“The conduct of foreign affairs is an outcome of a two-way interaction between domestic compulsions and prevailing international climate”. Take one example from India’s external relations in the 1960s to substantiate your answer.

It is correct to say that domestic compulsions and prevailing international climate influence the foreign policy of a nation. For example, one of the India’s objective in the 1960s was the rapid economic development and alleviation of poverty. It needed financial and technical assistance for rapid industrialisation which was the object of second five year plans. Thus, India followed a policy of non-alignment and did not join any bloc. India, therefore, was able to get assistance from both the blocs.

Similarly international climate influenced India’s external relations. In 1962 China had invaded India and in 1965 there was a war with Pakistan who was an ally of the US. This led to India’s growing partnership with the Soviet Union. After the 1965 war, the Tashkent Agreement was brokered by the Soviet Union in January 1966. In 1971, 20 year Treaty of Peace and Friendship with the Soviet Union was too a result of the US-Pakistan-China axis.

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Write ‘true’ or ‘false’ against each of these statements :

A.

Non-alignment allowed India to gain assistance both from USA and USSR.

B.

India’s relationship with her neighbours has been strained from the beginning.

C.

The cold war has affected the relationship between India and Pakistan.

D.

The treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1971 was the result of India’s closeness to USA.

Match the following :

A. The goal of India’s foreign policy in the period 1950-1964	(i) Tibetan spiritual leader who crossed over to India
B. Panchsheel	(ii) Preservation of territorial integrity, sovereignty and economic development
C. Bandung Conference	(iii) Five principles of peaceful coexistence
D. Dalai Lama	(iv) Led to the establishment of NAM

Why did Nehru regard conduct of foreign relations as an essential indicator of independence ? State any two reasons with examples to support your reading.

Identify any two aspects of India’s foreign policy that you would like to retain and two that you would like to change, if you were to become a decision maker. Give reasons to support your position.

India’s External Relations

“The conduct of foreign affairs is an outcome of a two-way interaction between domestic compulsions and prevailing international climate”. Take one example from India’s external relations in the 1960s to substantiate your answer.