1. India & Her Neighbours

2. Introduction Freedom – 15th August 1947
26th January 1950 – sovereign , democratic republic
Jawaharlal Nehru – First PM – Chief architect of Indian foreign policy – “a policy which flows from our past, from recent history, from our national movement and from various ideas we have proclaimed.”

3. India’s foreign policy
Based on certain principles –
Promotion of world peace
Freedom of all nations and abolition of imperialism and colonialism
Racial equality
Non – alignment and peaceful coexistence

4. India’s foreign policy
History
Ashoka – ahimsa or non – violence
Mahatma Gandhi
Today -
No peace – mutual destruction
Global village
Violence – global conflict
Peace leads to progress

5. India and her neighbours
Basic concern – unity and integrity
Neighbours – Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka
Nehru – zone of peace in South Asia – mutual cooperation and understanding – non – interference and friendly relations through Panchsheel

6. Panchsheel Mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity
Non – aggression
Non – interference in each other’s internal affairs
Equality and mutual benefits
Peaceful coexistence

7. SAARC South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
Established in 1985 – Dhaka
Member nations – India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal
April 2007 – 14th SAARC Summit – Afghanistan – 8th member
Help the South Asian regions in working towards a common dream and common determination – solutions to common problems

8. SAARC
Secretariat – Katmandu – Nepal – monitors, coordinates activities of SAARC
Aims –
To promote welfare of the people of South Asia and improve their quality of life
To increase the pace of economic growth
To promote social progress and cultural development

10. SAARC Achievements –sports , culture, transport
Eg – South Asian Games – started in Katmandu in 1984 – held once in 2 years – promote friendship and goodwill
Eg – SAVE – SAARC Audio – Visual Exchange Progamme – November 1987 – cultural awareness, conscious of problems and needs of a region
SAVE programme – telecast and broadcast by all member countries on the first day of every month
First SAARC festival - Delhi – artisans, musicians and dancers – participate and exchange ideas with each other

11. SAPTA The South Asian Preferential Trade Agreement
Signed in April 1993
To facilitate and promote regional economic cooperation among member states

12. SAFTA Agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area Signed in January 2004
Create a ‘free trade area’ within the South Asian region

13. ASEAN The Association of South – East Asian Nations
Established on 8th August 1967 in Bangkok
Member countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand.
Others who joined later are Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia
Accelerate economic growth, social progress, cultural development
Aims at promoting regional peace and stability in the region – respecting principles of justice and law of that region and adhering to principles of UN.

14. CONCLUSION India is the largest among the SAARC countries.
Differences with neighbours – sharing of water, bouts of terrorism - maintaining peace is a challenge – bilateral negotiations
Indian leaders have visited ASEAN countries – opened up avenues for economic activities.
India has helped Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia in reconstruction and economic development
‘Live and let live’ – cooperation, common goals – understanding, friendship, goodwill