ONE DAY SENMINAR ON
INDIA’S FOREIGN POLICY: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
OBSERVATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

Following a day long seminar on People's Foreign Policy on 10th March 2007, New Delhi which was organized by Muslim Organizations which included the Jamaat-I-Islami-Hind, Jamaat-I-Ulema-i-Hind, Alhle-e-Hadees, Shia organizations and Maulana Muzammilull Haq represented (Ibnae Qadeem Deoband).

We observed that:

In the first four decades of independence, India made efforts to chart an economic policy based on the principle of self-reliance. It also acquired a degree of manoeuvrability in foreign policy based on principles of non-alignment;

Following the shift in India's economic policy in favour of an accelerated neo-liberal agenda since the early 1990s, the foreign policy has come to be aligned closely with the US.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the world has come to be dominated by the United States that has extended its domination by suppressing all forms of resistance to US policy and has following 9/11 sought to divided the world between those 'for us' and 'against us', directed in substantial measure against the countries and peoples of West Asia. It is based on a clear strategy the spreads Islamophobia and demonizes Muslims. Therefore the current Globar War on Terror is only an excuse to wage war, occupy nations and monopolise their resources.

India's acceptance of the global domination of the US is reflected in 18 July 2005 agreement on nuclear policy with the US, its recent conduct in the WTO, cooperation with the US agenda for India on genetically modified foods, its growing relationship with Israel including military relations, its complete reversal on its support for Iran and virtually pulling out of the Indo-Pak-Iran gas pipeline deal and its willingness to be part of the 'global war against terror';

India's policy in South Asian should be more focused so as to strengthen SAARC and thus build our neighbourhood as a bastion of peace and prosperity. This process needs to be hastened as it will prove to be of immense mutual benefit for all the South Asian people.

The historic victory against Israeli aggression in Lebanon by the Hezbollah led Lebanese National resistance, the strengthening of the National resistance in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan and the world wide opposition and protests against war and occupation is forcing US imperialism into a defensive position.

Foreign policy is very much a reflection and outcome of the policies pursued by government at home and thus has a direct impact on the daily lives of citizens.

We believe that foreign policy, like any other policy, must be rooted in the democratic aspirations of citizens. It must be rooted in building a society that is based on economic, social and political equality and is free from all forms of discrimination where people are free to chart their own destinies without internal or external force or coercion. Such a policy must seek to defend and advance the right to independence and self-determination of nations and towards this end promote a multi-polar world order. Indian foreign policy is out of sync with these aspirations.

Laying the foundation for such a policy needs us to ground our aspirations with a sense of realism so that we successfully evolve strategies for struggles for a people's foreign policy. We call for an honest debate within the political parties and civil society as it is apparent that the foreign policy cannot be determined by the Indian elite who are willing to collaborate with the American Imperial project. We also appeal to the people of India to awaken to the dangers inherent in this paradigm shift and launch a struggle to safeguard the sovereignty and independence of the Indian nation.

We resolve and demand that:

Secure Global peace by:

We demand that the Indian government should enunciate a foreign policy that is independent and sovereign and which is part of the anti-colonial legacy of our freedom struggle. The present tilt with US Imperialism will prove detrimental to the cause of the Indian nation.

Our nation is an emerging Economic power and our energy needs are essential to our growing economy. In that context India should resolve to go ahead with the Indo-Pak-Iran Oil and Gas pipeline inspite of opposition from USA.

Building on equality of nations and respect for human dignity within countries that eliminates all forms of racism, xenophobia, religious and social prejudices and demonisation of all peoples.

All states sign and ratify the Rome Treaty of the International Criminal Court, especially the USA and Israel.

We support the National Liberation movements and Struggles of Peoples’ against aggression by the US-Israel and their allies and by other expansionist powers.

Working for a genuine and just settlement of the Palestinian peoples' right to self-determination Securing the early, complete and permanent withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Iraq and Afghanistan. We forthrightly oppose the US war designs on Iran. We also demand that the Indian government should not abide by the US led sanctions on Iran.

End all Defence-Military ties with Israel as it is an Apartheid-Zionist State which discriminates on the basis of Race and Religion. Israel is an Occupying Colonizing power in defiance of the laws and the will of the International community.

Work towards Alternative Economic Policies based on peoples' economies for prosperity and increased co-operation and socialisation, and rejecting those that are anti-people and neo-liberal led market policies, which enrich a few corporations and countries.

Janaab Mutaba Farooq

SQR Ilyas

N.K. Affandi

Fatema Shahnaz

Zafarul Islam Khan

Feroze Mithiborwala

Maulana Abdul Hameed Nomani

Maulana Abdul Wahab Khilji

Maulana Aqeequl Gharabi

Maulana Muzammilull Haq