Neighborhood First Policy
- A peaceful and harmonious neighborhood is necessary since a nation’s neighborhood determines its fate. India’s “Neighborhood First Policy,” or foreign policy, actively prioritises fostering relationships with its close neighbors.
- the significance of the rule As former prime minister A.B. Vajpayee once said, “You may change your friends, but not your neighbours.” If India is to have a substantial impact on the emerging multipolar international politics, it must establish strong links between its domestic aspirations and its foreign policy objectives.
- A safe, peaceful, and stable neighborhood is crucial for India’s political and social development.
Connections between regions and diplomatic problems:
- Divided Subcontinent:As a result of the problems resulting from the partition of India, the subcontinent is now split along political and religious lines.
- Regional diplomacyis also impacted by the challenges of defining borders, sharing river flows, preserving minority’ rights, and allowing the movement of people and products.
- China’s rise:When China annexed Tibet in 1950–1951, it officially crossed the Indo–Tibetan border. The geopolitical environment in India is significantly impacted by this.
- Beyond the bilateral territorial dispute between India and China, the emergence of a powerful state within its borders had an effect on India’s relations with its neighbours.
- Domestic Politics: India’s domestic politics have always had an impact on our regional strategy. This holds true for our neighbours as well, whose national politics affect how they deal with India. For instance, the Tamil question has largely shaped India’s perspective on Sri Lanka.
- The chief minister of West Bengal revoked the agreement between India and Bangladesh over the Teesta Waters.
- Lack of connectivity:The sorry state of connectivity we find ourselves in today is the product of years of geostrategic fragmentation, political nationalism, and economic protectionism.
- Future-oriented Policy Non-interference: The size of India plays a big role in how our neighbours view us and our policies. South Asia’s land area, population, economic activity, and resource base are dominated by India.
- India and its other neighbours must therefore uphold the policy of non-interference in domestic issues and be cognizant of how awkward dealing with a huge neighbour may be for their smaller neighbours.
- Establishing a border commission India’s external bordersstill need to be defined, and resolving border disputes would pave the way for successful regional integration. Therefore, in order to fix the border issue, India must work to establish a border commission.
- Broader perspective on the goals of foreign policy: It is still challenging to combine India’s foreign and economic policies in this region. India should consequently refrain from putting its bilateral relationships with its neighbours at risk in order to pursue short-term economic gains.
- Strengthening Regional Coordination Regional connectivityneeds to be promoted more actively while security issues are addressed utilising practical, dependable, and cost-effective technology solutions already in use elsewhere in the world.
- Applying Gujral’s Principle:India should adopt the Gujral Doctrine as the cornerstone of its foreign policy. This will ensure that India’s stature and influence, as well as regional prosperity, are inextricably linked to the quality of its interactions with its neighbours.
Conclusion:
- In spite of the complex issues and circumstances, the neighbourhood first strategy must be grounded in the ongoing engagement at all political and interpersonal levels, building on the deep cultural affinities that are unique to India’s partnerships with its neighbours.
