5a-India and Its Neighbours

8/13/2019 5a-India and Its Neighbours

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Country Profiles: India these problems as their undefined borders, the status of Indian residents living in theseneighbouring countries and related migration problems etc. while in the second categoryeach neighbouring country is surrounded with problems of their own creation. Pakistanhas a military coup, and before that successive changes of government; due to dismissalof elected Prime Ministers. Sri Lanka remains enmeshed in the ethnic crisis compoundedby a civil war situation. The entire Royal family ofNepal was assassinated on the first ofJune 2001 Assassinations took place in the context of incremental violence perpetratedby the Communist Party (Maoist) in that country. There have been ten changes ofgovernment since the restoration of democracy there in 1990. Bangladesh went througha new election in October 2001 under incremental violerice and disruption of law andorder. Bhutan remains challenged by dissidence amongst its Nepalese subjects and thepresence of separatist movements from North-Eastern India on its territory. Thusstructuring of practical and stable relations with its neighbours is quite a complex challengewhich India has faced over the last several years especially because with each one of itsneighbours, India has a number of issues which remain unresolved, whether it is thequestion ofKashmir, problem of illegal migration and enclaves in adverse possession withBangladesh and so on.

PAKISTAN: INDIA S MOST IMPORTANTNEIGHBOURThe history of India-Pakistan relations since the partition of India creating two countries,India and Pakistan can be analysed through a review of the nature of the problems andd i ~ u t e s hich kept the; two countries engaged in hostile, strained and conflictualinteractions and even in major wars. These adverse relations have already resulted in

.four full-fledged wars and India is now facing a proxy war conducted by Pakistan inJammu and Kashmir aimed at separating this Indian state from the rest of India. In publicperception and more so in the perception ofour,armed forces, Takistan remains identifiedas an adversary, as an enemy although in terms of history, culture, language, religions andgeography both countries have much in common.Let us try to understand why the situation between India and Pakistan remains adrift inadversity when geographical, locational, historical connections, and socio-culturalcommonalities, ethnic aqd linguistic affinity would have led to harmony rather thanconfrontation.Both countries are at loggerheads with each other because of lack of communications,mutual apprehensions and deliberately nurtured misunderstandings. Let us first t y tounderstand Pakistan s apprehensions. Pakistani elite have a bitter memory of the oppositionto the partition from the IndianNational Congress which the Muslim League had to face.Consequently, the Muslim League did not get Pakistan of the geographical parameterswhich it expected. It is one of ironies of hist-ry that many of those who now live inPakistan did not approve of the two-nation theory. The pro-Pakistan movement drew itsmain strength from Bengali Muslims and Muslims ofNorth-Central India, even this supportdid not come from the Muslim masszs but from the Muslim elite. We must remember thattill Jinnah was eclipsed as a leader ofthe Indian National Congress by Mahatma Gandhiand Jawahar La1 Nehru, he was lionized as an ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity. ThePakistani view is that the machinations of Lord Mountbatten and and the Indian NationalCongress prevented the emergence of a Pakistan encompassing the entire Muslimpopulation of India. This bitterness still permeates the psyche of the Pakistani powerstructureIndia s strong action in Jammu and Kashmir, Hyderabad and Junagadh heightened thisbitterness and more importantly, generated a genuine apprehension that India would try tonullify the partition by sdbverting the state of Pakistan, either by breaking it up or byreabsorbing its territory illto what the Pakistanis called Hindu plans of Akhand Bharat .India s stand on the distribution of military resources and for foreign exchange reservesconvinced Pakistan that I ~ d i aad disruptive plans. The disparity in size, population andresources between the tw countries fuelled these annrehensions.


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India s role i s he iiberation of Bang ladesh only reinforced this Pakistani fear psychosis.Ifth is is so, why did Pakistan indulge in ~ nilit ary dventures against India in 1948 and31965 ? Probably, th e an sw er li es in th e su bcon scious desire t o rectify t he unfairarrangements of the partition. The con flict of 1971 tempered P akistan s inclinationtowar ds military adventurism f or gettin g even wit11 India, but short of that its powerstructure continues to have the sam e mindset.

