nations.

• Immediate Priority to Neighbours: Priority is given to enhancing relations with immediate neighbors to ensure peace and stability in South Asia, crucial for advancing the development agenda. The "neighborhood first" policy actively emphasizes strengthening ties with India's closest neighbors.
• Connectivity: India has engaged in Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to facilitate the unrestricted flow of resources, energy, goods, labor, and information across borders.
• Dialogue: There is a focus on robust regional diplomacy through active engagement with neighboring nations and establishing political connections through dialogues. An example of this is the invitation extended to all heads of government of SAARC countries for the Prime Minister's oath-taking ceremony in 2014.
• Resolving Bilateral Issues: Efforts are directed towards resolving bilateral issues through mutual agreements. For instance, India and Bangladesh have signed agreements to operationalize the historic Land Boundary Agreement (LBA).
• Economic Cooperation: The focus is on enhancing trade relationships with neighboring countries. India's involvement and investments in SAARC aim to foster development in the region, as seen in initiatives like the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) grouping for energy development.
• Disaster Management: Cooperation in disaster response, resource management, weather forecasting, and communication is emphasized. This includes sharing capabilities and expertise in disaster management for the benefit of all citizens in South Asia.
• Military and Defence Cooperation: India is actively working to strengthen security in the region through military cooperation, including conducting and participating in various defense exercises. Initiatives like Surya Kiran with Nepal and Sampriti with Bangladesh aim to bolster defense relations.
• India's Collaborations within SAARC: India has engaged in Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) members. These agreements facilitate the unrestricted flow of resources, energy, goods, labor, and information across borders.
• MoU and SAARC: MoU stands for Memorandum of Understanding, and SAARC refers to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. These agreements primarily ensure the seamless exchange of resources, energy, goods, labor, and information across borders.
• Free Flow of Resources: This concept emphasizes the unrestricted movement of resources, such as energy, goods, labor, and information, across international borders within the SAARC framework.
• Importance of Dialogue in Regional Diplomacy: Dialogue plays a crucial role in fostering robust regional diplomacy by actively engaging with neighboring nations. An illustrative example is India's initiative to invite all heads of government from SAARC countries to the Prime Minister's oath-taking ceremony in 2014.
• Vigorous Regional Diplomacy: Vigorous regional diplomacy involves building strong political connections through ongoing dialogues with neighboring nations. For instance, the aforementioned invitation extended by India signifies a proactive step towards enhancing political connectivity within the SAARC region.

