Paper: GS – II, Subject: International Relations, Topic: India and its neighbourhood, Issue: India-Pakistan relations.
Context:
Operation Sindoor and subsequent events highlight the failure of bilateral and multilateral diplomacy in resolving Indo-Pak disputes. There are dangers of internationalizing the India-Pakistan conflict, especially over Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
Key Highlights:
Futility of Global Forums in Bilateral Issues:
- Ineffectiveness of global forums: India’s experience shows that international forums, especially the UN, have not contributed effectively to resolving India-Pakistan issues.
- Outdated systems: Existing UN literature, especially on Kashmir, is biased and outdated, hindering resolution.
- Pakistan’s Mis-use of UN Mechanisms: Pakistan uses UN maps and resolutions to challenge India’s claim over J&K. For example, UN maps showing the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir are often misread as official recognition of Pakistan’s stance.
- India’s Stand on Bilateralism: India opposes terrorism and supports bilateral engagement, as per the Simla Agreement. Raising issues at international forums risks globalising internal matters.
The UN’s Limitations:
- Lack of clear definition: UN’s Counter-Terrorism Committee lacks clear definition of terrorism due to political divergences.
- Lack of unified action: The UN’s inability to define terrorism effectively hinders collective global action. Post-9/11, terrorism became central to UN discussions but without decisive action.
India’s Diplomatic Setbacks:
- Past precedents: During past briefings, Indian envoys were questioned by foreign diplomats on Kashmir’s status based on UN documentation.
- Geo-political factors: India’s effort to gain international support against Pakistan has been repeatedly diluted by geopolitical complexities.
- Risks of Hyping the Issue Internationally: When India went to the UN during the 1971 war (Pakistan’s invasion of Kashmir), the issue was addressed under Article VI (peaceful settlement), not Article VII (aggression).
- Faulty western narrative: Western narratives often equate India and Pakistan, diluting India’s position.
- Complexities in International Legal Framework: UN mechanisms are complicated and often yield no tangible outcome for India.For example, Article 51 of the UN Charter allows self-defense, but actions by states are judged case-by-case.
Conclusion:
India should continue its firm stance on bilateral resolution of disputes and countering terrorism. Globalizing the Kashmir issue allows Pakistan to exploit international sentiments. India’s best bet lies in diplomacy that avoids multilateral traps and upholds sovereign integrity.
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2025 preparation.
FOLLOW US ON:
â—‰ Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
â—‰ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
â—‰ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/
GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140
OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar : 1524, Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040
