Main Principles of India’s Foreign Policy:
1. Peaceful Co-existence: In 1954, the principles of Panchsheel were signed between India and China for mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty and integrity, non-violence, nonintervention, mutual respect and cooperation and peaceful co-existence. But China violated them in 1962.
2. Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes: In all situations, India has tried to solve all international matters through peaceful talks, agreements, as Indus-Water Treaty 1960, Tashkent Pact 1966, Shimla Pact 1972 and Farakka Pact 1977 besides helping UNO to solve peacefully Korea war, Vietnam war, Suez crisis, Congo crisis, etc.
3. Non-Alignment: It is the most important base of India’s foreign policy. Its significance was specially felt during the period when the world was divided into two superpowers and there was an atmosphere of Cold War. India chose this path of not joining either of the blocs so as to judge the international events on the basis of merit and logic. It has helped India to get technical, economic and political help from the countries of both the blocs. Even after the disintegration USSR, its relevance continues to exist in view of reorganization of UNO, process of Democratization, New global economic policy, etc.
4. Opposition to Colonialism and Imperialism: India has helped many Afro-Asian countries as Indonesia, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Namibia, etc. in their fight against colonialism and imperialism. India rendered a great help to Bangladesh in its liberation. Even today India is opposing neocolonialism.
5. Opposition to Racial Discrimination: India helped South Africa in its fight against racialism and colour- discrimination till the end, and finally Nelson Mandela won the elections and formed the government.
6. Support to UNO: India assisted UNO to solve Korea and Vietnam problems and sent her peace forces to establish peace in Congo, Somalia, Yugoslavia, etc. A few examples of India’s active participation in the UNO – Nagendra Singh was the Chief Justice and B.N. Rao and R.S Pathak were the judges of the International Court of Justice. Smt. Vijay Laxmi Pandit was the Chairperson of the General Assembly of UNO.
7. Policy of Collective Opposition to International Terrorism: It was especially in the context of terrorist attack of 11th Sept, 2001 on World Trade Centre and Pentagon of America.
8. Peaceful Nuclear Policy: It was declared by the former Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee on 18th August 1999 with the declarations for arms control, non-invasion, responsibility with Prime Minister or his nominee for the use of nuclear power.
