India's Position in the Post-Cold War World

India's foreign policy underwent a fundamental transformation after 1991. The end of the Cold War coincided with India's 1991 economic liberalisation, creating an entirely new context for global engagement.

Key Shifts in India's Foreign Policy

• Abandoned formal non-alignment for "strategic autonomy" — the ability to maintain an independent foreign policy while engaging all powers
• India-US relations transformed: From Cold War estrangement to a "defining partnership" — India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement (2008); Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI); COMCASA, BECA, GSOMIA defence agreements
• India-Russia relations maintained: India continues Russian arms imports (~50% of defence imports from Russia), even as it diversifies toward US, France, and Israel
• India-China relations: Competitive-cooperative; border tensions (Doklam 2017, Galwan 2020) co-exist with substantial trade ($136 billion bilateral 2023)
• India's UNSC ambitions: India is part of G4 (Germany, Brazil, Japan, India) pushing for UNSC reform and permanent seats

India and Counter-Terrorism

India has suffered major terrorist attacks that have shaped its counter-terrorism posture:

• 26/11 Mumbai (2008): 166 killed; perpetrators from Lashkar-e-Taiba (Pakistan-based)
• Parliament attack (2001): Direct assault on India's democratic institutions
• Pulwama (2019): 40 CRPF personnel killed — led to Balakot airstrikes by India

India chairs the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee (2022) and designates terrorist organisations through UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), amended in 2019 to allow designation of individuals.

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