India and itseighbows

In the backdrop o f the above facts etlveloping the India-Pakistan relations, let usexamined some of th e important developments that took place between two nations.Besides the initial probleins of partition as mentioned cursorily above like the problemof natiwe states in which the state of Junagarll, H yderabad and K ashmir were finallyacceded to India much agains t Pakistan desire and the problem of sharing of wate rof rivers of Ravi, Sutlej and Beas which also was amicably settled between thecor~ntrieshrough an agreement concluded between the two countries on Septem ber10,1960, the main problem which is souring the relation between the tw o countrie spertains to Kashmir. There fore, it is important to describe in detail the so-calledKash~ni rDispute between the two nations as it is the only bone of contention

between them.Kashmir isputeThe erstwhile native state of Jammu and Kashmir, having total area o f 86,024 squaremiles. is predominantly populated by M uslims and was ruled by a Hindu M aharaja ,Maharaja Hari Singh. He did not take acy decision regarding the state s a ccessionbefore or immediately after August 15, 1947. T he Maharaja was planning to decla rehis state as an independent country. But this vacillation on the part of Maharajaprompted Pakistan to irlvade with the help oftrib esm en from N orth-Western FrontierProvince. They launched the attack on Octo ber 22, 194 7 and within a sho rt periodof tjvc. days reached Bara mu laju st 25 m iles away from Srinagar. Overawed by thisattack Ilari Sing11 decjded to seek India s help and p leaded with the G oven imen t ofIndia iha: he is willing to sign the l~is trun ien t f Accession in return for saving thestate. The accessioli of Jammu and Kasllmir was finalized by 27 October, 1947 andthc armj. was airlifted to clear the aggression. While accepting the accession of theStste of Jammu and Kashmir. India had said that after the aggression is vacated thewishes of th e people of Jammu and Kaslimir would be ascertained. Pakistan did not:rccept this accession a nd called it an aggre ssion by India. Pakistan in the meanw hileinstalled a so-called Azad Kashmir government in the territory occupied by theinvaders. In tlle meantime, India had ino ved to the Security Council under article 35of the Charter, In fact the decision o f the Nehru g overnment to offer plebiscite toascertain the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir seemed to be a seriousmistake as it is this cl?use the support o fw hic h Pakistan has taken to prolong its casewith regard to Kashmir:The Security Council took many decisions on this issue starting with the a ppointmentof a three member Commission on January 20 1948, which was subsequentlyexpanded and cam e to be known as United Natiotis Commission for India and Pakistan(UNCIP). The UNCIP conducted enquiry, met representatives of both lndia andPakistan and finally submitted a report on Decem ber 11, 1948. This report containedthe following recomme ndations aimed at ending the hostilities and holding of plebiscite.First, Pakistan should withdraw its troops from Jammu and Kashmir as soon aspossible after the cease fire and that Pakistan should also try for withdrawal oftribesmen and Pakistan nationals who are not ordinary residents of Kashmir. Second,the territorythus v acated by Pakistani troops should be administered by local oflicialsunder the supervision of the Commission. Third, after these two conditions arefulfilled and India is informed abo ut their compliance by the UNCIP, India shouldalso withdraw substantial strength of its troops . Finally, pending a final agreem entIndia should maintain only such limited troops as should be essential for law andorder: After initial reluctance Pakistan accepted these proposals and a cease fireagreement was signed which was implemented by the two commanders on the


