India & Pakistan: A Tale of Two Diplomatic Journeys

The diplomatic journeys of India and Pakistan have been a wild ride, reflecting their evolving roles on the global stage.

There is a common perception that Pakistan has always followed an emotional and unrealistic foreign policy. This approach is believed to have led to its isolation in the region and worldwide. On the contrary, Indian foreign policy is often praised for its historical stance of non-alignment. India’s active economic and strategic engagement with major global powers is also widely recognized.

The recent foreign policy choices of India and Pakistan present a contrasting narrative. To what extent is the assumption of India’s non-alignment accurate? Is India maintaining consistency with its historical non-alignment in the current geopolitical landscape? Has Pakistan learned from its past mistakes, and what does the future hold for it? Let’s dissect all these questions in this commentary:

Foreign Policy Choices in Initial Years

Pakistan started its diplomatic career as an open and unbiased state. In the initial years, it sought to pursue an independent foreign policy. However, the 1950s saw a shift in its approach as the country leaned toward the US camp during the Cold War. On the other hand, India, under Nehru, championed non-alignment and benefited from this stance.

In the post-Cold War era, the diplomatic paths of Pakistan and India have diverged significantly. India has gradually shifted from its historical stance of non-alignment to align with certain global powers. Meanwhile, Pakistan, despite being smaller and facing both internal and external challenges, has maintained a strategic balance between global blocs. Let’s see how.

India’s Shift from Non-Alignment to Global Maneuvering (2000s Onwards)

India’s diplomatic journey has evolved significantly since its post-independence policy of non-alignment, which was a cornerstone during the Nehruvian era. The idea was to keep India out of Cold War entanglements and maintain autonomy in foreign policy. However, India has recalibrated this approach in recent decades, particularly under Narendra Modi’s leadership. Here is a list of India’s stances and actions that are a clear shift from its traditional non-aligned policy, illustrating the changing nature of the diplomatic journeys of India and Pakistan:

Allegations of Covert Operations Abroad and Global Scrutiny  (Heightened After 2015)

India has come under global scrutiny for its alleged covert operations and intelligence actions on foreign soil. These actions have led to serious diplomatic disputes. Accusations of fundamental errors and possible crimes on Canadian, German, Australian, and American territories have surfaced. A controversial operation on Qatari soil has also raised concerns.

Under Modi’s government, this indicates a more assertive, if not reckless, approach to international diplomacy. While these actions have bolstered India’s assertiveness on the global stage, they have also strained relations with traditional Western allies. Countries like Australia and the U.S. have refrained from directly confronting India, largely due to strengthened security and economic ties. However, Canada has taken a more assertive stance, significantly straining its diplomatic relations with India.

Also See: Political Playbook of India: Fear, Identity, and the Vote

Alienation of Neighboring Countries (2015 Onwards)

India has gradually alienated its close regional neighbours, such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Nepal, and Bangladesh. This alienation stems from a lack of long-term vision and an overemphasis on short-term strategic interests. The current governments in these countries have shown less favourable inclinations toward New Delhi. This shift is driven by India’s interventionist approach to their domestic affairs.

For instance, India has offered all-out support for Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh. It imposed a blockade on Nepal for adopting a secular constitution. India also stationed military personnel in the Maldives and exerted undue influence over Sri Lankan affairs.

Engagement with Western Multilateral Groupings (2016-Till Day)

India has increasingly participated in multilateral groupings that are aligned with Western interests, such as G20, BRICS, and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), while simultaneously being part of platforms like Quad and India-US Strategic Dialogue. On the other hand, it is not active in regional groupings like SAARC and RCEP. India withdrew from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in 2019, citing concerns over market access and trade imbalances with China. Similarly, it has never effectively engaged with SAARC owing to its alleged threats from Pakistan and its quest to isolate Pakistan from every forum of regional integration.

Departure from Pro-Palestinian Stance (2017)

Modi’s visit to Israel in 2017 marked a significant shift in India’s foreign policy, moving away from its long-standing pro-Palestinian stance. In the ongoing Palestine-Israel war, India is exporting rockets and explosives to Israel. Prima facie, India is advancing its strategic interests by deepening defence and intelligence ties with Israel, this approach risks alienating the broader Islamic world, particularly in light of its sizable Muslim population and its increasingly fragile position on the Kashmir issue.

The EU DisinfoLab Exposé and Anti-Pakistan Narratives (2020)

Under Manmohan Singh, India initiated a campaign to isolate Pakistan globally, painting it as a hub of terrorism. This narrative was perpetuated by the BJP government, which followed this strategy even more aggressively. India capitalized on global concerns about terrorism and strategically highlighted Pakistan’s internal struggles with militancy, using forums like the UN and FATF to isolate its neighbour. India’s covert influence operations became more evident with the exposure of the EU DisinfoLab in 2020, which revealed a 16-year-long campaign by Indian entities to discredit Pakistan internationally. The operation involved creating fake media outlets, and NGOs, and even resurrecting dead journalists to push anti-Pakistan narratives within European institutions. This elaborate disinformation campaign was part of India’s broader strategy to marginalize Pakistan on the international stage and damage its credibility, especially in Europe.

Potential Fallout with Russia (2022)

India has also angered its long-standing defence and strategic ally Russia by selling arms to Ukraine in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Russia, a key defence partner, has voiced its concerns over these munitions transfers, which hints towards a potential diplomatic fallout between New Delhi and Moscow. Despite these protests, India has not taken decisive action to halt the flow of munitions to Ukraine, which could strain the historically warm ties between India and Russia, built on decades of defence cooperation. The failure to address this issue raises questions about India’s commitment to its defence export policies and the diplomatic consequences of appearing indifferent to Russian concerns.

Pakistan’s Evolving Foreign Policy

Having discussed India’s foreign policy choices in recent years, when we turn to Pakistan, the situation is different from what it used to be. Despite being in the US camp for quite a long, Pakistan has recently shifted its foreign policy priorities. In the aftermath of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Pakistan’s relationship with the US has cooled, resulting in a state of tense relations rather than outright rivalry. Still, the U.S. recognizes that Pakistan will remain pivotal to its geo-strategic interests in the region, whether in engaging with the Taliban, combating terrorism, or maintaining a balance with India if necessary. 

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s relations with China have further strengthened over the years, ensuring that it remains a central player in the diplomatic journeys of India and Pakistan.

Although Pakistan has struggled to ensure the security of Chinese nationals involved in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), China recognizes Pakistan’s geopolitical significance, dispelling the notion of a potential fallout between the two countries. 

In recent years, Pakistan has also improved its relations with Russia, conducting joint military exercises and cooperating in the energy and defence sectors. This is part of Pakistan’s strategy to diversify its partnerships and prevent isolation, while also countering India’s growing proximity to the US and Israel. 

Pakistan’s Diplomatic Resilience

Despite facing severe internal political instability, economic crises, and the constant threat of terrorism, Pakistan has managed to avoid complete isolation. Its role in facilitating peace talks in Afghanistan, and its cooperation with global powers on security and regional stability, have kept it relevant on the international stage with the current hosting of the SCO summit making it a significant diplomatic achievement.

The evolving dynamics and shifting alliances serve as a stark reminder that no nation can rely solely on past relationships. As key South Asian players and nuclear-armed states, both India and Pakistan remain central to global affairs. The true test lies in how they navigate and adapt their strategic engagement in the years ahead.

SAT Commentaries’ are social media threads by various authors, reproduced here for website use. Views are their own.

SAT Commentary

SAT Commentaries, a collection of insightful social media threads on current events and social issues, featuring diverse perspectives from various authors.

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