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Foreign policy of Indira Gandhi
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The stated aims of the foreign policy of Indira Gandhi premiership between 1967-1977 include a focus on security, by fighting militants abroad and strengthening border defenses. On 30 October 1981 at the meeting organised to mark silver jubilee celebration of the School of International Studies, Gandhi said, "A country's policy is shaped by many forces- its position on the map, and the countries which are its neighbours, the policies they adopt, and the actions they take, as well as its historical experiences in the aggregate and in terms of its particular success or traumas."<ref name="speech"></ref>
===Non-aligned Movement===
[[File:Indira Gandhi & Nicolae Ceauşescu.jpg|thumb|Gandhi with [[Nicolae Ceaușescu]] in 1969]]
In the early 1980s under Gandhi, India attempted to reassert its prominent role in the [[Non-Aligned Movement]] by focusing on the relationship between disarmament and economic development. By appealing to the economic grievances of [[Developing country|developing countries]], Gandhi and her successors exercised a moderating influence on the Non-aligned movement, diverting it from some of the [[Cold War]] issues that marred the controversial 1979 Havana meeting where Cuban leader [[Fidel Castro]] attempted to steer the movement towards the Soviet Union.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)}}</ref> Although hosting the 1983 summit at Delhi boosted Indian prestige within the movement, its close relations with the [[Soviet Union]] and its pro-Soviet positions on [[Afghanistan]] and [[Cambodia]] limited its influence.Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2) Gandhi boosted the NAM summit in New Delhi in 1967 to strengthen the unity and co-operation among Afro-Asian countries.
===Indo-US===
When Indira came to power in 1966, Lyndon Johnson was the US president. At that time, India was reliant on US for food aid. Indira resented the US policy of food aid as a tool in forcing India to adopt policies favored by the US. She also resolutely refused to sign the [[Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons|NPT]] (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons). Relations with US strained badly under President [[Richard Nixon]] and his favoring of Pakistan during the Bangladesh liberation war. Nixon despised Indira politically and personally.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)}}</ref> Indira met President [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1981 for the first time at the [[North–South Summit]] held to discuss global poverty. Indira had been described to him as an 'Ogre' but he found her charming and easy to work with and they formed a close working relationship during her premiership in the 1980s.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)}}</ref>
===Soviet Union===
The relationship between India and the [[Soviet Union]] deepened during Gandhi's rule. The main reason was the perceived bias of United States and [[China]], the rivals of USSR, towards [[Pakistan]]. The support of the Soviets with arms supplies and casting of veto at United Nations helped in winning and consolidating the victory over Pakistan in the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war. Prior to the war Indira signed a treaty of friendship with the Soviets. The Soviets were not happy with the 1974 nuclear test conducted by India but did not support further action because of the ensuing Cold War with the United States. Indira was not happy with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan but once again calculations involving relations with Pakistan and China kept from criticizing the Soviet Union harshly. The Soviets became the main arms supplier during the Indira years by offering cheap credit and transactions in rupees rather than in dollars. The easy trade deals also applied to non-military goods. Under Indira by the early 1980s the Soviets became the largest trading partner of India.<ref name="British Academic Press">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>
===South Asia===
In early 1971, disputed elections in [[Pakistan]] led the then [[East Pakistan]] to declare independence as [[Bangladesh]]. Repression and violence by the Pakistani army led 10 million refugees to cross border in to India over the coming months.<ref name="ahsgjxajtu0c244">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)}}</ref> Finally in December 1971, Gandhi directly intervened in the [[Bangladesh Liberation War|conflict]] to liberate [[Bangladesh]]. India emerged victorious in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|resulting conflict]] to become the dominant power of South Asia.<ref></ref> India had signed a [[Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation|treaty]] with the Soviet Union promising mutual assistance in the case of war,<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)}}</ref> while Pakistan received active support from the United States during the conflict.<ref name="NixonWitchBBC">[https://ift.tt/2JnlMxx Nixon's dislike of 'witch' Indira, BBC News, 29 June 2005]. BBC News (29 June 2005). Retrieved on 18 June 2011.</ref> U.S. President [[Richard Nixon]] disliked Gandhi personally, referring to her as a "witch" and "clever fox" in his private communication with Secretary of State [[Henry Kissinger]].<ref> South Asia Nixon's dislike of 'witch' Indira|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=19 July 2017|date=29 June 2005}}</ref> Nixon later wrote of the war: "[Gandhi] suckered [America]. Suckered us.....this woman suckered us.".<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Relations with the U.S. became distant as Gandhi developed closer ties with the Soviet Union after the war. The latter grew to become India's largest trading partner and its biggest arms supplier for much of Gandhi's premiership.<ref></ref> India's new hegemonic position as articulated under the "Indira Doctrine" led to attempts to bring the [[Himalayan states]] under the Indian sphere of influence.<ref></ref> [[Nepal]] and [[Bhutan]] remained aligned with India, while in 1975, after years of building up support, Gandhi incorporated [[Sikkim]] into India, after [[1975 Sikkimese monarchy referendum|a referendum]] in which a majority of Sikkimese voted to join India.<ref>}}</ref> This was denounced as a "despicable act" by China.<ref></ref>