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Minister of Sri Lanka, Kotelawala. Tamils alleged that Nehru-Kotelawala Agreementwas not implemented sincerely. Consequently, large number of persons of Indianorigin could not get citizenship of Sri Lanka and they became stateless persons . Thiscaused serious tensions in India-Sri Lanka relations which were aggravated by the1956 language disturbances. Sri Lankans blamed India for these disturbancesProblem of Stateless PersonsOn October 1964 after prolonged negotiations between Prime Minister of India, La1Bahadur Shastri and Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mrs. Bandaranaike an agreementwas signed to resolve the problem of stateless persons. It sought to solve the problemof about 9 lakh 75 thousand stateless persons in Sri Lanka. About three lakhs of thesepeople were to be granted Sri Lankan citizenship, and about lakh 25 thousand personswere to be given Indian citizenship. The fate of remaining I lakh 50 thousand statelesspersons was to be decided in future. During her second tenure as Prime Minister,Mrs. Bandaranaike visited India in 1974 and her talks with Prime Minister IndiraGandhi resulted in a fresh agreement whereby half of these persons were to be givencitizenship of Sri Lanka and the rest would become Indian nationals. Thus, this issueof stateless persons was sought to be peacefully settled.The Kacchativu DisputeA territorial dispute arose in regard to the ownership of a one square mile uninhabitedisland, called Kacchatiw, off the Jaffna coast in the Palk straits. Pilgrims from bothIndia and Sri Lanka used to go to Kacchativu Island every year in the month of Marchduring the four-day St. Anthony s festival for worship at the local Roman CatholicChurch. India protested over the presence of Sri Lankan police during the festival in1968. This caused conflict. Both India and Sri Lanka were keen to avoid a serioussituation. The Prime Ministers of India and Sri Lanka met twice and pending a finaldecision on the issue of island s title, resolved to maintain status quo in and around theisland. Neither India nor Sri Lanka would send its policemen in uniform or customofficials, or resort to aerial reconnaissance or naval patrolling of adjacent waters duringthe St. Anthony s festival. Finally, through a comprehensive agreement India acceptedSri Lanka s ownership of the Kacchativu Island.The Ethnic onflictThe ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka between Tamils and Sinhalese assumed seriousproportions n 1983. It was described as ethnic explosion and the Sri Lankan Carnage .During 1983-86 two lakh Tamils became refugees as they lost their homes. Thousandswere killed and wounded. Despite all-party talks, peace eluded the island Republic.Finally an attempt was made by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to help Sri Lanka find asolution to the ethnic violence. On the invitation of Sri Lankan government, IndianPrime Minister paid to two day visit to Colombo and concluded an agreement toprovide for ~ndian eace Keeping Force (IPKF) to be posted in Sri Lanka to restorenormalcy in the strife-torn areas.In accordance with Rajiv-Jayawardene agreement hundreds of thousands of Indiantroops were sent to Sri Lanka for maintenance of peace. But the posting of IPKFproved to be costly for India. Crores of rupees were spent on Indian troops trying torestore order. Hundred of Indian soldiers were killed in clashes with the Tamilextremists. Even then ethnic conflict could not be brought under control. Havingrealized the futility of IPKF, India decided to pull its troops out. By March 1990 all theIndian troops were recalled.The separatist movement in Sri Lanka had an adverse effect on India-Sri Lankarelations, although India had taken all positive steps to ensure that Indian Territorywas not used for anti-Sri Lanka activities. Nonetheless, sending of Indian troops hadits fall out and during the run-up to the Lok Sabha, former Prime Minister Raj iv Gandhiwas assassinated in an alleged human bomb explosion.

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Country Profiles India The present President of Sri Lanka, Mrs. Chandrika Kumarantunga visited India whichcreated an atmosphere of better understanding between the two countries. India continuesto favour a peaceful solution to ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka within the framework ofsovereignty and territorial integrity of that country through negotiation and without outsideinterference. India welcomes the recent proposal of Sri Lanka for devolution of power tosecure some element of autonomy to the areas largely inhabited by Tamil minority.Check Your Progress INote: i) Use the space below for your answers.

ii) Check your progress with the model answers given at the end of the unit.1 What is UNCIP? What were its main recommendations?

2) How was the Kacchativa dispute between India and Sri Lanka resolved?

5 4 INDIA A ND NEPALNepal, the only Hindu kingdom in the world, lies in the north of India. India's interest inNepal was natural for historical, religious and strategic reasons. India's security wasperceived to be closely related to Nepal in the north.Treaty of Peace and Friendship 1950On 31 July, 1950, both countries signed Treaty of Peace and Friendship and initiallyIndo-Nepalese relations have been based on this treaty. After the signing of the treaty,India established seventeen check posts to watch the passes between Tibet and Nepaland Bhutan. These posts were jointly manned by Indian and Nepalese personnel. AnIndian military mission was also established n Kathmandu for the organization and trainingofNepalese army. Nehru was keen that Nepal must enjoy all the attributes of independenceand sovereignty. Even during the democratic movement against he autocratic regime ofRanas, India adopted the attitude of restraint and patience.Nepal assumed greater importance in India's security perception after the Sino-Indianborder war of 1962. India's desire for improvement of relations was reciprocated. NepalKing's 13 day visit to India and President Radhakrishnan's return visit further cementedthe improved relations. Relations were further improved when Foreign Minister of India,Sardar Swaran Singh visited Nepal in 1964 and signed an agreement of large economicassistance to Nepal. The King of Nepal also visited India in 1965 and conferred withIndian Prime Minister, La1 Bahadur Shastri. Nepal gave full support to India's position onKashmir. The King appreciated the economic assistance being provided by India to hiscountry. However, the bilateral relations received another setback when a border disputerelating to Susta region arose. This region was claimed by Nepal in 1966. This one-square mile territory on Bihar-Nepal border remained a subject of dispute. Finally, aboundary commission was appointed to resolve the issue.


