Lecture Notes on India's Foreign Policy (1964-1977)

Key Events in 1964

End of Nehru Era: Prime Minister Nehru, who shaped India's foreign policy for 16 years, passes away.
Vietnam War: USA increases involvement in the Vietnam War.
Leadership Change in USSR: Leonid Brezhnev succeeds Nikita Khrushchev.
China's Nuclear Capability: China conducts nuclear test, becoming the fifth nuclear power.
New Prime Minister: Lal Bahadur Shastri becomes India's second Prime Minister.

Deteriorated India-China Relations: Relations worsened post-1962 war, perceived aggression from China.
Increased US Support to Pakistan: Record funding to Pakistan raised concerns in India.
Anti-India Coalition Formed: Pindi-Peking-Jakarta Axis (Pakistan, China, Indonesia) emerged as a coalition against India.
Food Shortages: India faced significant food shortages during Shastri's tenure.

Focus on Neighbourhood: Shifted emphasis from international events to bilateral relations with neighbouring countries.
Increased Defense Budget: Largest increase in defense budget since independence to address security concerns.
Nuclear Weapons Development: Kept nuclear weapons option open for India.
Public Stance on Vietnam War: First Indian Prime Minister to publicly voice disapproval of US actions in Vietnam.

Conflict Trigger: Skirmishes began in April 1965 over the Kutch region; Pakistan claimed territories post-1962 war.
Operation Gibraltar: Launched by Pakistan on August 5, 1965, to incite rebellion in Kashmir using disguised soldiers.
Operation Grand Slam: Aimed at capturing Akhnoor, starting September 1, 1965, but both operations failed due to strong Indian resistance.
Slogan: Shastri’s rallying cry, "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" (Hail the soldier, Hail the farmer).
Outcome: War resulted in heavy losses on both sides; recognized India's emerging power status in Asia.

Srima-Shastri Pact (1964):
- Agreement with Sri Lanka to address the status of Indian Tamils.
- India to take back 525,000 Indians; Sri Lanka grants citizenship to 300,000 Tamils.
Tashkent Agreement (1966):
- Signed after the 1965 war, facilitated by Soviet Premier Kosygin.
- Both countries agreed to withdraw troops to pre-war positions.
- PM Shastri died shortly after signing the agreement, raising suspicions about his death.

First Woman Prime Minister: Assumed office after Shastri's death.
Challenges: Faced drought and food shortages, leading to reliance on US for food imports.
Agricultural Reforms: Advocated for the Green Revolution during her visit to the USA.

Pragmatism and Realism: Shift from Nehru's idealism to more practical approaches.
International Relations: Acted amid the US-USSR détente and formed closer ties with the USSR.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT):
- Aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons; India did not sign, citing discrimination.
Indo-Soviet Treaty (1971):
- Signed during the Bangladesh Liberation War, ensuring military support from the USSR against threats from China.
Bangladesh Liberation War (1971):
- India intervened to support Bengali-speaking people against West Pakistan.
- Resulted in the creation of Bangladesh; India captured 90,000 Pakistani POWs.
Shimla Agreement (1972):
- Agreement with Pakistan to resolve disputes bilaterally without third-party intervention.

Pokhran-1 Nuclear Test (1974):
- India conducted its first nuclear test, marking its entry as a nuclear power.
Integration of Sikkim (1975):
- Sikkim became India's 22nd state after a successful referendum.
Restoration of Relations with China:
- Diplomatic ties re-established after 16 years.
Indira Doctrine:
- Defined India's security in relation to South Asia, promoting regional dominance.

Political Shifts: PM Indira Gandhi's policies reflected a shift towards greater assertiveness in foreign relations.
End of Era: Morarji Desai became first non-Congress PM post-Emergency; focused on genuine Non-Alignment.
Legacy: Changes in foreign policy reflect a continuous dialogue between continuity and change, as noted by A.B. Vajpayee.