India played balancing act, peacemaker

India in 2024 balanced its ties between warring countries and played peacemaker in two conflicts. There was a breakthrough in reducing tensions along the LAC with China after four years, while ties with Bangladesh and Canada went through a rough patch.

PM Modi travelled to both Ukraine and Russia which have been at war for the last two years and told both nations that “no resolution can be found on the battlefield”. India also continued to buy oil from Russia.

Allegations by Canada and the US against India for targeting pro-Khalistan elements led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, led to a full-blown diplomatic war of words between New Delhi and Toronto. India maintained that Canada never provided a shred of evidence as relations plunged to a new low.

With the US, India is cooperating in the investigations against Indian individuals and has even removed an official of the Research and Analysis Wing from service.

The breakthrough in the India and China military stand-off announced in October was the outcome of diplomatic pressure to convey how “peace and tranquillity’ along the LAC was a prerequisite for normal bilateral relations.

It was followed by the first structured bilateral meeting, in five years, between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping of China on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia.

In West Asia, India called for cessation of violence and continued to condemn the October 2003 attack by Hamas on Israel, which had triggered the latest spurt of violence in Gaza, a Palestinian territory. New Delhi also made it clear that it favoured a two-nation solution for Israel-Palestine .

In the immediate neighbourhood, the ouster of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August and the subsequent formation of the interim government headed by Mohd Yunus, changed the dynamics. The Hindu community in Bangladesh was targeted and an anti-India sentiment prevailed. Indian diplomatic properties were attacked. India expressed concerns over the treatment of minorities, particularly Hindus, and has urged the interim government to prevent further violence. Sri Lanka, was offered increased cooperation in infrastructure projects, energy sector, power supply, digital payment infrastructure and defence equipment. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka, made his first overseas stop to New Delhi. With Maldives, relations saw a complete turnaround. President Mohamed Muizzu, who stormed to power in November 2023 riding an “India out” campaign, in August, named India as his nation’s closest allies and an invaluable partner.

In the expanded neighbourhood, India secured control over the strategic Chabahar Port in Iran.

Economic and strategic outreach in the ten-country ASEAN-bloc was expanded. The two sides agreed to expedite the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA).