Prime Minister Modi spoke about India's policy toward China and Pakistan in a recent interview. On China, Modi said no deceit had occurred and new opportunities had arisen to improve cracks in the relationship. Regarding Pakistan, Modi said India has always supported dialogue but Pakistan often wages covert warfare, making dialogue difficult. However, India continues to signal its openness to closer ties with Pakistan.

1. RSTV
2nd Jan, 2018

2. India’s China-Pak Policy
In this edition of The Big Picture, we’ll discuss the contours of India’s policy on China and Pakistan. In his
first TV interview of the year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at length on the importance India gives to
the ties with immediate neighbors and more so to China and Pakistan.
On Indo-China ties, especially after a military face-off at Doklam Plateau in June-August 2017, Prime
Minister said that nothing had happened that could be termed as a deceit by China on India. In a further
reference to relations with China, Mr. Modi said that new opportunities to have arisen for cementing some
cracks in the relations.
Emphasizing that India’s principled position for long has been friendly relations with neighbors but the
economic and geostrategic ambitions of the neighbors will continue to shape India’s responses on almost
every front.
Turning the focus on Pakistan, Prime Minister Modi said India has never opposed dialogue with Pakistan
and it has been the consistent policy of the country that there should be dialogue on issues.

3. What is India’s take on continuing dialogue with
Pakistan?
India has time and again signalled to Pakistan to have a closer relation. But Pakistan tends to wage a
covert warfare. Thus, India clearly mentions that in such hostile environment, no dialogue is possible.
However, Pakistan army does not give up its hostility towards India.
Has anything changes with change of leadership
in Pakistan?
When the new govt. came, PM Imran khan seemed to revive already deteriorating ties between the
neighbours. But nothing has been seen on ground. The new leadership has been failing to counter deep
state in Pakistan – Pakistan army and ISI. It is in the personal interest of Pakistan army to paint India as a
hostile neighbour so that army’s hegemony in the Pakistan despite an elected govt. continues.

4. How should India engage with Pakistan?
 India has on many occasions engaged with the new government in Pakistan with peace overtures,
however each peace initiative has led a major crisis in relationship afterwards, such as Kargil war after
the Lahore bus visit. Thus, India should not fall into the trap of such false starts.
 Deep state in Pakistan – ISI and Pakistan’s army controls every aspect of political life. The deep state
ties to paint an anti-India picture to maintain its stranglehold on the new government. So, India must
tread diplomatic negotiations with Pakistan very carefully.
What is essential for better Sino-Indian relations?
 Peace and prosperity at border
 Respect for international laws
 Implementing Nehru’s Panchsheel in letter and spirit
 Promote people to people contact
 Addressing trade deficits
 Greater investment from china into India
 Cooperation and coordination in Afghanistan

5. Will soft power help India and china improve
ties?
Even though both countries share a long border, the people on either side aren’t aware of the culture and
traditions. Recently, China has been inclined to take advantage of India’s skilled labour in information and
technology. However, issues like Dokalam has made India to move towards a pragmatic diplomacy.
What are the irritants in indo-china relationship?
 China military aid makes Pakistan more hostile to India
 China went ahead with CEPEC despite India’s sovereignty issues
 China has been severely restricting exports of pharmaceuticals and information & technology skewing
the already inflated trade deficit

6. THANK YOU