A non-aligned posture also served India’s interests very directly as well as India intervened in world affairs to soften cold war rivalries by reducing differences between the alliances and from escalating into a full scale war. Though India’s policy of non-alignment was criticized on a number of counts:
1. India’s non-alignment was said to be ‘unprincipled’ in the name of persuning in national interest.
2. India often refused to take firm stand on crucial international issues.
3. Sometimes India took contradictory postures, having criticized others for joining alliances, Indian signed the Treaty of friendship in August 1971 with the USSR for 29 years
4. During Bangladesh crisis also India developed good relations even with the US in the name of diplomatic and military support.