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conomic assistance to NepalIn the field of economic assistance, by 1967, India had extended over Nepalese pees50 crores for Nepal s economic development and had pledged another Rs. 40 ctores.India was the single largest donor by 1967. Road building and power developmentwere two major areas in which India assisted Nepal. India also helped NepaI in theconstruction of the Kingdom s first airport at Kathmandu. But by this time China hadbecome an important factor in Nepal s economic and political relations. King Mahendrareaffinned Nepal s decision to stay neutral between India and China. For India, however,China factor in Nepal s foreign poIicy had opened a dangerous situation.In the meantime, anti-India demonstrations were repeatedly held in Nepal. Nepalmade public demands for the withdrawal of Indian personnel from the northern checkposts and its military liaison group in Kathmandu.The demand of withdrawal, however, was contrary to treaty provisions and Nepalwas questioning the very basis of Indo-Nepalese relationship. It was believed in NewDelhi that the Palace was trying to play China against India and now even Pakistanagainst it. However, by early 1971 Nepal realized the futility of anti-India campaign.Eventually that would have hurt Nepal s own economy. Negotiations were openedand a New Treaty of Transit was signed in Kathmandu in August 1971. Thus, by theend of 197 1, Indo-Nepal relations started Iooking brighter.King Birendra succeeded his father Mahendra when the latter died in early 1972.Under his reign, Nepal began to work for better and normal relations with India. Indiaparticipated in Nepal s development of power and irrigation, the major projects beingthe Kosi, the Gandak, the Karnali, the Trisuli and the Devighat and Pokhra Hydelprojects. India and Nepal planned the harnessing of Himalayan rivers. There wereIndian aid and cooperation activities in areas such as road building, airport construction,telecommunication,horticulture, agriculture, forestry, education and health.The friendly relations with Nepal were further consolidated after Mrs. Gandhi returnedto power in 1980. King Birendra visited India in 1981 and the visit was returned byPresident Sanjiva Reddy the same year. However, being a big power, and a neighbourof Nepal, China had been taking keen interest in Nepal. China had been trying towiden the rift between India and Nepal whenever tension developed in the bilateralrelations. However, India continued to be Nepal s main trading partner. During 1984-85 Nepal s 52 percent of total export-import trade was with India. Most of the goodsproduced in Ihdia and needed by Nepal are usually made available without muchdifficulty.The age-old system of absolute monarchy in Nepal was replaced by constitutionalmonarchy on April 8, 1990. King Birendra agreed to the demands of the people forputting an end to partyless panchayat system. The King agreed to a new constitutionalarrangement in which he would continue to be head of state, but the governancewould be responsibility of a Cabinet answerable to Parliament. Elections would beheld on the basis of multi-party system. Eventually the partyless democracy wasreplaced by party-based parliamentary democracy.

ndia and itsNeighbours

Economic relations between the two countries improved on account of liberalisation oftheir economies since 1991. The Treaty of Trade and Transit of 1991 and theiramendments in 1993 have also had positive results. During 1992-94 period India scommitment to Nepal s economic development continued to be expressed throughvarious programmes. India andNepal signed atreaty on the development of MahakaliProject during Prime Minister Deuba s visit to India in February, 1996. This projectrepresents a major breakthrough in the harnessing of river waters for mutual benefit.The two countries are working through Joint Technical Level India-Nepal BoundaryCommittee on a time bound programme for identification of boundary. Thus India shand of friendship remains extended to Nepal.


