India’s Foreign Policy Towards Pakistan: 2019-2024

Abstract

India\'s foreign policy towards Pakistan from 2019 to 2024 was characterized by a nuanced approach that balanced diplomatic engagement with assertive measures to address security concerns. India consistently emphasized the need for Pakistan to take concrete action against cross-border terrorism and terrorist infrastructure. This approach was evident in various diplomatic initiatives, such as the Kartarpur Corridor, aimed at fostering dialogue and people-to-people contacts. However, progress towards meaningful reconciliation was hindered by persistent tensions, particularly regarding the status of Jammu and Kashmir. India\'s decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir\'s special autonomous status in August 2019 further escalated tensions with Pakistan.Despite occasional offers for dialogue, including during multilateral forums, progress remained limited due to Pakistan\'s continued support for terrorist groups and cross-border infiltration. India also pursued a policy of international isolation against Pakistan, highlighting its role in sponsoring terrorism and seeking support from major global powers to pressurize Pakistan into taking decisive action against terrorist organizations. Overall, India\'s foreign policy towards Pakistan during this period aimed to balance the imperatives of national security and regional stability while exploring opportunities for dialogue and cooperation.

Introduction

I. INTRODUCTION

 India's foreign policy towards Pakistan from 2019 to 2024 was shaped by a complex interplay of diplomatic maneuvers, security imperatives, and regional dynamics. Against the backdrop of longstanding bilateral issues, including cross-border terrorism and territorial disputes, India navigated a delicate balance between engaging in dialogue and asserting its national interests.

Foreign policy decision-making is a difficult process that involves numerous parties and variables. States carefully consider all relevant factors relating to their internal and external dynamics before making any significant judgments on their foreign policies. However, the question of whether or not the internal political, social, and economic conditions have any bearing on a state's decision-making has always been the subject of a protracted and unyielding argument in academic circles. It is frequently argued that when a state participates in the anarchic international system, it is “expanding its native affairs” or “adjusting to its external environment.” They should have the closest ties between them because Pakistan and India are two close neighbours who share a common history and culture.

 Despite sporadic efforts towards engagement, progress remained elusive, with persistent obstacles hindering meaningful reconciliation. This period underscores the enduring complexity of Indo-Pakistani relations and the ongoing quest for stability and security in South Asia.

II. HISTORICAL  PERSPECTIVE

India's foreign policy towards Pakistan has been shaped by a complex historical context marked by partition, territorial disputes, and bilateral conflicts. Following the partition of British India in 1947, India and Pakistan emerged as separate nations amidst communal violence and mass migrations. The partition led to the first Indo-Pakistani war over the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, setting the stage for a protracted conflict over the region. Subsequent decades saw numerous conflicts and tensions between the two countries, including wars in 1965, 1971, and 1999, as well as frequent skirmishes along the Line of Control in Kashmir. These conflicts were fueled by a range of factors, including territorial disputes, ideological differences, and geopolitical rivalries.

Prime Minister Modi’s foreign policy is quite different and discrete from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Major changes in strategies of state can be observed by evaluating different variables either individual or states level variables.

However, the foreign policy of Narendra Modi is considering a proactive turn charged by tough leadership. Some Indian scholars have firmly believed that there is a proactive turn in Indian foreign policy in PM Modi’s regime because the priorities of foreign engagement and national security have redefined and gone up. However, in some areas like regional politics democracy remained to fail. Although PM Modi’s foreign policy is different, the goals of Indian foreign policy have not been exchanged. The annual conference of the International Studies  Association has revealed the midterm progress of PM Narender Modi’s foreign policy. The participants of the conference were confused about the attitude of the Indian prime minister whether Prime Minister Modi would announce a new era of foreign policy, or his policies are just a repackaged of older policies. PM Modi’s religious diplomacy has a strong role in Prime Minister Modi’s foreign policy his Hindutva ideology has powerful but has a different impact on domestic and external affairs. However, India's foreign economy has also adopted a clear nationalisttone and has indicated the ‘neighbourhood first’ priority in his government tenure. (Gupta, 2018) Despite Prime Minister Modi having set a personal stamp on foreign policy. The Indian foreign policy has remained the same towards major powers and partners, especially the sensitive issues.

III. FOREIGN POLICY 2019 TO 2024

India's foreign policy towards Pakistan from 2019 to 2024 was characterized by a combination of diplomatic engagement, strategic assertiveness, and efforts to address security challenges. Key elements of India's approach during this period included.

