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Mahesh

02/12/23 10:26 AM IST

Gujral Doctrine of foreign policy

In News
  • November 30 marks the 11th death anniversary of IK Gujaral, the 12th Prime Minister of India.
  • Gujaral was in the top post for less than a year, and his tenure does not get much individual attention among India’s heads of government.
Gujral Doctrine
  • Before becoming the Prime Minister, Gujral had held several Cabinet positions, including the External Affairs Minister portfolio twice.
  • It was during his second tenure as EAM that Gujral delineated his approach towards India’s neighbours, which later came to be known as the Gujral Doctrine.
  • This consisted of five basic principles, as outlined by Gujral at a speech in Chatham House in London in September 1996.
  • The United Front Government’s neighbourhood policy now stands on five basic principles:
  • First, with the neighbours like Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka, India does not ask for reciprocity but gives all that it can in good faith and trust.
  • Secondly, no South Asian country will allow its territory to be used against the interest of another country of the region.
  • Thirdly, none will interfere in the internal affairs of another.
  • Fourthly, all South Asian countries must respect each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
  • And finally, they will settle all their disputes through peaceful bilateral negotiations.
  • Interestingly, Gujral named the countries from which India would not expect reciprocity, and it did not include Pakistan.
  • The Gujral Doctrine was based on the understanding that India’s size and population by default made it a major player in South East Asia, and its position and prestige could be better cemented by adopting a non-domineering attitude towards its smaller neighbours.
  • It also emphasised the importance of keeping dialogue going, and avoiding needless provocations by commenting on the internal matters of other countries.
  • Under his tenure as EAM, India unilaterally eased travel restrictions, permitting Pakistani tourists to visit India in groups and easing travel for Pakistani businessmen to India. His attempt at keeping dialogue going with Pakistan is famous (more on that later).
  • This policy was formulated in the years after India’s ties with many of its neighbours, including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, had hit rocky patches, making it all the more significant.
Significance
  • Gujral’s approach to foreign policy helped strengthen trust and cooperation in India’s neighbourhood.
  • Gujral’s policy of non-reciprocal accommodation led to the signing of a 30-year treaty between India and Bangladesh on December 12, 1996.
  • In fact, the 1977 treaty on water sharing between India and Bangladesh (after extensions in 1982 and 1985) had lapsed in 1988 and negotiations could not succeed because of inflexibility on both sides.
  • Another key marker of the Doctrine’s success was that Gujral’s successors as PM, from Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Manmohan Singh, continued following the same approach, despite coming from different ideological camps
Criticism
  • Gujral was criticised for going too soft on Pakistan, and leaving India vulnerable to the threats of the future, including the many terror attacks.
  • In sections within Pakistan, meanwhile, the Doctrine was seen as India’s attempt to cosy up to other neighbours and isolate Islamabad.
About IK Gujral
  • Gujral was born in Jhelum in undivided Punjab, and came to India after the Partition.
  • The son of freedom fighters, he had been imprisoned himself during the freedom struggle. His long years in politics had been marked by unfailing politeness and courtesy, but he was known to put his foot down, quite firmly, when required.
  • When the Emergency was imposed, Gujral was Information Minister. He is reported to have said no to Sanjay Gandhi’s orders for stifling the press, and was promptly replaced.
  • In the arena of international relations, Gujral is known for a comment he made about Britain
Source- Indian Express

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