The Gujral Doctrine, named after former Indian Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, encapsulates a set of principles guiding India’s foreign policy towards its neighboring countries. It emphasizes goodwill, non-reciprocity, and regional cooperation, particularly with smaller South Asian nations. Central to the doctrine is the idea of India extending unilateral concessions and assistance to its neighbors without expecting immediate reciprocation, to foster trust and stability in the region. This approach underscores India’s commitment to peaceful coexistence and economic cooperation, aiming to address historical mistrust and create a conducive environment for mutual development.
In today’s global landscape, the Gujral Doctrine remains relevant, albeit with adaptations to contemporary challenges. In an era marked by geopolitical shifts and emerging threats, maintaining friendly relations with neighboring countries is crucial for India’s security and economic interests. Moreover, in the face of transnational issues such as climate change, terrorism, and pandemics, regional cooperation becomes even more imperative. The doctrine’s emphasis on non-reciprocity and unilateral concessions provides a framework for India to proactively engage with its neighbors, fostering stability and countering common challenges. However, the evolving geopolitical dynamics, including the rise of China and changing power equations, necessitate a nuanced and flexible application of the Gujral Doctrine to effectively address contemporary complexities and safeguard India’s national interests in the region. Therefore, while the core principles of the Gujral Doctrine endure, its implementation requires continual recalibration to meet the demands of the present-day geopolitical landscape.
Tag: Indian foreign policy since Independence under various Prime Ministers like Non-Alignment Movement, Gujral Doctrine, etc.
Decoding the Question:
- In the Introduction, try to write about I.K Gujral and the principles of the Gujral Doctrine.
- In Body,
- Discuss the application and present relevance of the doctrine.
- Also, mention some challenges to the doctrine.
- Try to conclude the answer challenges to this policy and neighborhood policy.
Answer:
The Gujral Doctrine is a set of five principles to guide the conduct of foreign relations with India’s immediate neighbours.These five principles arise from the belief that India’s stature and strength cannot be isolated from the quality of its relations with its neighbours.It, thus, recognises the supreme importance of friendly, cordial relations with neighbours.
These principles are:
- With neighbours like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, India does not ask for reciprocity but gives and accommodates what it can in good faith and trust.
- No South Asian country should allow its territory to be used against the interest of another country of the region.
- No country should interfere in the internal affairs of another.
- All South Asian countries must respect each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
- They should settle all their disputes through peaceful bilateral negotiations.
Application and Relevance of Gujral Doctrine:
- Aligned with India’s Foreign Policy: India’s Current foreign policy of “Neighbourhood Policy” is closely aligned with Gujral doctrine. Improving ties with neighbors has been a leitmotif of Indian foreign policy under all governments. It would modify India’s image from a regional hegemon to one of an accommodating neighbor acting generously, without expectations of reciprocity.
- Building Trust: Being a major country and the biggest economy in the region, making unilateral donations and contributions in neighboring countries will help in generating trust and help in building confidence.
- Neutralizing anti-Indian sentiments: The application of Gujral doctrine principles in the past and the current approach of the government with respect to neighbors of India has been worked as countering anti-India sentiments.
- Securing Government Cooperation: It will help in taking actions against non-state actors. Gujral doctrine has helped India in this scenario. For example, India conducted surgical strikes inside Myanmar against insurgent groups, and Myanmar did not say anything against India. It also improves cooperation in various fields like trade, travel, culture, etc., among countries.
- Socio-economic development: Mutual respect and cooperation between neighboring countries have helped for the economic development of the region and improved overall prosperity except for Pakistan, which always has a voice against India.
- China and Pakistan: Gujral doctrine and its extended and newer version, Neighbourhood First, has made India an equal shareholder in neighboring countries’ development and created a balance for Chinese influence. It also led to the starting of a composite dialogue with Pakistan.
- Water and boundary disputes: It provides effective resolution to water-sharing disputes with countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, etc.
- It can provide effective solutions to migrant’s issues with Bangladesh and Mayanmar, establish peace for Tamils living in Srilanka, resolve the deadlock with Nepal, etc.
Challenges to Gujral Doctrine:
- China’s footprint in the subcontinent has expanded (Belt and Road initiative) and the logic of improved connectivity within the subcontinent is often trumped by heightened security concerns.
- Development cooperation as an instrument of India’s neighbourhood policy is weakened by the paucity of resources.
India is unable to match the scale of resources China is able to deploy in our neighbourhood to win influence. - The current slowdown in the Indian economy has meant that there is less willingness on India’s part to further open its market to its neighbours.
- India’s borders become transmission belts for security threats such as cross-border terrorism, contraband trade or drug trafficking.
- November 2008 Mumbai attacks, reflected the weakness of this doctrine: that ‘inherent goodwill’ may not work with openly hostile neighbours.
Despite various challenges that potentially impact India’s neighborhood first policy and Gujral doctrine, but Its significance lies in the insight that for India to become a global power in sync with its stature, it needs a peaceful neighbourhood. In the age of shifting geopolitics and balance of power, India needs to re-strategize its neighborhood policy for a sustained engagement at all levels of the political and people to people levels, building upon the deep cultural affinities which are unique to India’s relations with its neighbors.
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