[[File:Jacqueline Kennedy and Indira Gandhi.jpg|thumb|Indira Gandhi with [[Jacqueline Kennedy]] in New Delhi, 1962]]
India [[Indo-Bangla Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Peace|maintained close ties]] with neighbouring [[Bangladesh]] (formerly [[East Pakistan]]) following the [[Bangladesh Liberation War|Liberation War]]. Prime Minister [[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]] recognized Gandhi's contributions to the independence of Bangladesh. However, Mujibur Rahman's pro-India policies antagonised many in Bangladeshi politics and the military, who feared that Bangladesh had become a client state of India.<ref name="Nair"></ref><ref name="MK">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> The [[Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman|Assassination of Mujibur Rahman]] in 1975 led to the establishment of Islamist military regimes that sought to distance the country from India.<ref name="IB"></ref> Gandhi's relationship with the military regimes was strained, due to her alleged support of anti-Islamist leftist guerrilla forces in Bangladesh.<ref name="IB" /> Generally, however, there was a rapprochement between Gandhi and the Bangladeshi regimes, although issues such as border disputes and the [[Farakka Barrage|Farakka Dam]] remained an irritant in bilateral ties.<ref></ref> In 2011, the Government of Bangladesh conferred its highest state award posthumously on Gandhi for her "outstanding contribution" to the country's independence.<ref name="Gandhi1971">[https://ift.tt/3dTqq1D Former PM Indira Gandhi honoured with Bangladesh's highest award, The Economic Times, 25 July 2011]. The Economic Times (25 July 2011). Retrieved on 25 December 2012.</ref>
Gandhi's approach to dealing with Sri Lanka's [[Sri Lankan Civil War|ethnic problems]] was initially accommodating. She enjoyed cordial relations with Prime Minister [[Sirimavo Bandaranaike]]. In 1974, India ceded the tiny islet of [[Katchatheevu]] to Sri Lanka in order to save Bandaranaike's socialist government from a political disaster.<ref name="Suryanarayan"></ref> However, relations soured over Sri Lanka's turn away from socialism under [[J. R. Jayewardene]], whom Gandhi despised as a "western puppet." India under Gandhi was alleged to have supported [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam|LTTE]] militants in the 1980s to put pressure on Jayewardene to abide by Indian interests.<ref name="sndayt"></ref> Nevertheless, Gandhi rejected demands to invade Sri Lanka in the aftermath of [[Black July|Black July 1983]], an anti-Tamil pogrom carried out by Sinhalese mobs.<ref name="Bandarage"></ref> Gandhi made a statement emphasizing that she stood for the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka, although she also stated that India cannot "remain a silent spectator to any injustice done to the Tamil community."<ref name="Bandarage"/><ref name="Dissanayaka"></ref>
India's relationship with Pakistan remained strained following the [[Simla Agreement|Shimla Accord]] in 1972. Gandhi's [[Smiling Buddha|authorization of the detonation of a nuclear device]] at Pokhran in 1974 was viewed by Pakistani leader [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]] as an attempt to intimidate Pakistan into accepting India's hegemony in the subcontinent. However, in May 1976, Gandhi and Bhutto both agreed to reopen diplomatic establishments and normalize relations.<ref name="Grover"></ref> Following the rise to power of General [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq]] in Pakistan in 1978, India's relations with its neighbour reached a nadir. Gandhi accused General Zia of supporting [[Khalistan movement|Khalistani]] militants in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]].<ref name="Grover"/> Military hostilities recommenced in 1984 following Gandhi's authorization of [[Operation Meghdoot]].<ref name=Kapur></ref> India was victorious in the resulting [[Siachen conflict]] against Pakistan.<ref name=Kapur/>
In order to keep the Soviet Union and the United States out of South Asia, Mrs Gandhi was instrumental in establishing the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation ([[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation|SAARC]]) in 1983<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)}}</ref>
==See also==
[[List of state visits made by Indira Gandhi]]
==References==
===Non-aligned Movement===
[[File:Indira Gandhi & Nicolae Ceauşescu.jpg|thumb|Gandhi with [[Nicolae Ceaușescu]] in 1969]]
In the early 1980s under Gandhi, India attempted to reassert its prominent role in the [[Non-Aligned Movement]] by focusing on the relationship between disarmament and economic development. By appealing to the economic grievances of [[Developing country|developing countries]], Gandhi and her successors exercised a moderating influence on the Non-aligned movement, diverting it from some of the [[Cold War]] issues that marred the controversial 1979 Havana meeting where Cuban leader [[Fidel Castro]] attempted to steer the movement towards the Soviet Union.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)}}</ref> Although hosting the 1983 summit at Delhi boosted Indian prestige within the movement, its close relations with the [[Soviet Union]] and its pro-Soviet positions on [[Afghanistan]] and [[Cambodia]] limited its influence.Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2) Gandhi boosted the NAM summit in New Delhi in 1967 to strengthen the unity and co-operation among Afro-Asian countries.
