International Relations Class 06
INDIA NEPAL RELATIONS/ISSUES (5:05 PM):
1950 Peace and Friendship Treaty:
Context:
- Since the mid-19th century, Tibet has served as a buffer to China.
- This role of the buffer passed over to Nepal after the Chinese annexation of Tibet in 1951.
- It became empirical for Delhi to deny China access to Nepal because of the vulnerability of India’s northern plains.
- Also, Nepal wanted to revive the special relations it had with British India following its own insecurity vis––vis expansionist China.
Provisions of the treaty:
- India recognizes Nepal as a sovereign state.
- National treatment of each other’s citizens in terms of employment including public employment.
- However, India has relinquished its right to public-sector employment in Nepal.
- Nepal will give primacy to India in infrastructure development including hydropower projects as well as vis-à-vis other business opportunities.
Problems with the treaty:
- There exists no dispute with respect to the provisions of the treaty.
- The problem lies in the secret letters that were exchanged along with the treaty.
The problematic provisions include:
- Both countries shall not tolerate any act of aggression against one another.
- Nepal shall not import arms from any other country, except India, without Indian permission and provided that India is unable to fulfill Nepalese requirements.
Nepalese criticism of the treaty:
- It violates Nepalese sovereignty since India interferes in its internal matters, especially in its foreign and defense policy.
- Since the treaty was signed with the Ranas of Nepal who did not enjoy Nepalese public goodwill, the treaty lacks legitimacy.
- Nepal claims that India gets disproportionate benefits from the treaty.
WAY FORWARD (6:00 PM):
- As the treaty has been used to incite anti-India sentiments in Nepal by Nepali politicians, India should, like its treaty with Bhutan, revise this treaty as well (revised in 2007).
- In fact, Nepal draws substantive benefits under the treaty since it allows for open borders between the two countries.
- Nepali citizens can work in India without any work permit, apply for government jobs, and civil services( except IAS, IPS, IFS) and purchase property.
- The provisions of the secret letter which require Nepal to consult India on its defence requirements have been violated a number of times.
- Thus, every time in the past when India agreed to review the treaty, Nepali politicians side-stepped.
- In fact, revision of the treaty is more of a political issue, rather than representing a genuine grievance of Nepal.
- However, in 2018 the Eight-Person Eminent Persons Group was officially mandated to look into the issue.
- It finalized its report in 2018 with its recommendations vis-à-vis the revision of the treaty, but it has not been officially adopted as yet.
- Indian refusal to amend the treaty is also fuelling anti-India sentiment in Nepal.
- 7 million Nepalis live and work in India and Nepal's economy is not developed enough to absorb its workforce.
- So Nepal itself will not demand a full overhaul of the treaty as Nepal is the net beneficiary of the treaty.
- India must have had many issues with amending the treaty because many important provisions of the treaty have already been violated.
- Nepal has imported weapons from China many times without information.
Hydropower Potential of Nepal:
- Nepal has an estimated hydropower potential of around 83,000 MW and Nepal can harness less than 3000 MW as of now.
- The under-utilization is due to the fact that Nepal harbors deep mistrust regarding India.
- Nepal accuses India is only interested in large hydropower projects which are seismologically and ecologically unsustainable.
- Nepal wants to issue open tenders for better price discovery while India wants primacy regarding the project tenders.
- Nepal points out that India has historically been unable to complete projects on time.
- This incompetence gave scope for China to enter.
- Nepal considered taking Chinese help for the West Seti Dam.
Recent steps:
- In 2014, a power trading agreement was signed for the joint development of transmission lines and grid connectivity.
- Private sector participation is allowed and encouraged.
- Under the Deuba government, a Detailed Project Report(DPR) was finalized over the Mahakali Treaty 1996.
- The DPR deals with the 5000 MW ambitious Panchehswar dam.
- We have also signed a long-term agreement under which Nepal will supply India with 10,000 MW over 10 years.
Territorial Issues:
Kalapani:
- 1816 Treaty of Sugauli established rivers as markers of borders.
- The Kalapani (Mahakali) River was established as the border between Indian and Nepalese territory.
- The difference lies in the origin of the river as there is no single point origin and the river results as a culmination of multiple smaller streams.
- India believes that the river originates at Lipulekh while Nepal believes that the river originates northwards at Limpiyadhaura.
- Kalapani has strategic value as it is situated at the tri-junction of India, Nepal, and China.
- Kalapani has been a strategic point in the 1962 India-China War.
- The Indo-Tibetan Border Police patrol the region.
Susta:
- The issue has risen due to the changing course of the Gandak( Narayani) river.
2020 Map of Nepal:
China in Nepal:
- The Chinese aims include controlling the Tibetan insurgency.
- China also wishes to counter India in its neighborhood.
Nepal is interested in Chinese help because:
- Chinese deep pockets can help in covering the infrastructure lag of Nepal.
