Discuss the shift of India's foreign policy towards Pakistan in the light of Pathankot incident. (UPSC CSE Mains 2016 - Political Science and International Relations, Paper 2)
India’s foreign policy towards Pakistan since independence has been of more tolerance and restraint. India has always followed the policy of talk and dialogue despite various attacks and wars on its territory emanating from Pakistan. India always followed Panchsheel principle, when it comes to dealing with its neighbours. Unfortunately, neither dialogue nor its efforts have worked due to continuous support to terrorism by Pakistan. In recent times, there is a significant shift in India’s foreign policy towards Pakistan.
Recent shift of India’s foreign policy towards Pakistan:
- Confrontation: India’s stance to negotiations is shifting towards a confrontation approach from one of repeat dialogue with less action. Post-Balakot, India has shunned the attitude of non-confrontation.
- Zero toleration for terrorism:India has adopted more of zero tolerance attitude to terrorism emanating from Pakistan. By sending 12 Mirage 2000 jets of the Indian Air Force across the Line of Control and bomb Jaish-e-Mohammed biggest training camp at Balakot, inside Pakistan, India has shown a never-seen-before resolve. Strategic restraint has shifted to strategic strike.
- Global isolation: India has made every effort to make Pakistan isolated at the global It has reached FATF to list Pakistan as a terror finance country.
- Global reach out: India has left no stone unturned to reach out to international community to deface the Pakistan support to terrorism. Two days after the Pulwama terror attack, the Ministry of External Affairs briefed the envoys of 25 major countries, including the P5 as well as Japan, Germany, South Korea and Australia, and convinced them about Pakistan’s hand in the attack. A demarche to Pakistan preceded this meeting.
- More aggressive stance: The stance used this time is more aggressive. The stance of taking moral stands– peace over war has not been able to convince India on Pakistan’s loss efforts against terror.
- No negotiation attitude:Despite not having a law as the US does on not negotiating hostage situations, India has told the world that it effectively will not negotiate. When Wing Commander Abhinandan was captured by Pakistan, despite being offered to negotiate his return, India flatly refused to negotiate.
India’s change in foreign policy towards Pakistan is based on limited confrontation with no compromise on security approach. A state of low intensity conflict exists between India and Pakistan in the disputed region of Kashmir. The Indian and Pakistani relationship is complex and works at many levels. The recent efforts like Kartarpur corridor is much needed initiative if two countries have to move forward with an effort to work closely to tackle terrorism.
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