Question
Does India’s foreign policy reflect her desire to be an important regional power ? Argue your case with the Bangladesh war of 1971 as an example.
Solution
No, India’s foreign policy does not reflect her desire to be an important power. It had never been an objective of her foreign policy. India has always followed the Principle of Peaceful Coexistence and never followed the policy of intervention in the internal affairs of other countries. Bangla crisis in 1971 was the biggest internal crisis of Pakistan which emerged due to general elections. As the Pakistani rulers did not accept the democratic verdict as well as Awami League’s demand for a federation, the people started a struggle to liberate Bangladesh. About 80 lakh refugees took shelter in India. A US–Pakistan–China axis had formed and to counter this India signed 20 year Treaty of Peace and Friendship with the Soviet Union.
This situation and subsequent events led to war with Pakistan,where India emerged as victor and declared unilateral ceasefire. Pakistani army of about 90000 had to surrender. Under these circumstances, India could have imposed a harsh treaty on Pakistan but it did not do so because India’s policy was of peaceful coexistence. It never reflected her desire to be an important or dominant regional power.
This situation and subsequent events led to war with Pakistan,where India emerged as victor and declared unilateral ceasefire. Pakistani army of about 90000 had to surrender. Under these circumstances, India could have imposed a harsh treaty on Pakistan but it did not do so because India’s policy was of peaceful coexistence. It never reflected her desire to be an important or dominant regional power.
