History, the stand-off, and policy worth rereading

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 History, the stand-off, and policy worth rereading

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• The Five Fingers: In the 1950s, China's leader Mao Tse-tung had defined the five fingers thus - Tibet (Xizang) was the right palm, and its job was to liberate the 5 fingers viz. Ladakh, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and NEFA (Arunachal Pradesh).
• Nehru's approach: In late 1950s, Nehru govt. tried to ensure the exact opposite, and getting the 5 fingers closer to India and not China. The 2020 strategy must be a grand one on the same lines.
• Panchsheel and later: The Panchsheel agreement was signed in 1954, and the Dalai Lama was given refuge in India in 1959. China then started a propaganda war against India, demanding right to "self-determination" for Kashmir. The Naga and Mizo dissidents were helped by sheltering inside China.
• The 1962 war and 3-pronged foreign policy: India was hit hard in the 1962 war, due to Nehru's miscalculations. But he also set in motion a 3-pronged foreign policy, to counter the 5-fingers strategy.
• First part: To build border infrastructure, the govt. in mid-1950s launched the IFAS (Indian Frontier Administrative Service) to oversee NEFA and other border areas. Many from IPS, IAS and IFS were recruited, and rotated between remote regions and embassies. The base for today's developments was created during this time, till it was wound up in 1968. That job later went to the Indian Army and BRO (Border Roads Organisation). There is a demand to resurrect the IFAS (from CMs of ArP and Mizoram).
• Second part: India signed multiple treaties with neighbours like Nepal and Bhutan, and consolidated many other territories that acceded to India (Ladakh as part of J&K in 1947 and NEFA in 1951). The 1950 treaty with Sikkim made it a protectorate, and by 1975, it was the 22nd state. So a "win win" was created for all, and the benefits of open borders (Nepal, Bhutan) were used by everyone. Slowly, people forgot!
• Why Nepal and not Bhutan: China could make headway with Nepal but not Bhutan because a controversial article was removed in 2007 from the India-Bhutan treaty of 1949. It had related to Bhutan being guided by India in foreign affairs. Same has not been done with the 1950 India Nepal treaty, despite repeated demands. 
• Third part: The policy towards Tibet (the palm) needs to be developed for the future. India has supported the exiled Tibetan community for decades, including their undisputed leader the Dalai Lama. But what after him? The Karmapa Lama has left India and taken citizenship elsewhere and is not the leader. China will try to push a leader of its choice. 
• The J&K issue: The August 2019 reorganisation of J&K has changed the entire security situation. India perhaps failed to anticipate the Chinese reaction to this move. It had warned India about changing the sovereign status of Ladakh and had rejected it. The Home Minister had taken a vow in Parliament to take back Aksai Chin and PoK anyhow, and that angered the Chinese a lot (due to CPEC investments). The new map angered Nepal also. government will need cohesive policy now to handle all this.

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