Date:21/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/21/stories/2008082150790901.htm

Miscellaneous - This Day That Age

dated August 21, 1958: India’s foreign policy

India’s foreign policy was unanimously approved by the Lok Sabha on August 20. In his reply to the debate Mr. Nehru said that neither the circumstances of the birth of the Panch Sheel nor the fact that it was not being observed by those who professed it detracted from the merits of the five principles of co-existence. On Indo-Pakistan relation Mr. Nehru was emphatic that it should be the policy of every government to strive ultimately to establish friendly relations with Pakistan whatever may be the nuisance caused by the immediate border trouble. He did not want bitterness at the Government level to go down to the people for having been geographically thrown together. There was no alternative but for peoples of the two countries to be friendly towards each other.