Challenges in India's Neighbourhood First Policy

• Growing Chinese Pressure: India's inability to navigate a clear path has resulted in mounting pressure from China, hindering its ability to secure allies in the region. China's expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific area poses a significant challenge.
• Relation with Pakistan: Managing relations with Pakistan stands as India's primary diplomatic and security concern. Pakistan openly employs terror tactics as a state policy, complicating India's interactions with a nation characterized by fragmented power structures.
• Unstable Afghanistan: Afghanistan's internal fragility coupled with external threats sponsored by Pakistan presents a persistent challenge. A potential collapse of the Afghan state could trigger widespread jihadist terrorism, impacting India's security interests. India actively engages in international efforts to stabilize Afghanistan.
• Interference in Domestic Affairs: India's intervention in the internal affairs of neighboring countries, notably Nepal, disregards their sovereignty. By impeding free transit and trade, India strains relationships and suppresses local governments and populations.
• Anti-Indian Sentiments: Negative perceptions of India, fueled by perceived dominance and economic ties, are fostering anti-Indian sentiments in the region. Actions like Demonetization have reverberating effects on countries relying on the Indian currency, breeding discontent.
• Impact of India's Domestic Politics: India's domestic policies are creating challenges in Bangladesh, a country with a significant Muslim population. This strains India's 'neighborhood first' policy even within traditionally friendly territories like Bangladesh.
• Impact of India's Tilt towards the West: India's increasing alignment with Western powers through initiatives like the Quad poses implications for regional dynamics. However, Sri Lanka's strained relations with the West, amidst criticism on human rights issues, present complexities.
• Terrorism and Illegal Migration: India grapples with enduring threats, tensions, and the looming specter of terrorist activities from its immediate neighbors. Addressing challenges such as illegal migration and the smuggling of weapons and drugs necessitates bolstered border security measures.
• India's Key Diplomatic and Security Challenge: 
  • India faces a significant diplomatic and security challenge primarily in its relations with Pakistan. Pakistan openly employs terrorism as a tool of state policy and has various fragmented power centers, making it complex for India to manage these relations effectively.
• Challenges Posed by an Unstable Afghanistan: 
  • Afghanistan also presents a critical challenge for India due to its internal fragility and the external threats sponsored by Pakistan. A potential collapse of the Afghan state could result in the proliferation of jihadist terrorism, impacting not only the region but also posing a threat to India's security.
  • Indian diplomatic efforts are actively engaged in international initiatives aimed at stabilizing Afghanistan to prevent such destabilizing outcomes.
• Concerns about Interference in Domestic Affairs: 
  • India's interference in the internal affairs of neighboring countries, notably in Nepal, raises concerns regarding sovereignty violations. India's actions include impeding free transit and trade both within Nepal and beyond, along with suppressing the rights of the Nepalese people and their government.
• Interference in Neighboring Countries: India's involvement in the internal affairs of neighboring nations, particularly Nepal, violates their sovereignty. Additionally, India imposes obstacles on free transit and trade both within and outside Nepal while exerting pressure on its people and government.
• Hindrance to Free Transit and Trade: India's actions create barriers to the smooth flow of transit and trade, affecting not only Nepal but also regions beyond. This interference has negative repercussions on the people and governance of Nepal.
• Suppression of People and Government: India's policies result in the suppression of the population and the legitimate authorities of Nepal, impacting the country's development and stability.
• Anti-Indian Sentiments: The people in the region are developing anti-Indian sentiments due to India's perceived dominance and economic control. An example of this is the adverse effects experienced by countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar following India's Demonetization policy, which influenced regions where the Indian currency is widely used.

Recommendations for Enhancing Neighbourhood Policy

• Improving Border Infrastructure:
  • Enhancing the construction of more Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) and Land Customs Stations (LCS) along with border haats for improved connectivity.
• Transportation:
  • India, being a large country, should take the lead in establishing efficient cross-border transport and communication networks.
• Diplomatic Relations:
  • Maintaining open diplomatic channels with neighboring countries to address and resolve any emerging issues effectively.
• Dialogue and Support:
  • Ensuring continuous support for the development of neighboring countries through dialogue and strengthening Indian exports in the region.
• Development Initiatives:
  • Continuing efforts such as providing humanitarian assistance, implementing developmental projects, and offering Lines of Credit to foster growth.
• Market Strengthening:
  • Collaborating with neighboring nations to enhance their markets and improve infrastructure for mutual benefit.
• People-to-People Connectivity:
  • Promoting tourism and fostering cultural exchanges to strengthen bonds based on shared heritage and traditions.
• Tourism Promotion:
  • Encouraging investment in tourism, including medical tourism, as part of the Neighbourhood First Policy to boost economic growth and cultural exchange.
• Soft Power and Cultural Influence:
  • Utilizing India's soft power and cultural heritage to deepen ties and enhance influence within the region.

Key Points for India's Neighbourhood Policy

• Neighbouring countries share strong bonds through history, culture, language, and geography. Maintaining friendly relationships is crucial for India's growth and development.
• India's neighbourhood policy should be guided by the principles of the Gujral Doctrine. This approach emphasizes that India's strength is intertwined with the quality of its relationships with neighboring countries, fostering regional growth.
• Integrating India's regional economic and foreign policy poses a significant challenge. India must prioritize long-term relationships over short-term economic gains with its neighbors.
• Promoting regional connectivity is essential. Security concerns should be addressed using cost-effective and reliable technological solutions employed elsewhere in the world.
• India's immediate neighborhood significantly influences it geopolitically, geo-strategically, and geo-economically due to proximity. Collaboration with neighboring countries is vital for India's aspirations to become a superpower, focusing on sustainable and inclusive development.