Narasimma Rao Era

Two Important International Events that disrupted the Foreign Policy

(Try to test nuclear Test at Pokhran but US Spy Satellite find it & force India to stop Nuclear Test)

1) Gulf War

(Iran & Iraq became independent {Not align with USA}. India import more oil from Iraq, because of war, Import costlier → Forex reserve drain.

That’s why 1991, LPG Reforms done)

• In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait. This led to the beginning of the Gulf War–I.
• For India, the Gulf War–I had severe consequences. India had perceived Iraq very differently as it was not only one of the most secular states but also not a member of Organization of Islamic States.
• From the Indian point of view, Iraq was a crucial state because it had always been favourable towards India on the Kashmir question.
• In 1990, India and Iraq had even entered into an agreement where Iraq was to supply 2.5 million tons of oil to India in 1990–91.
• All this led to a delayed response from India on the Gulf war. India, however, supported the UN resolution against Iraq and urged Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait.
• By that time, the USA had launched a fully-fledged military invasion of Iraq to force it to withdraw from Kuwait.

(1991 Communist defeated & Islamic grow. After defeated, Afghanistan militant are free, so Pakistan use them to attack Kashmir, During 1990s more military attack on Kashmir

Taliban rule 1966 – 2001, they defeat communist in 1991, but official ruling start in 1996).

2) Disintegration of Soviet Union

(led to US Hegemony)

• In 1989, the Soviet Union had already disintegrated. The Communist regimes in Eastern Europe had collapsed. This ended the sole adversary of USA in the world.
• The US displayed tremendous military power in Iraq during Gulf War.
• The situation ended the bipolar world order established after the World war II and hence Its military intervention against Iraq could not be challenged by any player in the international system.
• USSR was now succeeded by Russia, which meant that India had now lost the patronage of the erstwhile USSR and a major defence supply.
• Now India had to renegotiate all contracts and at certain places even sign new contracts.
• At this juncture, many in Russia felt the need to end the special favour for India. Under intense USA pressure, Russia even refused to provide India with cryogenic technology for its space programme, citing that the technology could be used by India for military purposes.
• However, things normalised when Boris Yeltsin visited India in 1993. During his visit, the 1971 India–Russia Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation was revised with 14 additional clauses and was signed to mark a new era in bilateral relationship post-Cold War.

Turn Towards Central Asia

• At the same time Rao also developed new contacts with the five Central Asian
• Republics that emerged after the breakup of USSR.
• India built upon the existing trade links which it had during Soviet era
• Look East Policy - historical and cultural ties could be strengthened.
• Need arose due to search of Multipolar world, democratisation of International politics and Enlightened self-interest.
• The sure way of preventing crystallisation of unipolar world was by gently encouraging countries which had achieved economic strength to assert themselves in international affairs.
• 10th NAM summit 1992 in Jakarta – Malaysia and Indonesia voiced out against USA hegemony, democratisation on UN.

New hope in East /South East Asia

• Look East Policy - historical and cultural ties could be strengthened.
• Need arose due to search of Multipolar world, democratisation of International politics and Enlightened self-interest.
• The sure way of preventing crystallisation of unipolar world was by gently encouraging countries which had achieved economic strength to assert themselves in international affairs.
• 10th NAM summit 1992 in Jakarta – Malaysia and Indonesia voiced out against USA hegemony, democratisation on UN.

West Asia

• India opened diplomatic ties with Israel without giving up the support for Palestine cause
• Aimed at fostering ties with Iran and continued support to Iraq.

(India became dialogue partner in ASEAN)

Pakistan

(Support state sponsor terrorism).

• It remained tensed during the time due to increased Pakistan sponsored Insurgency in Kashmir in the aftermath of fall of USSR
• Pakistan accelerated to build its nuclear capacity by support from China and North Korea for the weapon and missile respectively
• Babri Masjid debacle and follow on Mumbai blasts further worsened the situation.
• Deteriorated relationship could not be normalised as Pakistan initiated verbal threats about using a nuclear bomb in case of a future conflict with India.
• By this time, it was an open secret that China had helped Pakistan acquire its nuclear capabilities.
• Despite all these developments, Rao tried to put up a strong face but during this tenure, any improvements in the relationship with Pakistan could not materialise.

Gujral Doctrine