3.8. India and its Neighbours

Nepal and India enjoy a very special relationship that has very few parallels in the world. A treaty between the two countries allows the citizens of the two countries to travel to and work in the other country without visas and passports. Despite this special relationship, the governments of the two countries have had trade-related disputes in the past. The Indian government has often expressed displeasure at the warm relationship between Nepal and China and at the Nepal government’s inaction against anti-Indian elements.

Nepal and India share a unique bond that allows citizens to move freely between the two countries, making it easy for them to work and visit each other. However, this relationship isn't without challenges. India has raised concerns when it feels that Nepal maintains close ties with China, often viewing this as a threat. Additionally, there have been trade disputes, indicating that despite a friendly relationship, there can be disagreements.

Think of Nepal and India like good friends who have known each other for a long time. They help each other out and share many experiences, like playing sports together. But sometimes, they argue over things like who gets to use the basketball court first, which reflects their trade disagreements.

The governments of India and Bangladesh have had differences over several issues including the sharing of the Ganga and Brahmaputra river waters. Despite these issues, both countries cooperate on many fronts, and relations have improved considerably in the last 20 years.

Although India and Bangladesh have had disagreements, especially over critical resources like river waters, they also find ways to work together. Over the past two decades, trade and cooperation between them have strengthened, showing that nations can overcome their differences to forge beneficial relationships.

Imagine two neighbors who occasionally argue over a fence line but, when it comes to gardening, they often share tools and help each other. This is similar to how India and Bangladesh navigate their conflicts while cooperating on issues like trade.

India enjoys a very special relationship with Bhutan too and does not have any major conflict with the Bhutanese government. The major conflicts and differences, though, are between India and the others, partly because of the geography of the region, in which India is located centrally and is therefore the only country that borders the others.

India and Bhutan maintain a peaceful relationship with no significant conflicts. This is unique compared to India’s relationships with other neighboring countries. India's geographical advantage, being centrally located in the region, also plays a role in how it interacts with its neighbors, often making it the focal point of regional relations.

Think of India as the central figure in a classroom where it helps each student (its neighbors) with their unique problems while having a particularly good relationship with one student (Bhutan) who doesn’t cause any trouble.

The difficulties in the relationship between the governments of India and Sri Lanka are mostly over ethnic conflict in the island nation. The Indian government now prefers a policy of disengagement vis-à-vis Sri Lanka’s internal troubles, having earlier intervened to try to resolve the conflict.

India’s relationship with Sri Lanka is complicated, primarily due to the ethnic conflicts that have persisted over time. After trying to mediate in these matters in the past, India has shifted to a policy of stepping back, allowing Sri Lanka to handle its internal issues without interference.

It's like a parent who has tried to help a child resolve conflicts with friends but decides to step back to let the child learn to negotiate on their own. The expectation is that the child will find a way to solve their problems without constant assistance.

India signed a free trade agreement with Sri Lanka, which strengthened relations between the two countries. India’s help in post-tsunami reconstruction in Sri Lanka has also brought the two countries closer.

The free trade agreement between India and Sri Lanka signifies an important step towards mutual economic support, allowing easier trade and collaboration. Furthermore, India’s assistance during challenging times, such as after the tsunami, has helped to enhance the bond between them.

Think of two businesses that decide to collaborate after one of them suffers a disaster. By helping each other, they not only improve their operations but also develop a stronger partnership over time.

India has various problems with its smaller neighbors in the region. Given its size and power, they are bound to be suspicious of India’s intentions. The Indian government, on the other hand, often feels exploited by its neighbors.

India's larger size and stronger economy can create suspicion among its smaller neighbors, who may worry about possible dominance. Conversely, India sometimes feels that it is not given credit for its support and feels taken advantage of by these nations.

It's like a big sibling who always helps their smaller siblings with chores or homework, but they sometimes feel unappreciated and think the younger ones are more focused on what they can gain rather than the help given.

In spite of the many conflicts, the states of South Asia recognise the importance of cooperation and friendly relationships among themselves. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a major regional initiative by the South Asian states to evolve cooperation through multilateral means.

Despite various tensions and conflicts, the countries in South Asia understand that they need to work together for mutual benefit. SAARC represents this effort and aims to enhance cooperation among the member states, aiming for a more unified approach to common challenges.

Consider a group of peers working on a project. Although they have different opinions, they know that if they collaborate effectively, they can produce a better outcome than if they try to work in isolation.

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