===Indo-US===
When Indira came to power in 1966, Lyndon Johnson was the US president. At that time, India was reliant on US for food aid. Indira resented the US policy of food aid as a tool in forcing India to adopt policies favored by the US. She also resolutely refused to sign the [[Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons|NPT]] (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons). Relations with US strained badly under President [[Richard Nixon]] and his favoring of Pakistan during the Bangladesh liberation war. Nixon despised Indira politically and personally.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)}}</ref> Indira met President [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1981 for the first time at the [[North–South Summit]] held to discuss global poverty. Indira had been described to him as an 'Ogre' but he found her charming and easy to work with and they formed a close working relationship during her premiership in the 1980s.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)}}</ref>
===Soviet Union===
The relationship between India and the [[Soviet Union]] deepened during Gandhi's rule. The main reason was the perceived bias of United States and [[China]], the rivals of USSR, towards [[Pakistan]]. The support of the Soviets with arms supplies and casting of veto at United Nations helped in winning and consolidating the victory over Pakistan in the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war. Prior to the war Indira signed a treaty of friendship with the Soviets. The Soviets were not happy with the 1974 nuclear test conducted by India but did not support further action because of the ensuing Cold War with the United States. Indira was not happy with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan but once again calculations involving relations with Pakistan and China kept from criticizing the Soviet Union harshly. The Soviets became the main arms supplier during the Indira years by offering cheap credit and transactions in rupees rather than in dollars. The easy trade deals also applied to non-military goods. Under Indira by the early 1980s the Soviets became the largest trading partner of India.<ref name="British Academic Press">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref>
===South Asia===
In early 1971, disputed elections in [[Pakistan]] led the then [[East Pakistan]] to declare independence as [[Bangladesh]]. Repression and violence by the Pakistani army led 10 million refugees to cross border in to India over the coming months.<ref name="ahsgjxajtu0c244">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)}}</ref> Finally in December 1971, Gandhi directly intervened in the [[Bangladesh Liberation War|conflict]] to liberate [[Bangladesh]]. India emerged victorious in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|resulting conflict]] to become the dominant power of South Asia.<ref></ref> India had signed a [[Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation|treaty]] with the Soviet Union promising mutual assistance in the case of war,<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)}}</ref> while Pakistan received active support from the United States during the conflict.<ref name="NixonWitchBBC">[https://ift.tt/2JnlMxx Nixon's dislike of 'witch' Indira, BBC News, 29 June 2005]. BBC News (29 June 2005). Retrieved on 18 June 2011.</ref> U.S. President [[Richard Nixon]] disliked Gandhi personally, referring to her as a "witch" and "clever fox" in his private communication with Secretary of State [[Henry Kissinger]].<ref> South Asia Nixon's dislike of 'witch' Indira|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=19 July 2017|date=29 June 2005}}</ref> Nixon later wrote of the war: "[Gandhi] suckered [America]. Suckered us.....this woman suckered us.".<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> Relations with the U.S. became distant as Gandhi developed closer ties with the Soviet Union after the war. The latter grew to become India's largest trading partner and its biggest arms supplier for much of Gandhi's premiership.<ref></ref> India's new hegemonic position as articulated under the "Indira Doctrine" led to attempts to bring the [[Himalayan states]] under the Indian sphere of influence.<ref></ref> [[Nepal]] and [[Bhutan]] remained aligned with India, while in 1975, after years of building up support, Gandhi incorporated [[Sikkim]] into India, after [[1975 Sikkimese monarchy referendum|a referendum]] in which a majority of Sikkimese voted to join India.<ref>}}</ref> This was denounced as a "despicable act" by China.<ref></ref>
