International Day of Peace: India’s legacy in international mediation

This year’s International Day of Peace is of particular significance for a world grappling with conflicts, wars and looming threats of escalation in regions like West Asia. In that context, let’s observe the International Day of Peace by recalling India’s historical role in peacemaking and explore the possibilities of its mediation in the Russia-Ukraine War.

International day of peace

The International Day of Peace – observed every year on September 21 – was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for “commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples”. 

In 2001, the UNGA unanimously voted to designate the Day as a time of non-violence and cease-fire, advocating for a cessation of hostilities while promoting dialogue, conflict resolution and peace education. This year’s theme is “Cultivating a Culture of Peace”, stressing that the concept of peace must be nurtured around the world, different communities and generations.

But what is the legacy of India in international mediation? External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has highlighted India’s experience of “aggression” immediately after independence to convey the country’s sensitivity to victims of international conflicts. Moreover, India’s commitment to the principles such as respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, international law, and commitment to peace and neutrality strengthen its proactive role as a peacemaker.  

India’s role in Russia-Ukraine peace-making  

As the Russia-Ukraine war approaches its third year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made historic visits to Russia in July and Ukraine in August, engaging in discussions with President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelensky, respectively. 

Prime Minister Modi clarified that India’s “not neutral” but “in favour of peace” in this bilateral conflict. He added that both parties should come to the table without wasting time and that India is “ready to play an active role in any effort towards peace”.

The Prime Minister is expected to meet Zelensky again in New York on the sidelines of the Quad leaders’ summit and will talk with Putin next month during the BRICS summit. Putin named India among the three sincere partners (others are Brazil and China) that are in touch with Russia by making sincere efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict. Ukraine spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also expressed similar hope for India’s role in peace dialogues. 

These events allude to India’s potential role as a peacemaker in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which built on the legacy India has in international mediation from the successful Korean experience to its critical stance on China’s invasion of Vietnam in 1979 and the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and Afghanistan in 2001 to name a few. 

India’s historic efforts in peace mediation 

India always calls for democratic dialogue and diplomacy to ensure peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflicts across the world. The country inherited this role of peace negotiator from its legacy of national movement and its policy of Non-aligned movement in the post-World War II era. India has a rich experience of mediating for peacekeeping in international politics under the leadership of the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

The Korean crisis (1950-53)

India was actively involved in the process of negotiating peace in the Korean crisis (1950-53) during the Cold War. Indian resolution on Korea was adopted by the UN in 1952. India succeeded in bringing consensus among major stakeholders like the US, the USSR and China, and helped to conclude an armistice agreement (1953). 

The country chaired the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission (NNRC) which was tasked to decide the fate of prisoners of war from both sides. A Custodian Force led by Lieutenant General K. S. Thimayya was deployed along the 38th parallel. Nehru granted abode to some prisoners who did not want to go back to either of Koreas. India was also an active member of the UN Commission on Korea and the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission. 

India’s peacekeeping role was praised internationally after it successfully brought a truce between the two Koreas without having any geopolitical interests in the region. Diplomats like Krishna Menon, K M Panikker, and B N Rau helped Nehru in this herculean task.  

Some other mediation efforts 

Nehru played a key role in mediating between the USSR and Austria for the withdrawal of Soviet troops and successfully convincing Austria to declare neutrality in 1955.

India served as the co-chair of the International Commission for Supervision and Control during the war in Vietnam in the 1950s and 60s.

India registered its protest against China’s invasion of Vietnam in 1979, and counselled restraint on the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan in the same year. New Delhi has been critical of the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and Afghanistan in 2001. 

In sum, India’s image as a neutral power in South Asia, strong political leadership and proactive diplomacy by charismatic leaders alongside institutional support from the UN were the factors that led to the success of India’s mediation in Korea and other international hostilities. 

India’s role in Russia-Ukraine War

India has been calling for dialogue and diplomacy since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war. For instance, India made critical efforts to reduce the escalations of the Russia-Ukraine war. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar revealed that Prime Minister Modi along with other world leaders played a key role in preventing a nuclear strike by Moscow on Kyiv in 2022. 

Soon after Russia announced termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (an initiative on the safe transportation of grain and foodstuffs from Ukraine), India made efforts to revive the Grain Initiative on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Delhi. 

The Black Sea Grain Initiative was proposed by the UN Secretary-General and signed on July 22, 2022 in Istanbul. The initiative was not renewed after its third term, which expired on July 17, 2023.

India has also attempted to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table, and the two sides recently expressed their trust over India’s role in negotiations. Putin, two weeks after Modi’s visit to Ukraine, reversed his earlier reluctance in peace negotiations and announced that Russia is in touch with its partnering countries like India to resolve the conflict with Ukraine peacefully. India has also expressed its willingness to convey messages between both sides in the future too. 

Putin also expressed his optimism in a bilateral meeting with Modi in the upcoming BRICS meeting on October 22. Possibly, India’s friendly relationship with the US and Russia will help bring parties to the table for dialogue.

Feasibility of a peace proposal 

India’s keenness to act as a peace negotiator in international affairs will strengthen its image as a leading global player. New Delhi’s status as a non-aligned political power in South Asia and closeness with Russia and Western powers can leverage its peace efforts in Ukraine.

India may seek to emulate its peace efforts in the Korean crisis (1950-53) to become a successful mediator between warring parties by ensuring the support of institutional mechanisms of the UN, political leadership, diplomats and regular dialogues, commitment to humanitarian and democratic values, and maintaining the non-aligned position in international affairs.

Post Read Question

What is the significance of the International Day of Peace? Reflect on this year’s theme – “Cultivating a Culture of Peace” – in the context of ongoing conflicts across the globe. 

How does India’s legacy in international mediation reflect on its commitment to peace and neutrality?

What is India’s potential role as a peacemaker in mediating the conflict between Russia and Ukraine?

(Dileep P Chandran is an Assistant Professor at the department of Political Science in University of Calicut, Kerala.)  

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