The foreign policy of a country is said to be a matter of stability. Respecting the initiatives of the predecessor administrations on key national issues that have international ramifications is seen as a way forward to ensuring the status quo. Great powers have signalled this time and again on key issues of economic, trade and cultural matters. India is no different. Her arrival on the big stage has been marked by a strong display of responsible exercise of her power.

Being the world’s largest democracy and the fifth-largest economy, India has an immense role to play when it comes to key global issues. Peace and security are such vital issues. This is seen particularly in the context of the Middle East, which has historically faced turbulence over a myriad of issues, most notably the Israel-Palestine conflict.

During the Modi era, Indian foreign policy has been marked by a display of remarkable balancing, which is seldom seen in the foreign policy initiatives of great powers.

In this context, India’s historic vote in favour of the draft resolution at the United Nations General Assembly, introduced by the United Arab Emirates advocating full membership for Palestine, is a testimony to the maturity of Indian foreign policy.

Despite having close military ties with Israel, India remains mindful of the Palestinian concerns. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a state visit to Israel in 2017 and followed this up with a standalone visit to Palestine in 2018

Engaging both sides

India is one of the first democratic countries to formally establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Palestine since the 1950s. It continued to remain the same for the next four decades thanks to New Delhi’s perception of Palestine from the lens of Pakistan’s close ties with Palestine and the need to assuage the concerns of India’s Islamic populace over the condition of Palestine people who lived under Israel’s occupation over the years.

However, a mammoth change came in 1992 when Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao decided to shed India’s largely neglectful attitude towards Israel and harness the full power of the new ties. Full diplomatic ties were established with Israel contributing to the evolution of an unprecedented relationship.

However, India never jettisoned its relationship with Palestine, signalling time and again that it remains committed to the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian right to self-determination.

This was most keenly seen when the Modi government came to power in 2014. The government broke new ground by de-linking ties with Israel and Palestine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first sitting head of state of India to pay a state visit to Israel in 2017 and followed this up with a standalone visit to Palestine in 2018. Despite having close military ties with Israel, India remains mindful of the Palestinian concerns.

The two-state solution is the only viable way possible for Palestinians and Israelis to co-exist peacefully. In the history of nationalism, nations have aspired for state ambitions, while all nations do not get their aspirations fulfilled, Palestine’s case is unique

Two-state solution

India’s decision in favour of Palestine becoming a full member of the United Nations is anchored in rational decision-making. The two-state solution is the only viable way possible for Palestinians and Israelis to co-exist peacefully. In the history of nationalism, nations have aspired for state ambitions, while all nations do not get their aspirations fulfilled for one reason or the other, Palestine’s case is unique.

It is perhaps the only case wherein the support for statehood is in the interests of regional peace in the Middle East. The exodus of the Palestinian people in the aftermath of the 1948 Arab-Israel conflict, which is popularly called ‘Nakba’, is one of the most tragic episodes in the post-World War II period.

This displacement was just the beginning, in the subsequent wars as Israel continued to expand itself, more and more people unfortunately got displaced. This displacement of the entire ethno-religious community is reminiscent of the painful memories of the partition of India where millions of people across the borders of Punjab and Bengal had to traverse perilous terrain and escape the communal carnage across the country that followed is simply painful.

There is no doubt that Indian foreign policy is undergoing some of the best years in its history, but there is no room for complacency, this streak must continue to display to the world that India believes in conciliation, not confrontation

Deriving lessons from such a painful episode in Indian history, India’s balanced approach signals an emotive-rational decision to not only play fair on both sides but also maintain peace and stability in the sub-continent.

There is no doubt that Indian foreign policy is undergoing some of the best years in its history, but there is no room for complacency, this streak must continue in order to display to the world that India doesn’t believe, in accordance with her culture and heritage, in confrontation but conciliation. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’s meaning would be truly secured then.

–The writer is currently working as a Research Associate at Defence Research and Studies (dras.in) and is a columnist. The views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda