HPAS/Allied Mains 2022 Answer Writing Challenge Day 142 : Model Answer

QUESTION: Examine India’s ‘Gujral Doctrine’. (4 marks/ 60 words)

Answer:

The Gujral Doctrine is a set of five principles to guide the conduct of foreign relations with India’s immediate neighbours as spelt out by I.K. Gujral, first as India’s foreign minister and later as the prime minister.

1. India does not ask for reciprocity but gives all that it can in good faith and trust.
2. No South Asian country will allow its territory to be used against the interest of another country of the region.
3. None will interfere in the internal affairs of another.
4. All South Asian countries must respect each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
5. They will settle all their disputes through peaceful bilateral negotiations. e.g., The resolution of the water-sharing dispute with Bangladesh in just three months in 1996-97.

Thus, Gujral Doctrine helped in building a conflict-free cooperative South Asia and at the same time helped in developing cooperation with the neighbours of South Asia.