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Country Profiles: India 5 5 INDIA AND BANGLADESHT h e b irthG f ~ a i i ~ l a d e s hn Decem ber 1971 was a direct outcome of the Indo-Pakistanwar in which Pakistani troops surrendered u ~icond itioliallyn erstwhile East Pakistan.The emergence of Bangladesh was described as an event of major importance in theSub-continent. India wa s forced to liberate East Pakistan a s it was faced with anunprecedented c risis caused by massive influx of 10 million refugees and all efforts bythe Indian P rime M inister, M rs. Indira G andhi to persuade Pak istan for a negotiatedsettlement w ith Awami League leaders bore no fruits.On M arch 9, 1972 both countries vgne d a treaty of Friendship and Peace. Mrs IndiraGandhi assured Bangladesh of India s full support and cooperation in securing its admissionto the United Nations. This Treaty was signed for a period o f 25 years. Pakistan wasdisturbed a t the signing of the Treaty o f Friendsh ip and Peace and klescribed it as avirtual military alliance. But study o f provisions of the Treaty makes it clear that it wassigned to strengthen bilateral relations and promote regional peace and internationalcooperation. It was certainly not a military pact against any cou ntry or bloc of countries.The signing of friendship treaty was followed by the conclusion of a comprehensivetrade agree men t of March 25, 1972. Thus the Treaty of Friendship and the TradeAgreement were co ncluded in the spirit of equ ality and mutual benefit, friendship andgood neighbo urliness.Sharing of Ganga WaterThe biggest bone of contention between India and Bang ladesh relates to sharing ofGanga w aters. This dispute is mainly concerned with sharing ofw ate rs during lean season,January to M ay, particularly mid-March to mid-May, when the flow o f Ganga reduces tominimum level of 55, 000 cusecs. The crux o f the problem is that if India withdraws40,000 cu secs which is the barest minimum required to flush H ooghly to save Calcuttaport, Bangladesh then receives only 15,000 cusec s which is highly insufficient to meet itsneeds. Th e extraction of this larger amount of water by Ind ia gives rise to multifariousproblems in Bangladesh. Thus, the dispute between Ind ia and Bangladesh relates toequitable sha ring of Ganga waters by the two cou ntries. The Farakka Barrage built byIndia on the river Ganga is situated on the Bengal- Bihar border near Farakka abou t 400km. North of Calcutta. Th e primary reason fo r the con stniction of this Barrage was thepreservation and maintenance oft he C alcutta port a i d navigability of Bhagirathi-Hooghly.Now that the barrage is constructed Calcutta port is saved but diversion of water for theport becam e an issue of international discord and misun derstand ing. Although differen tagreement w ere concluded to regulate the water of G anga and to resolve the Farakkabarrage issue but the final agreement was conclud ed between the two governments inthe year 1996. Sheikh Hasina government negotiated with India a treaty for sharingGan ga waters for 30 years. India was represented by H.D.Deve Gowda, the primeminister of India. The m ain feature of this Treaty regarding sha ring of Ganga water atFarraka is that Ganga water at Farakka would be determined by 15 blocs of 10 dayperiod from Januar y 1 to May 3 1 every year.The New oore Island isputeThe re have been tensions between India and Bangladesh o ver certain territorial claimsalso. These include the dispute over New Moo re Island, the problem related to the TeenBigha corridor and the clash in Muhuni Char in the Belonia sector. Of the three thedispute over New Moore Island persists a s a major problem. New M oore Island coveringan ar ea of 2 to 12 sq. km., depending upon rising and receding o f tide, is located in theBay o f Bengal. It is about 5200 meters from the nearest Indian coastal point and 7000meters from Bangladesh coastal point. Indian f lag was hoisted on the island on March12,1 980 and subsequent to that all problems arose. Bangladesh questioned the ownershiprights of India. The dispute has remained unresolved though it has been discussed at


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Indo-Bangladesh relations were adversely affected on account of dispute regardingTill Righa corridor also. During Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's tenure this small patchof an acre of Indian Territory called Teen Bigha was leased out to Bangladesh. Tliisagreem ent of leasing could no t be imp emented as it required a constitutional amendm ent.Other Bilateral issuesAmong other problems in lndia Rangladesh relations is the problem of Chakm a refugeeswho have mostly taken shelter in Indian state ofTripu ra. Negotiations during 1994 ledto the repatriation of Chakma refugees from Tripura to Chittagong Hill tracts inBangladesh. Most of them have already been repatriated and some are still awaitingtheir repatriation.India is facing another problem of Ban gladeshi migrants, majority of them belonging toweaker sections who have settled in different parts of India. Their num ber, which isestimated to be more than 1 lakh peo ple, bu rdens the Indian econom y. Despite Lndia'srepeated requests Bangladesh governmen t is taking no action for their recall and Indiangovernment is left with no choice but to take stem measures to deport them to B angladesh.Check Your ProgressNote: i j se the space below for your answers.

ii) Clheck your prog ress with the mode l ans we rs given at the end of the un it.1) Describe the nature of econom ic relations between India and Nepal in the 1990s.