- Failure of India to complete projects in time.
- To counterbalance India.
NEPAL-INDIA-CHINA SCENARIO (6:30 PM):
- Nepal is a land-locked, rather than an India-locked country.
- Nepal has been fully dependent upon India for all its imports and exports.
- After the 2016 land blockade imposed by India, Nepal signed an Agreement on Trade & Transit with China.
- The agreement was signed under K.P. Oli's government.
- The agreement gave access to 4 Chinese seaports and some dry ports to Nepal.
- Nepal joined the BRI project in 2017.
- In 2018, China started providing Broadband services in Nepal which has till then been provided only by India.
- In 2019, Xi Jinping became the first Chinese premier to visit Nepal in 23 years.
- He expressed that China aims to make Nepal a land-linked country from a land-locked country.
- He also expressed that China and Nepal are closely interdependent like “Lips and teeth” and share weal and woe.
Chinese challenges in Nepal:
- Geographical limitations:
- The Chinese seaports are more than 3000 km away from Nepal.
- Sea ports of West Bengal, Odisha, and even Bangladesh are much more viable.
- India is also working to improve road-port connectivity.
Chinese Debt Diplomacy:
- The economic viability of many projects under the BRI project.
- Nepal expressed that the Shigatse-Kathmandu rail link project can continue only if the funds are given as grants and not as loans.
- Nepal is also anxious after seeing the fate of BRI projects in Pakistan & Sri Lanka.
Expansionary Policy of China:
- There were public protests in the Gorkha district of Nepal in June 2022 against Chinese incursions.
Foreign Intervention:
- The Nepali communist party has split into two factions.
- Chinese attempts to bring the two factions closer are not very well received in Nepal, which already has issues with Indian intervention.
Sri Lanka:
- Geostrategic importance:
- Sri Lanka straddles the important Sea Line Of Communication (SLOCs).
- 50% of the world's bulk trade and 2/3rd of the world's oil trade passes through the south of Sri Lanka.
- Sri Lanka is referred to as a permanent aircraft carrier docked 10 miles from the Indian coast.
- It is an essential partner of India in the Indian neighborhood first policy and the SAGAR (Security & Growth For All In the Region) vision.
Economic importance:
- India concluded its first free trade agreement ever with Sri Lanka when FTA was signed in 1998 and entered into effect in 2000.
- The economic aid provided by India served as a lifeline for Sri Lanka in its economic crisis of 2022.
Cultural Importance:
- The Sinhala race in Sri Lanka was founded by the Indian prince Vijaya.
- The relations are traced to Buddhism when some 2500 years ago, Buddhism spread from India to Sri Lanka.
- The earliest mention of Sri Lanka dates back to Ramayana.
- Ravana the king of Lanka abducted goddess Sita, to be rescued by Lord Rama.
INDIAN FOREIGN POLICY WITH RESPECT TO SRI LANKA (7:00 PM):
- Ethnic composition:
- 75 % are Sinhalese.
- 15 % are Tamils- (11% Sri Lankan Tamils & 4% Indian Tamils).
- 10 % are other minorities in Sri Lanka.
- The Indian Tamils were mainly settled there during British rule as indentured labor.
Indian foreign policy:
- India follows a two-pronged foreign policy governed by two aims of India which are not always in line with one another.
- I. Geostrategic Concerns:
- Because of the geostrategic importance of Sri Lanka, India seeks to have good relations with those in power in Sri Lanka- the Sinhalese majority.
- This is to keep Sri Lanka away from hostile influences.
- II. Domestic Concerns:
- The sentiments of the Indian Tamils lie with their brethren across the border in Sri Lanka.
- Indian Tamils are concerned about the discrimination faced by Tamils in Sri Lanka.
- Because of such discrimination against Tamils, there has been a growth of Tamil extremism and separatism in Sri Lanka.
- India fears spilling such separatist tendencies to India.
- India would hence want redressal of genuine grievances in Sri Lanka and therefore has negotiated with the Sri Lankan government on that behalf.
- The above two foreign policy goals/concerns of India are not always in line, complicating India-Sri Lanka relations.
- In comparison, the Chinese Sri Lanka policy is straightforward.
- India wishes to have good relations with the Sinhala government while pressurizing it to meet the demands of the Tamil Community is comparable to 'India trying to ride two boats simultaneously'.
- Thus, India has failed to gain the trust of either of the two.
ETHNIC WAR IN SRI LANKA (7:25 PM):
- Sinhalese majority believes in the centralization of power and this has resulted in the marginalization of the Tamil minority.
- It enacted legislation such as the Citizenship Act of 1948 which made many Tamils stateless.
- This step started a refugee influx to India.
- The Lankan Tamils are concentrated in northern and northeastern provinces.
- Indian Tamils are concentrated in Central and Southern Lanka.
- Knowledge of the Sinhalese language was also made compulsory for government jobs in Sri Lanka.
