Challenges to National Security (External)Class 9 Defence Studies Chapter 2 Notes – Maharashtra Board

Summary: Challenges to National Security (External)

India's neighbours are Pakistan to the west, China to the north, a small strip of Afghanistan (the Wakhan Corridor) in the north, Nepal and Bhutan in the north, Bangladesh and Myanmar in the east, and Sri Lanka to the south across the sea.

India fought major wars with Pakistan in 1947–48, 1965 and 1971, and a conflict at Kargil in 1999. The first two wars were over Kashmir; the 1971 war created Bangladesh. Terrorist groups sheltered in Pakistan carry out attacks in India, and a future war could be nuclear.

With China the dispute is about the border and the status of Tibet. The two disputed areas are Aksai Chin in Ladakh and the northern border of Arunachal Pradesh (once NEFA), along the McMahon Line drawn at Shimla in 1914. This dispute led to the 1962 war. China took over Tibet in the 1950s and the Dalai Lama came to India.

East Pakistan was oppressed; under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman its people fought for freedom, and millions of refugees came to India. India helped and Bangladesh was born in 1971. Relations have been friendly; the Farakka water dispute was settled by an agreement. In 1987 India signed an accord with Sri Lanka and sent a Peace Keeping Force there.

India's coastline is very long and lies beside the busy sea route from the Suez Canal to the Strait of Malacca. European powers once came to India by sea; today big powers seek influence in this resource-rich ocean. Guarding the Indian Ocean is therefore a major security challenge.

Key points to remember

• Neighbours: Pakistan (W), China (N), Afghanistan via Wakhan Corridor (N), Nepal and Bhutan (N), Bangladesh and Myanmar (E), Sri Lanka (S)
• Wars with Pakistan: 1947–48, 1965, 1971; Kargil conflict 1999
• 1947–48 and 1965 wars: over Kashmir; 1971 war: creation of Bangladesh
• Terrorist groups sheltered in Pakistan strike in India; future wars could be nuclear
• China dispute: border (Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh) and Tibet
• McMahon Line = Arunachal–Tibet border, settled at Shimla in 1914
• Border dispute led to the 1962 India–China war
• Bangladesh born in 1971 with India's help; Farakka Barrage dispute settled by agreement
• 1987: India–Sri Lanka accord and Indian Peace Keeping Force
• Indian Ocean: key trade route Suez → Malacca; Andaman and Nicobar Islands are important

Challenges to National Security (External) – Notes

1. India's neighbours

• West: Pakistan. North: China, and also a short border with Afghanistan — the narrow Afghan strip that meets Indian territory is called the Wakhan Corridor.
• North: Nepal and Bhutan. East: Bangladesh and Myanmar. South, across the sea in the Indian Ocean: Sri Lanka.
• To understand our security we must look at the history of our relations with each neighbour and the challenges they bring.
• Use a map: locate each neighbour and the direction it lies in from India.

2. Pakistan

• India and Pakistan have fought several times since 1947. The three major wars were in 1947–48, 1965 and 1971.
• The first two wars were over Kashmir, which Pakistan claims should be part of it.
• The 1971 war ended with East Pakistan becoming the new country of Bangladesh.
• In 1999 India fought Pakistani intruders at Kargil.
• So far these wars used conventional (non-nuclear) weapons and stayed limited. Both countries now have nuclear weapons, so a future war could be far more destructive. The nature of the conflict is changing.
• Many terrorist organisations find shelter in Pakistan and launch attacks in India — a major present-day challenge.

3. China and Tibet

• China, India's northern neighbour, is a world power. The disputes are about the border and about the position of Tibet.
• Two border areas are disputed: Aksai Chin (Indian territory in Ladakh that China occupies illegally) and the northern border of Arunachal Pradesh, earlier called the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA).
• The border between Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet is the McMahon Line. It was settled at a conference in Shimla in 1914 attended by representatives of British India, China and Tibet; the British official Henry McMahon played a key part.
• This border dispute was the main cause of the India–China war of 1962.
• Tibet was traditionally an autonomous region with its own Buddhist culture. In the 1950s China occupied it and tried to wipe out that culture. Because of China's harsh treatment of Tibetans, their leader the Dalai Lama escaped to India (the book prints 1958; most history books give 1959).
• Today: Ladakh became a separate Union Territory in 2019, and tension on the border continued, for example the clash in the Galwan valley in 2020.

4. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka

• Before 1971 Pakistan had two parts — West Pakistan on India's west and East Pakistan on India's east.
• East Pakistan was oppressed and denied human rights. Led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, its people rose against the military rulers and fought for freedom.
• Huge numbers of refugees crossed into India, putting great strain on India. So India supported the liberation struggle, and independent Bangladesh came into being in 1971.
• Since then India and Bangladesh have mostly been friends. One dispute was over the Farakka Barrage on a stream of the Ganga; it was settled by the Farakka Agreement (the book gives 1978; the agreement was signed in November 1977).
• Sri Lanka has been a close friend. Its Tamil minority in the north wanted more self-rule, causing internal trouble. In 1987 India signed an agreement with the Sri Lankan government to help solve the problem and sent a Peace Keeping Force to maintain security there.

5. The Indian Ocean

• India has a long coastline — about 7,000 km, as the book says (official figures today give a larger length because they count island coasts and use newer measurement).
• The Indian Ocean is vital for world trade. The main shipping route runs from the Suez Canal to the Strait of Malacca, and India sits in a commanding position on it.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, close to the Malacca Strait, become especially important.
• In the past, the Portuguese, Dutch, French and British came by sea and set up colonies in India.
• Today the USA, Russia and China are trying to increase their influence here, and the region is rich in natural resources. Protecting the Indian Ocean is therefore a big security challenge for India.

Neighbours and events to remember

Key terms

Challenges to National Security (External) – Flashcards

Read the question, answer it in your head, then tap the card to check. 20 cards.

Challenges to National Security (External) – MCQ Quiz

15 questions. Tap an option — you will see at once if it is right and why.

How to study Challenges to National Security (External)

⏱ About 30 minutes

1. Understand (10 min)
   With a map open, go round India's neighbours one by one and read the issue linked to each: Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, then the Indian Ocean.
2. Remember (10 min)
   Make a year list: 1914 McMahon Line, 1947–48, 1962, 1965, 1971, 1987, 1999 — and say what happened in each.
3. Practise (10 min)
   Answer the 'Try it yourself' questions, take the quiz and play 🎮 Play.