Question

Write ‘true’ or ‘false’ against each of these statements.

(a) Non-alignment allowed India to gain assistance both from USA and USSR.
(b) India’s relationship with her neighbours has been strained from the beginning.
(c) The cold war has affected the relationship between India and Pakistan.
(d) The treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1971 was the result of India’s closeness to USA.

Answer 1

(a) This statement is true.

Explanation
One of the reasons for India to remain non-aligned was to get aid and assistance from both the power blocs. We may give example of how, during the Indo-China war of 1962, India sought and got assistance from the US and Britain. During 1971, Indo-Pak war, India got assistance and entered into a treaty of friendship with the USSR. This treaty assured India of Soviet support if the country faced any attack.

(b) This statement is false.

Explanation
Being the only country sharing boundary with other South Asian nations, India has always desired for peace not merely as an ideal but also as an essential condition for its own security" India has always based its foreign policy on the principles of peace, cooperation and never harboured interest in the sovereignty of other countries. This aim finds an echo in the Directive Principles of State Policy.

(c) This statement is true.

Explanation
The Cold war, which represented an ideological war between the two power blocs led by the US and the USSR, resulted in the formation of alliances. India, after independence, remained non-aligned and did not join any of the military alliances. Pakistan, on the other hand, joined the US and became a member of SEATO and CENTO. Pakistan received military aids from America even during the 1971 war, straining India’s relations with Pakistan.

(d) This statement is false.

Explanation
In order to counter the growing proximity of Pakistan with the US and China and to maintain balance of power in the South Asian region, India entered into a 20-year Treaty of Peace and Friendship with the Soviet Union in August 1971. This treaty assured India of Soviet support if the country faced any attack. The treaty assured mutual strategic cooperation and was considered a deviation from India’s Non alignment policy.