UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 2: Questions on India’s engagement with ASEAN and significance of the Durand Line for India’s foreign policy (Week 126)

QUESTION 1

Discuss the historical origins of the Durand Line. What is the strategic significance of the Durand Line for India’s foreign policy in South Asia?

QUESTION 2

“For India, deeper engagement with ASEAN is imperative in the evolving Indo-Pacific order.” Using this year’s summit dynamics as a base, discuss how India can re-energise its ASEAN strategy.

General points on the structure of the answers for UPSC Mains

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

QUESTION 1: Discuss the historical origins of the Durand Line. What is the strategic significance of the Durand Line for India’s foreign policy in South Asia?

(Tarikh-i-Pakhtunkhwa)

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— The Durand Line is a 2,640-kilometer (1,640-mile) border dividing modern Afghanistan and Pakistan. While the exact location of the line is debated, the West and the United States recognise it as the official border between modern Afghanistan and Pakistan.

— The landscape of the area (present-day southeastern Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan) is mostly composed of arid and semi-arid highlands.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:

— This area, includes the seven tribal agencies of the current Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA): Khyber, Bajaur, Mohmand, Orakzai, Kurram, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan.

— The Durand Line was established during the tenure of Mortimer Durand, who served as the Foreign Secretary of the Government of India from 1884 to 1894. His time in office coincided with the peak of the rivalry between British India and Russia, also known as the Great Game, over imperial expansion into Central Asia.

— An agreement was reached quickly, perhaps facilitated by Durand offering to increase the Emir’s annual subsidy by £300,000. On November 12, 1893, the Emir signed and sealed a treaty renouncing all claims to the territory extending from the Hindu Kush to the westernmost limits of Baluchistan. This large area contained the formerly contested lands of Bajaur, Dir, Swat, Buner, Tirah, the Kurram Valley, and Waziristan. As a result, the frontier tribesmen acquired a legal status, becoming ‘British protected persons.’

— Beginning in March 2017, Pakistan started constructing the frontier fence to prevent, as it stated, terrorism, smuggling, and illegal immigration. According to reports, 98% of the fencing was completed by April 2023.

— On the legitimacy of the Durand Line, India has not taken a clear stance. “This ambiguity is a reflection of India’s cautious and calculated diplomatic posture. New Delhi has prioritised stable engagement with successive regimes/governments in Afghanistan, vigilantly monitoring Pakistan’s territorial assertions. Since India’s strategic interests in Afghanistan revolve around security, regional connectivity, and counter-terrorism, any instability along the Durand Line has direct implications for these priorities. This makes India’s policy one of pragmatic engagement as well as support for Afghan sovereignty, particularly in instances where Pakistan’s actions are seen as undermining regional equilibrium. This explains India’s consistent support for an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace process.”

Conclusion:

— Regardless of the government/regime in Kabul, Afghanistan’s popular rejection of the Durand Line persists, which is made worse by Pakistan’s unrelenting efforts to entrench the status quo. Regional instability, shifting geopolitical alliances, and the complexity of tribal politics further undermine diplomatic efforts.

— The transformation of the British description of the Durand Line — from ‘frontier line’ (1893-96), to ‘frontier’ (1919-21), and eventually to ‘International frontier’ (1950) — and Pakistan’s sudden claim after its creation, first describing it as an ‘International border’ (1947) and later leaving it vague, shows a definite lack of consistency.

(Source: The complex history of the Durand Line that divides Pakistan and Afghanistan)

Points to Ponder

Read about other important border lines

Read about Afghanistan-India trade

Related Previous Year Questions

“Increasing crossborder terrorist attacks in India and growing interference in the internal affairs of several member states by Pakistan are not conducive for the future of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation).” Explain with suitable examples. (2016)

“The broader aims and objectives of WTO are to manage and promote international trade in the era of globalization. But the Doha round of negotiations seem doomed due to differences between the developed and the developing countries.” Discuss in the Indian perspective. (2016)

QUESTION 2: “For India, deeper engagement with ASEAN is imperative in the evolving Indo-Pacific order.” Using this year’s summit dynamics as a base, discuss how India can re-energise its ASEAN strategy.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— Thailand-Cambodia border tensions and Myanmar’s civil war will be key topics of discussion at the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

— The Indian Prime Minister said the 21st century is the century of India and ASEAN. Addressing the ASEAN-India Summit virtually, which is being held in Malaysia, he underlined that India and ASEAN together represent almost a quarter of the world’s population. He further stated that India and ASEAN do not just share geography, but are also connected by the thread of deep historical ties and shared values.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:

— India’s approach to the ASEAN-India Summit demonstrated a distinct intent to synergise the ambitions of India and ASEAN in a complex geopolitical landscape.

— India’s key announcements reflecting Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship theme, “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” were thoughtful and built on past initiatives. The focus next year is decidedly on maritime cooperation, designated as the “ASEAN–India Year of Maritime Cooperation” — quite significant, considering that the Philippines will be the ASEAN Chair in 2026.

— Given the slow progress in the assessment of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), ASEAN and Indian authorities must go beyond rhetoric and weigh slight short-term inconveniences against long-term rewards. If India wants to be a continuous first responder, it must be comprehensive in every meaning of the word, going beyond merely “physical” disasters in Southeast Asia.

— Track 1.5 discussions during the first India-ASEAN Strategic Dialogue, held just a week and a half before the ASEAN-India Summit, demonstrated a rising recognition of India’s critical position in the region. ASEAN and India share comparable norms and values, however they may still be determining and internalising their mutual worth. This must happen quickly and purposefully in order to preserve continuity and reciprocity in links, especially given the progress done thus far in a relationship that spans more than 30 years.

— According to the pib, In support of the Malaysian Chair’s theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, the Indian PM announced:

• Extended support for implementation of the ASEAN-India Plan of Action to implement the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2026-2030)

• Adoption of the ASEAN-India Joint Leaders’ Statement on Sustainable Tourism to strengthen tourism cooperation, as we celebrate the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism

• Designation of the year 2026 as the “ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation” to forge partnerships in blue economy

• Proposing to organise the Second ASEAN-India Defence Ministers’ Meeting and the Second ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise for a secure maritime environment

• India will continue its role as a First Responder in times of crisis in the neighbourhood, and further strengthen cooperation in Disaster Preparedness and HADR

• Training of 400 professionals in renewable energy, for supporting the ASEAN Power Grid initiative

• Extending Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) to Timor Leste

Conclusion:

— The Indian Prime Minister also emphasised that India has stood firmly with its ASEAN friends in every disaster. He stated that cooperation in HADR, maritime security, and the blue economy is growing rapidly. He declared 2026 as the “ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation”.

(Source: India-ASEAN ties need a renewed push, Can the ASEAN summit in Malaysia deliver regional peace?, http://www.newsonair.gov.in, http://www.pib.gov.in)

Points to Ponder

Read about trade between India and ASEAN members

Read about places in news in ASEAN countries

Related Previous Year Questions

Discuss the geopolitical and geostrategic importance of the Maldives for India with a focus on global trade and energy flows. Further, discuss how this relationship affects India’s maritime security and regional stability amidst international competition. (2024)

Indian Diaspora has an important role to play in South East Asian countries economy and society. Appraise the role of Indian Diaspora in South-East Asia in this context. (2017)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 126)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 125)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 124)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 125)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 125)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 124)

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