1. Regional Stability: Despite tensions, India occasionally extended offers for dialogue and engagement with Pakistan, such as the Kartarpur Corridor initiative aimed at facilitating religious tourism. These initiatives were seen as confidence-building measures to promote regional stability.
2. Bilateral Relations: Efforts were made to maintain channels of communication and diplomatic engagement, although progress towards meaningful dialogue and reconciliation remained limited due to persistent challenges and distrust between the two countries.
3. The Pilot Diplomacy (28 Feb 2019): The Balakot strike was the result of Pakistan having shot down an Indian fighter jet and captured the pilot Abhinandan Varthaman. Pakistan claimed that it had shoot downed two Indian jets. Pakistan released a video clip and some images showing the Indian pilot was being rescued from violent villagers. (BBC, 2019). The Pakistan Army gave the first aid and treated him well. After the footage was released India wasflared up and said, “strongly objected to Pakistan’s vulgar display of an injured personnelof the Indian Air Force” and they demanded his safe and immediate return. Pakistan ensured India that it would be treated well (Kazmin,2019) Pakistan returned the pilot to India on 1 March at the Wagah border. The pilot said on TV that Pakistan’s army's behaviour was very impressive and treated him well. Pakistani Prime minister Imran Khan said that the pilot’s release was a peace gesture, and it will be limiting the tension between both nuclear-armed states. (BBC,2019).
4. Revoking the Article 370 (5 Aug 2019): During the second term of elections, Modi’s behaviour was unlike in the backdrop of many internal and external challenges. Firstly, Modi was under pressure from the UN for probing human rights violations in Indian administered Kashmir during his previous tenure. Secondly, after taking the oath Prime Minister Imran Khan called for peace talks with its neighbour and rival India in his earliest speech. One of the most crucial domestic challenges for Modi was to get a sweeping victory in favour of his Bhartiya Janata Party by wielding the anti-Pakistan movement (Naureen, 2018). Furthermore, Modi had adopted nationalist agenda while campaigning for his second term. This jingoism had gone to a broader extent and the BJP’s most desirable goal was to strip off Kashmir’s autonomy was going to accomplish. Modi fulfilled his promise by snatching the rights of freedom from Kashmiri in the form of revoking article 370.
5. Balakot Air strike (26-Feb 2019): After the Pulwama incident in the Indian administered Kashmir state, India retaliates back to Pakistan at the Balakot spot. The beginning of 2019 was marked the most serious tightness between India and Pakistan, and it triggered a cycle of retaliation between armed both armed states. India sent combatant jets across the border (it divides the Kashmir state between both states) for retaliation. Pakistani narrative on this strike was normal and said this strike hit the wooded area that was unpopulated. India said that the target was the training camp of the Jesh-e- Muhammad terrorist group (Slater, 2019) According to this BBC report (BBC, 2019)The Indian strike on Pakistan at Balakot has subsided later but the confusing mess of claims and the counterclaims on both sides were continued. Whether IAF strikes on their planned targets were victorious, whether Pakistan did shoot down the Indian fighter jets, and whether the Indian Air force had claimed that they did bring down a Pakistan Air Force F16 were all controversial issues. The decisive answer seemed elusive, despite the insistent investigation within the South Asian region and by the international community. The military gestures towards each other were a high risk of war and a danger to the peace of the region as well.
6. International Community’s Reactions: Whenever there is conflict arose in the world, the international community tried to solve and limit the escalation further. The same terms and conditions are applied to the major regional conflict in South Asia. The conflicts getting worse because many  armed skirmishes are increasing day by day. Although it was a long and crucial dispute, Indian PM Narendra Modi changed the game. Instead of making good ties with its old rival neighbour PM Modi has made the situation poor. The era of 2014 to 2020 was Nimra Sajjad, Sara Batool and Tajjalla Munir 16 Global Foreign Policies Review (GFPR) full of stress and tightness between two nuclear armed states. The international community has been condemned PM Modi’s action. Pakistan Here is some responses of the international community on the major Indo-Pak conflict during the PM Modi period. Pakistani’s allies had also jumped into the discussion for supporting Pakistan; the Turkish ambassador of Pakistan Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul had firmly supported Pakistan by suggesting the way forward that the only solution to improve ties between India and Pakistan is negotiation and peace talks, not the war. Mr. Mevlut Cavusoglu who is the Turkish foreign minister condemned the attack and said Turkey aligned with the Pakistani stance over the Indian occupied Kashmir and stressed the solution (Saddiqui, 2019). China had contacted Pakistan for a briefing on the Pulwama attack Pakistan cleared its position regarding the deadly attack that killed 40 Indian military personnel on 14 February. Pakistan's foreign minister took the narrative Pakistan would investigate and work with India with determination. (Elmer, 2019).

 Chinese spoke person on international affairs stressed the quick solution to the Indo-Pak conflict and avoiding the escalation. China also offered to support Pakistan in counterterrorism.

Conclusion

India\'s foreign policy towards Pakistan from 2019 to 2024 was characterized by a delicate balancing act between diplomatic engagement and strategic assertiveness. Despite sporadic attempts at dialogue and confidence-building measures, tensions persisted due to issues such as cross-border terrorism and the status of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan always tried to Limit the escalation, but the Indian strategy of The blame game has damaged the relations. India Accused Pakistan of terrorism and told the International community that Pakistan is Engaging in cross-border terrorism and funding Non-state actors. Pakistan has ensured India for Investigation even Pakistan arrested the Responsible for cross border terrorism. India has Adopted ‘a pragmatism approach in its foreign Policy and it has been recognized as one that Rejected India’s prior Nehru’s idealism’ policies Which depend on moral posturing rather than Pursuing material interest and power. Pakistan and India are the big players in the South Asian region, and this region has vast Geopolitical and economic importance. But both States are not able to have good trade or Diplomatic ties with each other. Border conflict And misunderstanding in foreign affairs escalate Hostility Pakistan always used to play offensive Either it has a matter of Kashmir or crosses Border tension. While India’s foreign policy Towards Pakistan has always been offensive Especially in pm Modi\'s regime because of poor Indian policy towards Pakistan as well as Kashmir.

References

[1] Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. (2019). Official Statements & Speeches - Year 2019. ( https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl ) [2] Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. (2021). Official Statements & Speeches - Year 2021. ( https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl ) [3] Guruswamy, M. (2003). India-Pakistan Relations: A History. Academic Foundation. [4] Official statements from the Indian government, parliamentary proceedings, and international media coverage [5] The Indian Ministry of External Affairs and SCO summit declarations. [6] Cohen, S. P. (2004). The Idea of Pakistan. Brookings Institution Press. [7] Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. (2021). Official Statements & Speeches - Year 2021. ( https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl ) [8] Indian Ministry of External Affairs regarding regional engagements, analyses by international relations scholars on the impact of regional dynamics on India-Pakistan relations

Copyright

Copyright © 2024 Anurag Gupta, Dr. Devika Sharma. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.