2 What are the central issues in Indo-Bangladesh dispute over sharing of Gangawaters?

5 6 LET US SUM UPOne of the cornerstones of India's foreign policy has been to build a strategicallysecure, politically stabie and harmonious and eco no~n ically ooperative neighbourhood.lndia has always given a high priority to friendly relations with our im mediate neighbours.India's relations with Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as discussed abovegive a clear indication of India's desire to avoid co nflicts, to seek peaceful settlementof international disputes and build friend ship with all the neighbours. Many of India'sneighbours are non-aligned and have g enerally responded to India's approach of p eace.Nevertheless, India has had momen ts of conflicts and even regular wars. DespiteIndia best efforts to cultivate most friendly relations with Pakistan by initiating soInany unilateral decisions witho ut expecting a retum favour Priilie Min ister 1.K.G ujralYs"Gujral Doctrine"giving whatever In diac an to its neighbours without expec ting in returnas lndia is a bigger country Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's L ahore BusService, Agra Summ it etc.) Pakistan gave in return Kargil War and increased cro ss-border terrorist activities. Pakistan c ontinues to internationalise the Kashm ir issue.Indian Parliament was attacked by Pakistan's supported terrorists. In fact Pakistan istrying to destabilise India in every p ossible manner and is perfect example o f statewhich is supporting terrorism against a neighbouring country.India has good relations with all other neighbours. The new go vernments installed inNepal and Sri nk have euvreqsed their desire to consolidate and strengthen relations

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with India. Purposive efforts continas well as political cooperation. Close proximity between India and its neighbours isevident from the continuing visit of its Prime Minister and King to India who were hereright in the month of March 2003. Likewise the Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka has alsovisited India recently. Except perhaps Pakistan all other India s neighbours includingmighty China are havingvery cordial relations with India. This underlies India s tremendousfaith in good neighbourliness relations.5 7 SOME USEFUL BOOKSDutt, V.P.(1984). India Foreign Polic y. New Delhi: Vikas.RasgotraM. Chopra V.D. Mishra 5.P. (1990). India Foreign Policy in the 1990s.New Delhi: Patriot Publishers.Mansingh Lalit. (1998). Indian Foreign Polic y-Ag end a for the 21 Century. Vol.11,New Delhi: Konark Publishers.KhilnaniR.K. (2000).Restructuring India Foreign Polic y. New Delhi: Commonwealth.Dixit J.N. (2002). India k Foreign Policy Challeng e of Terrorism.New Delh i: Gyan.5 8 ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

EXERCISESCheck Your Progress1 LTNCIP is the United Nations Commission for 1ndia and Pakistan which was appointedby the UN Security Council in 1948. The UNCTP enquiry report submitted inDecember 1948 contained the following recommendations aimed at ending thehostilities and holding of plebiscite: First, Pakistan should withdraw its troops fromJam~nu nd Kashmir as soon as possible after the cease fire and that Pakistanshould also try for withdrawal of tribesmen and Pakistan nationals who are notordinary residents of Kashmir. Second, the territory thus vacated by Pakistani troopsshould be administered by local officials under the supervision of the Commission.

Third, after these two conditions are fulfilled and India is informed about theircompliance by the UNCIP, India should also withdraw substantial strength of itstroops. Finally, pending a final agreement India should maintain only such limitedtroops as should be essential for law and order.2) The status of Kacchativa, an uninhabited island off the Jaffna coast, became anissues between India and Sri Lanka in the late 1960s. It was resolved throughbilateral talks, when India accepted Sri Lanka s ownership of the islandCheck Your Progress 21 Both the countries launched economic liberalisation programmes at around the sametime in the early 1990s. India renewed the Treaty of Trade and Transit in 199 1 and

committed to Nepal s economic development through various programmes. Indiaand Nepal signed a treaty on the development of Mahakali Project in 1996. Thisproject seeks to harness river waters for mutual benefit2) This dispute is mainly concerned with sharing of waters during lean season,particularly mid-March to mid-May, when the flow of Ganga reduces to minimumlevel of 55,000 cusecs. The crux of the problem is that if India withdraws 40,000cusecs which is the barest minimum required to flush Hooghly to save Calcuttaport, Bangladesh then receives only 15,000 cusecs which is highly insufficient tomeet its needs. Thus, the dispute between India and Bangladesh relates to equitablesharing of Ganga waters by the two countries.

5a-India and Its Neighbours

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