- When Colombo blockaded Jaffna Indian Government under Operation Poomalai air-dropped food aid violating Sri Lankan Air Space.
- By that time, India was the regional hegemon and Sri Lanka could not garner enough international support against violation of its airspace.
- Against this backdrop, the India-Sri Lanka Accord/Rajiv Gandhi- Jayawardene Accord of 1987 was signed.
- External Provisions of the Accord:
- I. India asked foreign warships not to be docked in Sri Lanka waters.
- II. Foreign military personnel not to be stationed in Sri Lanka.
- Domestic provisions of the Accord:
- I. Provincial power devolution.
- II. Language policy- both Sinhala and Tamil languages must be allowed with English as a linking language.
- LTTE should be mainstreamed in the sense it must become a political party and contest elections.
- The 13th Amendment was enacted to do the changes, but not even a single law was passed for its enforcement.
- India had sent the Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF) to Sri Lanka to maintain the ceasefire while the Sri Lankan government undertakes the necessary amendment.
- This Indian step was not well received by the Sri Lankan population or the LTTE.
- Consequently, India lost 1200 Army men, and the former Indian Prime Minister was assassinated.
- Then India adopted the Hands-Off Policy in Sri Lanka.
4th Eelam War 2006-2009:
- The 4th Eelam War commenced under former President Mahinda Rajapaksha.
- India only shared intelligence and did not get directly involved.
- Indian intelligence was crucial in the Sri Lankan government's victory in 2009.
- India’s support was guaranteed on the condition that after the end of the war, Sri Lanka would implement the 13th Constitutional Amendment.
- However, Mahinda Rajapaksha refused later.
- Later the UPA government under pressure from its coalition partner DMK voted against UNSC resolutions against Sri Lankan government in 2012 and in 2013.
- India-Sri Lanka relations soured after that.
The topics for the next class are China In Sri Lanka and the Way Forward in India-Sri Lanka relations.
1)
Consider the following statements:
- India shares both land and coastal boundaries with Nepal.
- India shares only land boundaries with Bangladesh.
Which of the statement(s)given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
2)
Given below is the list of Communities sometimes mentioned in the news and the regions they inhabit: (2016 Prelims)
- Kurd: Bangladesh
- Madhesi: Nepal
- Rohingya: Myanmar
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)2 only
(c)2 and 3 only
(d)3 only
3)
Concerning relations between India and Nepal, Consider the following statements:
1. India Nepal Friendship Treaty allows Nepali nationals to work in India without a work permit, and to apply for government jobs and civil services (except for the IFS, IAS, and IPS).
2. Pancheswar Dam Project is a bi-national project aimed at energy production and augmenting irrigation in India and Bhutan.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)Both Statements I and II are correct and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I.
(b)Both Statements I and II are correct but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I.
(c)Statement I is correct and Statement II is incorrect.
(d)Statement I is incorrect and Statement II is correct.
4)
Concerning the Treaty of Peace and Friendship 1950 signed between India and Nepal, Consider the following statements:
1. Allows Nepali to work in India without a work permit.
2. Open borders between the two countries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only.
(b)2 only.
(c)Both 1 and 2.
(d)Neither 1 nor 2.
5)
With respect to the Kalapani dispute between India and Nepal, Consider the following statements:
- Kalapani area is one of the largest territorial disputes between Nepal and India.
- It is a tri-junction between India, China, and Nepal which is of strategic significance in South Asian diplomacy.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only.
(b)2 only.
(c)Both 1 and 2.
(d)Neither 1 nor 2.
6)
Susta region, A disputed territory between India Nepal is situated along the banks of which river?
(a)Gandak.
(b)Satluj.
(c)Karnali.
(d)Ghaggar.
7)
With respect to Indo Nepal,which of the following disputed territory forms the route to Kailash Mansarovar yatra?
(a)Limpiyadhura
(b)Kaalapani
(c)Susta
(d)Janakpur
8)
The Kali River forms the boundary between India and Nepal in which of this region?
(a)Kaalapani
(b)Motihari
(c)Limpiyadhura
(d)Lipulekh
9)
Write a short note on Indo-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987. (150 words/10 marks)
10)
How ethnicity has caused problem in Indo-Sri Lanka relation? (150 Words, 10 Marks)
11)
Is there a case for revision of the Indo-Nepal Friendship treaty? Should India continue to follow an open border approach towards Nepal in light of the security threats emanating from the region? (150 words/10 marks)
12)
India Nepal border on one hand is symbol of special relations between the two sides, but it is also a subject of contestation. Discuss (10 marks, 150 words)
Answers
1) d
2) c
3) c
4) c
5) c
6) a
7) b
8) a
Water resources and rivers are key areas of cooperation between India and Nepal. Highlight the potential, problems, and prospects in this area of bilateral relations with adequate examples. (150 words/10 marks)
(10 marks)
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