Roadmap for Answer Writing

1. Introduction

• Context: Briefly introduce the Sri Lankan Civil War, the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) deployment, and the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord of 1987.
• Focus: Outline that the answer will examine the factors prompting India’s intervention and the long-term consequences for bilateral and regional relations.

2. Factors Compelling India to Intervene

In this section, you will analyze the different factors that led India to intervene. Use the following points:

• Strategic Concerns:
  • India feared the conflict’s destabilizing effects, especially the possibility of violence spilling over into India, particularly Tamil Nadu.
• Domestic Politics:
  • Tamil Nadu’s significant Tamil population, with cultural and linguistic ties to Sri Lankan Tamils, put pressure on the Indian government. Local politicians and Tamil activists demanded action to protect Tamils in Sri Lanka.
• Geopolitical Interests:
  • India wanted to prevent foreign powers, particularly China, from gaining a foothold in Sri Lanka. India viewed Sri Lanka’s proximity and influence in the Indian Ocean region as vital for maintaining regional dominance.
• Humanitarian Concerns:
  • The growing civilian casualties and the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka led India to intervene, driven by moral responsibility to protect the Tamil minority.
• Refugee Crisis:
  • A large number of Tamil refugees fleeing to India, particularly Tamil Nadu, exacerbated the political situation and further compelled India to act.

3. Evaluation of Lasting Impacts

In this section, discuss the long-term consequences of India’s intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War:

• Impact on Bilateral Relations:
  • India’s intervention strained its relationship with Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan government viewed the IPKF’s presence as an infringement on sovereignty. This affected diplomatic ties for years.
• Ethnic Tensions:
  • The Tamil issue remains sensitive in Sri Lanka. While the civil war ended in 2009, ethnic divisions persist, affecting both domestic and foreign policy.
• Tamil Nadu Politics:
  • The Tamil issue continues to be a significant aspect of Tamil Nadu politics. Local parties continue to raise demands for justice for Sri Lankan Tamils, which affects India’s foreign policy towards Sri Lanka.
• Regional Power Dynamics:
  • The defeat of the LTTE allowed China to expand its presence in Sri Lanka through investments in infrastructure, such as the Hambantota port, increasing Sino-Indian competition in the region.
• Lessons Learned:
  • India’s experience highlighted the need for a balanced approach in interventions, considering long-term political, humanitarian, and security dimensions, rather than short-term military objectives.

4. Conclusion

• Summary: Summarize the factors that led India to intervene and the lasting impact this intervention has had on India’s foreign policy, bilateral relations, and regional geopolitics.
• Reflection: Conclude by reflecting on how India’s involvement in Sri Lanka serves as a critical case study in foreign intervention and the complexities it entails.

Relevant Facts and Sources

• Strategic Concerns: India’s involvement in Sri Lanka was seen as crucial to maintaining regional stability.
• Domestic Politics: Tamil Nadu’s political pressure to protect Sri Lankan Tamils was significant.
• Geopolitical Interests: India’s goal of preventing China’s influence in Sri Lanka was central to its intervention.
• Humanitarian Concerns: The humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka, with thousands of displaced civilians, was a major factor in India’s decision to intervene.
• Refugee Crisis: The influx of refugees into Tamil Nadu forced India to act, with implications for national security.
• Impact on Bilateral Relations: The IPKF’s presence strained India-Sri Lanka relations, as seen in subsequent diplomatic exchanges.
• Ethnic Tensions: Ethnic tensions continue to affect both Sri Lankan and Tamil Nadu politics post-2009.
• Regional Power Dynamics: China’s post-war investment in Sri Lanka exemplified the shift in regional power dynamics.