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OPINION JULY 11, 2025 | The Indian Eye 10

Beyond Abstention: India,

the Korean War Legacy and

Contemporary Conflicts

The Korean War proved unequivocally that India can be an indispensable force for peace on the global

stage. Seventy-five years later, with its unique blend of moral authority and practical engagement, India
can fully realise its potential as a true global peacemaker

with a newly emergent China. the critical role India played in these This pragmatic solution, initially met
India’s diplomatic strength mani- high-stakes communications. with skepticism, gained undeniable
fested during the acrimonious negoti- India successfully engineered traction. The resolution, embody-
ations. Crucially, the presence of K.M. a series of ceasefire attempts and ing India’s core principles, was over-
Panikkar, India’s Ambassador to delayed a UN resolution branding whelmingly adopted by the UN and
Peking (Beijing), proved invaluable. China as an aggressor, by rallying became the vital framework for the
Panikkar acted as a vital communica- its Arab-Asian and Commonwealth Korean Armistice Agreement signed
tion bridge, relaying crucial messages partners. This collective diplomatic on 27 July 1953.
between the Chinese leadership and pressure was instrumental, compel- India’s commitment extended
the Western powers. His prescience ling a reluctant US administration to beyond diplomatic pronouncements.
proved pivotal in November 1950 fol- prioritise a negotiated ceasefire and Its elevated stature and the trust it
D. PADMA KUMAR PILLAY lowing China’s intervention, as he had showcasing India’s undeniable ‘con- had painstakingly earned led to its
previously communicated China’s ex- straining role’ at the UN. appointment as the Chairman of the
he Korean War commenced plicit warning—they would intervene The ultimate testament to In- Neutral Nations Repatriation Com-
on 25 June 1950, 75 years ago. if UN forces crossed the 38th Parallel. dia’s influence came in autumn 1952, mission (NNRC). Crucially, India also
TIndia played an extraordinary, This had become the accepted, amidst the stalemate over the prison- provided the Custodian Force of In-
yet often understated role in forging albeit unofficial, boundary between ers-of-war repatriation. dia (CFI). The CFI was a contingent
peace in the aftermath of the war. The North and South Korea after the end The UN championed “non-forc- of approximately 6,000 personnel
Korean War defined the contours of of World War II. Panikkar later also ible repatriation”, while the Commu- structured on the Indian Army’s 190
the early Cold War period. It was the conveyed a chilling warning regarding nist bloc demanded “all-for-all” ex- Infantry Brigade. It played a pivotal
first, and to date, only direct clash be- the potential use of the atomic bomb changes. India stepped forward with a role in the post-Korean War Armi-
tween the United States and China. It if Chinese aggression did not cease. groundbreaking “Indian resolution”, stice agreement for repatriation of
was also the initial face-off between Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru a neutral commission to oversee over 22,000 prisoners of war.
two World War II allies, the USSR later denied this threat was a direct non-repatriated prisoners, allowing The CFI was commanded by Ma-
and the US. Indian diplomacy at the transmission of a US message, but it for persuasion and a post-war politi- jor General S.P.P. Thorat under the
United Nations was not just a bridge, underscored the intense pressure and cal conference to determine their fate. overall purview of Lieutenant Gener-
but the very bedrock upon which a
fragile peace was built.
The Korean War offers the world,
and indeed India, invaluable lessons
in de-escalation, principled engage-
ment, and the profound impact of
humanitarian action. India’s commit-
ment was never passive. While con-
demning North Korea’s aggression
and supporting UN resolutions, New
Delhi deliberately opted out of being
militarily involved in the conflict. In-
stead, India deployed the 60th Field
Ambulance Unit, a powerful symbol
of its dedication to alleviating suffer-
ing rather than escalating violence.
This wasn’t merely a symbolic gesture,
it was a strategic choice, reflecting In-
dia’s nascent state, its domestic prior- Courtesy: IDSA
ities, and its foresight in nurturing ties Continued on next page... >>

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