Wednesday, September 28, 2005

India's Foreign Policy

Hi, I think a discussion on this topic is necessary after reading today's (sept 27) topstory on 'The Hindu' that Iran has refused to do LNG trade with India after india voted against iran at the IAEA meeting.It is pretty clear that India's decision was influenced or rather forced by the US(like Senator Lantos' remarks at the American Congress).

I feel that the only period in Independent India where we had a strong foreign policy is the 13 month period when BJP was in power (1998-99 when India conducted Pokhran II and bravely faced US sanctions).

I am making a small presentation on what i feel has been the Indian Foreign Policy since post independence period.There may be factual errors in the presentation for which i ask my appologies.

Nehruvian Era: committed the Himalayan blunder of refusing the UNSC seat and handing it over to PR China.Now we are not able to get into UNSC even if we want to.NAM was created and flourished (maybe due to the terrific image of Nehru)

Indira era: NAM became irrelevant for us after we leaned towards USSR.

Vajpayee era: The post pokhran II phase has been the most happening event in the Indian Foreign Affairs History as the world learned to accept India's status as a rising power .

Post Vajpayee era: If NDA's only success was foreign affairs, it seems the UPA will destroy that Dept also.

Your Comments/Criticisms will be much appreciated.
Thanking You

Legend

1 comment:

Devil's disciple said...

hello G&G

First of all before sharing my thoughts on Ideapot's comments, I should thank all the members of the G&G, for reading and analysing the messages posted by you are an intelligence exercise in itself.

I should congratulate Ideapot for the reply she has posted.the post reveals that she is a voracious reader and has terrific command over the language. i should admit i have to accept most of her views.but strangely i found the latter part of her story little more than text book stuff.

I take back my views on UPA's foreign policy. Now it appears that Dr.manmohan Singh did something sensible in voting against iran.The reason being the supplier of nuclear technology to Iran is Dr.Haq(doubht whether the name provided is correct),considered the father of Pakistani nuclear weapons.If we failed to vote against Iran, we would be ignoring the contribution of the pakistani scientist.Another reason being Kashmir is already a nuclear flash point with the three nations involved have nuclear weapons.India does not need another nuclear state in her neighbourhood.

China & India are called the dragon & the elephant and not dragon & the tiger.

I do not think india ever had a independent foreign policy.even during the days of nam we had our bias.i would like to highlight some of these prejudices.
1.India being the only non-communist govt to support the resolution of the soviet invasion of hungary.
2.india & the soviets agreeing a deal where both the countries will fight together if any of them is attacked by a third country.

India is a founding member of NAM.But NAM was always as good as dead even during its initial years.India's vote always tilted in favour of the Soviets.

I would like to conclude by paying my tributes to the Late President Mr.K.R.Narayanan,who joined the govt as an IFS officer, who was denied a lecturer post by Sir C.P. because he was offended in seeing a harijan well dressed and with a golden watch.Narayanan was taught by eminent personalities lile Lionel Robins & Harold Laskyin the London School of Economics & Political Science. In a recommendation letter to Pandit Nehru,Lasky called Narayanan his best student.

More comments on the same posts will be much appreciated.

Legend