[[File:Jacqueline Kennedy and Indira Gandhi.jpg|thumb|Indira Gandhi with [[Jacqueline Kennedy]] in New Delhi, 1962]]
India [[Indo-Bangla Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Peace|maintained close ties]] with neighbouring [[Bangladesh]] (formerly [[East Pakistan]]) following the [[Bangladesh Liberation War|Liberation War]]. Prime Minister [[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]] recognized Gandhi's contributions to the independence of Bangladesh. However, Mujibur Rahman's pro-India policies antagonised many in Bangladeshi politics and the military, who feared that Bangladesh had become a client state of India.<ref name="Nair"></ref><ref name="MK">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> The [[Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman|Assassination of Mujibur Rahman]] in 1975 led to the establishment of Islamist military regimes that sought to distance the country from India.<ref name="IB"></ref> Gandhi's relationship with the military regimes was strained, due to her alleged support of anti-Islamist leftist guerrilla forces in Bangladesh.<ref name="IB" /> Generally, however, there was a rapprochement between Gandhi and the Bangladeshi regimes, although issues such as border disputes and the [[Farakka Barrage|Farakka Dam]] remained an irritant in bilateral ties.<ref></ref> In 2011, the Government of Bangladesh conferred its highest state award posthumously on Gandhi for her "outstanding contribution" to the country's independence.<ref name="Gandhi1971">[https://ift.tt/3dTqq1D Former PM Indira Gandhi honoured with Bangladesh's highest award, The Economic Times, 25 July 2011]. The Economic Times (25 July 2011). Retrieved on 25 December 2012.</ref>
Gandhi's approach to dealing with Sri Lanka's [[Sri Lankan Civil War|ethnic problems]] was initially accommodating. She enjoyed cordial relations with Prime Minister [[Sirimavo Bandaranaike]]. In 1974, India ceded the tiny islet of [[Katchatheevu]] to Sri Lanka in order to save Bandaranaike's socialist government from a political disaster.<ref name="Suryanarayan"></ref> However, relations soured over Sri Lanka's turn away from socialism under [[J. R. Jayewardene]], whom Gandhi despised as a "western puppet." India under Gandhi was alleged to have supported [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam|LTTE]] militants in the 1980s to put pressure on Jayewardene to abide by Indian interests.<ref name="sndayt"></ref> Nevertheless, Gandhi rejected demands to invade Sri Lanka in the aftermath of [[Black July|Black July 1983]], an anti-Tamil pogrom carried out by Sinhalese mobs.<ref name="Bandarage"></ref> Gandhi made a statement emphasizing that she stood for the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka, although she also stated that India cannot "remain a silent spectator to any injustice done to the Tamil community."<ref name="Bandarage"/><ref name="Dissanayaka"></ref>
India's relationship with Pakistan remained strained following the [[Simla Agreement|Shimla Accord]] in 1972. Gandhi's [[Smiling Buddha|authorization of the detonation of a nuclear device]] at Pokhran in 1974 was viewed by Pakistani leader [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]] as an attempt to intimidate Pakistan into accepting India's hegemony in the subcontinent. However, in May 1976, Gandhi and Bhutto both agreed to reopen diplomatic establishments and normalize relations.<ref name="Grover"></ref> Following the rise to power of General [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq]] in Pakistan in 1978, India's relations with its neighbour reached a nadir. Gandhi accused General Zia of supporting [[Khalistan movement|Khalistani]] militants in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]].<ref name="Grover"/> Military hostilities recommenced in 1984 following Gandhi's authorization of [[Operation Meghdoot]].<ref name=Kapur></ref> India was victorious in the resulting [[Siachen conflict]] against Pakistan.<ref name=Kapur/>
In order to keep the Soviet Union and the United States out of South Asia, Mrs Gandhi was instrumental in establishing the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation ([[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation|SAARC]]) in 1983<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)}}</ref>
==See also==
[[List of state visits made by Indira Gandhi]]
==References==
April 04, 2020 at 04:12PM
