China
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China is our largest neighbor.
Its size is almost 3 times the size of India.
Its economy is almost 6 times that of India.
China is the most populated country in the world with 139 Crore citizens. India has a population
of approximately 135 Crore citizens.
China shares a 4056 km long boundary with Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim,
Arunachal Pradesh. India & China have boundary disputes in the region of Ladakh and Arunachal
Pradesh.
Cultural and economic relations between China and India date back to ancient times. The Silk
Road not only served as a major trade route between India and China, but is also credited for
facilitating the spread of Buddhism from India to East Asia.
However, in modern times India’s relationship with China has deteriorated
India has had a War with China in 1962 and several smaller conflicts in 1967, 1987, 2013, 2017 &
2020
In 1834, the Sikh empire in North India annexed Aksai Chin into the then state of Jammu.
In 1846, the British defeated the Sikh empire and included Aksai Chin into British-India.
In 1947, when India gained freedom, Aksai Chin became a part of India.
However, China never acknowledged Aksai Chin as a part of India
In 1962, Chinese forces defeated India in a short war and occupied Aksai Chin
The ceasefire line declared in 1962 is called the Line of Actual Control.
However, India and China have slightly different interpretations of the Line of Actual Control ,
which has led to repeated conflicts with India in 1967, 1987, 2013, 2017 & 2020
Nepal
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Nepal shares a land border with Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar & Sikkim.
India and Nepal have shared linguistic, marital, religious and cultural ties at people-to-people
level for centuries
In 1950 both countries signed the Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship that defined
security relations between the two countries.
The 1950 treaty stated that "neither government shall tolerate any threat to the security of the
other by a foreign aggressor". These accords cemented a "special relationship" between India
and Nepal.
The treaty also granted Nepalese the same economic and educational opportunities as Indian
citizens in India, while accounting for preferential treatment to Indian citizens and businesses
compared to other nationalities in Nepal.
The Indo-Nepal border is open; Nepalese and Indian nationals may move freely across the
border without passports or visas and may live and work in either country.
India is Nepal's largest trade partner and the largest source of foreign investments, besides
providing transit for almost entire third country trade of Nepal. India accounts for over two-third
of Nepal's merchandise trade, about one-third of trade in services, one-third of foreign direct
investments, almost 100% of petroleum supplies, and a significant share of inward remittances
on account of pensioners, professionals and workers working in India In the year 2017–2018
Bhutan
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India shares a 605 kilometres (376 mi) border with Bhutan along the states of Arunachal
Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam & West Bengal
The bilateral relations between the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan and the Republic of
India have been traditionally close and both countries share a 'special relationship', making
Bhutan a protected state, but not a protectorate, of India.
Close ties with Nepal and Bhutan are important for India’s security strategy against China.
India remains influential over Bhutan's foreign policy, defence and commerce. India is Bhutan’s
largest trading partner, accounting for 98 percent of its exports and 90 percent of its imports
In 2015-16 fiscal, India's budgetary support to the Kingdom country stood at 61 billion Indian
rupees making Bhutan the largest beneficiary of India's foreign aid.
Pakistan
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Pakistan is our second largest neighbor in terms of both size and population.
It shares a boundary of 3323 km the Indian states of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan &
Gujrat
Both India and Pakistan were a part of British India until 1947
In 1947, when the British decided to leave India, British India was split into two countries – India
and Pakistan. India is a Secular country with a Hindu majority, while Pakistan is an Islamic
country with a Muslim majority.
India and Pakistan have fought 4 wars till date in 1947, 1965, 1971, and 1999. All of these wars
have been won by India.
In 1947, when India and Pakistan gained freedom from the British.
o The Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh was yet to decide whether his state should join
India or Pakistan.
o However, without waiting for his decision, the Pakistani army invaded Kashmir.
o The Maharaja was thus, forced to join India. India then fought a war with Pakistan in
1947.
o To bring the war to an end, Pandit Nehru invoked the United Nations. The UN told
Pakistan to vacate the 1/3rd of Kashmir under Pakistani occupation so that a plebiscite
could be held to ascertain the will of the people.
However, Pakistan has refused to vacate Pakistan occupied Kashmir ever since and this has led
to further conflicts between India and Pakistan in 1965, 1971 and 1999 in which Pakistan was
soundly defeated.
Pakistan has also been supporting terrorism against India in Punjab and Kashmir for many years.
We will talk about the 1971 war in the section on Bangladesh.
Bangladesh
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Bangladesh is located towards the East of India and borders the Indian states of West Bengal,
Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura & Mizoram
Until 1971, Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan and was known as East Pakistan.
The people of East Pakistan or Bangladesh were Bengali speakers. The people of West Pakistan
were mainly Urdu/Punjabi speakers.
Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 after India defeated Pakistan in a war to free the
Bangladeshi people from oppression by the Pakistani army in which the West Pakistanis were in
a majority.
India and Bangladesh have steadily being solving disputes between themselves and enhancing
mutual co-operation.
o In 1977, India and Bangladesh signed the Farrakka accord, a landmark water sharing
treaty to end water disputed between the two countries
o In 2011, India and Bangladesh settled several outstanding border disputes with each
other
However, India is still concerned about the flow of illegal migrants, smuggling of goods and fake
currency from Bangladesh into Eastern India.
Myanmar
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Myanmar borders the Indian states of Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal
Pradesh in Northeast India
Bilateral relations between Myanmar and India encompass the political, economic and socio-cultural
relations that exist between the two neighboring Asian countries.
Political relations have improved considerably since 1993, overcoming tensions related to drug
trafficking, the suppression of democracy and the rule of the military junta in Myanmar.
Political leaders from both countries meet regularly on a bilateral basis and within the ASEAN Plus
Six community.
Economic relations are considerable with India representing Myanmar's 4th largest export market
and the country's 5th largest import partner.
Sri Lanka
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India and Sri Lanka share a maritime border and are separated from each other by the Palk Straits.
India is the only neighbour of Sri Lanka.
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Both nations occupy a strategic position in South Asia and have sought to build a common security
umbrella in the Indian Ocean. There are deep racial and cultural links between the two countries
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The two countries are also close on economic terms with India being the island's largest trading
partner. An agreement to establish a single market including India & Sri Lanka is also under
discussion at an advanced stage.
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The bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka have been tested by the Sri Lankan Civil War and
by the controversy of Indian intervention during the war.
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However, In recent years Sri Lanka has moved closer to China, especially in terms of naval
agreements. India has signed a nuclear energy deal to improve relations. India made a nuclear
energy pact with Sri Lanka in 2015.