| Topic: GS2 – International Relations – Bilateral Relations |
| Context |
| ● The Qatari Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, visited India after a decade, reaffirming deep ties. |
Significance
- India and Qatar recognize each other’s strategic importance despite differing global perspectives.
- Qatar sees India as a key regional player, balancing ties with West Asian countries.
- Indian expatriates play a crucial role in Qatar’s economy.
- India sees Qatar as a vital Gulf power, a major LNG supplier, and a key geo-strategic partner.
Key Developments from the Visit
- Strategic Partnership Upgrade: India and Qatar elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership, aligning with India’s ties with UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait.
- Energy and Trade: Qatar supplies 45% of India’s LNG needs, forming half of the $15 billion bilateral trade. Both sides aim to double trade by 2030.
- Qatar’s Investment in India: Qatar pledged a $10 billion investment in Indian infrastructure and manufacturing.
- Agreements Signed:
- Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement
- MoUs in sports, youth affairs, and other sectors
- Diplomatic Breakthrough: The Qatari Amir’s pardon of eight Indian naval personnel sentenced to death in 2023 strengthened bilateral trust.
Geopolitical Implications
- Middle East Conflict and India’s Stance:
- The visit occurred amid Israel-Gaza tensions and U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial plan affecting Palestinians.
- Gulf nations opposed the plan, while India’s response has been relatively reserved.
- The joint statement mentioned the “Israel-Hamas issue” without detailing positions.
- Qatar’s Global Role:
- Hosts a U.S. military base with U.K. and Australian air forces.
- Maintains ties with groups like Hamas and the Taliban.
- India has engaged with Qatar in its evolving Afghanistan policy.
Conclusion
- The visit has strengthened India-Qatar relations, ensuring energy security, trade growth, and diplomatic alignment.
- Future engagements will focus on economic cooperation, regional stability, and strategic collaboration.
| PYQ: ‘India’s relations with Israel have, of late, acquired a depth and diversity, which cannot be rolled back.” Discuss. (150 words/10m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-2 2018) |
| Practice Question: Discuss the significance of India-Qatar relations in the context of geopolitical challenges in the Gulf region. How does the recent upgrade to a strategic partnership strengthen India’s position in West Asia? (250 Words /15 marks) |
2. Manipur’s worsening humanitarian crisis
| Topic: GS3 – Security – Linkages between development & spread of extremism. |
| Context |
| ● The Manipur conflict has led to large-scale displacement, worsening humanitarian conditions, and a severe data gap, making it difficult to assess vulnerabilities. |
Lack of Data in the India-Myanmar Borderlands
- The India-Myanmar borderlands have a long history of armed conflict, displacement, and humanitarian crises.
- The Manipur conflict has created significant gaps in data collection due to restricted access and security challenges.
- The absence of reliable data makes it difficult to understand the full scale of vulnerabilities and destruction.
- Misinformation further complicates efforts to document the crisis.
Forced Displacement and Relief Camps
- Recent estimates suggest that about 58,000 people have been displaced and are living in relief camps in the Valley and Hill districts.
- Nearly 12,000 people fled to Mizoram at the peak of the conflict.
- Around 7,000 people sought refuge in Nagaland, Assam, and Meghalaya.
- Forced displacement is a dynamic issue, and data collection remains fragmented.
Challenges in Documenting Displaced Populations
- Official records account only for individuals in registered relief camps.
- Many displaced people are living with relatives, in temporary shelters, or have left the state.
- Thousands of Manipuri youth have migrated in search of better education and employment.
- Many have also been forced to seek medical care outside Manipur due to limited access to healthcare in conflict-affected areas.
Impact on Healthcare Services
- The conflict has severely affected healthcare accessibility, especially in Kuki-Zomi-dominated hill districts.
- Major hospitals in Imphal remain inaccessible, forcing patients to travel through Mizoram or Nagaland for treatment.
- Displaced individuals in relief camps face increasing medical expenses, often leading to discontinuation of treatment.
- The healthcare system in Manipur, already divided between the Valley and Hill districts, has worsened.
Health and Mortality Issues
- The absence of proper documentation results in underreported cases of mortality, malnutrition, and disease outbreaks.
- Blockades on essential medicines further aggravate the situation.
- Many deaths have been reported due to delayed medical access.
- A 63-year-old displaced person died due to a lack of dialysis facilities.
- A mother died from excessive bleeding after childbirth in a relief camp.
- A one-month-old infant was abandoned due to extreme poverty.
- A one-year-old girl died from pneumonia in a relief camp.
- A local report documented at least 13 deaths in relief camps in the Valley, including suicides.
Mental Health Crisis
- A study conducted in displaced persons’ camps found that:
- 8% of respondents suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- 8% experience moderate anxiety and 15.2% have severe anxiety.
Basic Needs and Living Conditions
- It has been over two years since the formation of relief camps, yet basic needs such as food, water, and shelter remain unmet.
- Dwindling resources, donor fatigue, and rising inflation have worsened the situation for displaced communities.
- Over 22,000 children are still living in camps, severely impacting their education.
- The crisis is worsened by unsanitary living conditions, daily water shortages, lack of nutritious food, and absence of income sources.
Steps to Address the Crisis
- Increased Humanitarian Support: External agencies, including corporate social responsibility (CSR) entities, must provide additional humanitarian aid.
- Improving Access to Clean Water: More resources should be allocated to provide clean drinking water, as many families are spending a significant portion of their income on private water sources.
- Creating Humanitarian Corridors: There should be designated routes for emergency evacuation of serious patients from the hill districts through Imphal airport.
- Restoring Supply Chains: Essential commodities, food, and medical supplies should be transported between the Valley and Hill districts through neutral communities to reduce inflation and ensure availability.
Conclusion
- The humanitarian crisis in Manipur remains severe, and urgent action is needed to improve the situation for displaced populations.
| Practice Question: Discuss the humanitarian challenges arising from the Manipur conflict, with a focus on displacement, healthcare access, and the role of accurate data in crisis response. (150 Words /10 marks) |
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