Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations
Q3. “Hyphenation of India with Pakistan in global discourse undermines India’s strategic identity.” Discuss this statement. Evaluate how India can assert its distinct geopolitical positioning. (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: NIE
Why the question
India’s rising global profile contrasts with persistent external narratives linking it with Pakistan, making it important to analyse implications for foreign policy and strategic positioning.Key Demand of the question
The question requires examining how hyphenation with Pakistan affects India’s strategic identity and evaluating the ways India can assert an independent geopolitical role. It tests both conceptual clarity and policy-oriented analysis.Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Briefly bring out India’s evolving global status and the persistence of hyphenation in international discourse.Body
- Impact of hyphenation on strategic identity: Explain how it limits India’s global perception and confines it to a regional security framework.
- Distortion of India’s global role: Show how it affects partnerships, economic image, and diplomatic autonomy.
- Ways to assert distinct geopolitical positioning: Suggest how India can project itself through multilateral leadership, economic diplomacy, and Indo-Pacific engagement.
Conclusion
Highlight the need for proactive and autonomous diplomacy to firmly establish India as a global rather than regional power.
