India’s Neighbours: China & Pakistan

Framing the Neighbourhood

When we picture a neighbouring country, we usually think of one that shares a land boundary with ours. From this traditional perspective, India's land-based neighbours include Pakistan and Afghanistan^? in the northwest, China (Tibet), Nepal and Bhutan along the northern Himalayan belt, and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. India's total land boundary extends over 15,100 km, cutting through a remarkable variety of terrain — deserts, plains, forests, mountains, marshes, and river valleys.

However, India has always been a maritime nation^?, surrounded by the sea on three sides. This makes Sri Lanka and the Maldives our close neighbours across the water. Looking further through a satellite’s eye, we can see that Iran, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia all form part of India’s wider maritime neighbourhood. This chapter uses this broader understanding to place India at the heart of South Asia and the Indian Ocean region.

The Indian Ocean: India's Strategic Waterway

The Indian Ocean is the world’s third-largest ocean and is one of the busiest shipping corridors on the planet. Roughly half of all container ships, a third of bulk cargo, and about two-thirds of the world’s oil shipments travel through it. The countries bordering this ocean are home to approximately 2.7 billion people.

With its long coastline and peninsular shape that juts deep into the Indian Ocean, India enjoys a unique maritime position. This location grants access to critical sea lanes and connects India with Southeast Asia, West Asia, and Africa. India’s ports function as gateways for both imports and exports, and the country’s central location enables it to provide timely humanitarian aid and disaster relief across the region.

India and Her Largest Neighbour: China

Since 1950, India and China — two of Asia’s most influential nations — have shared a long and strategic relationship shaped by history, geography, culture, trade, and politics. Separated by the mighty Himalayas^?, their border stretches from east to west across the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Cultural and Spiritual Connections

Buddhism^? serves as a powerful bridge between the two nations. Originating in India, it reached China around the 1st century CE through trade and pilgrimage routes. Chinese monks such as Faxian and Xuanzang journeyed to Indian centres of learning, while Indian monks like Bodhidharma, Dharmakshema, and Kumarajiva carried Buddhist teachings into China. These exchanges forged deep spiritual and intellectual bonds that continue to resonate today.

Trade Relations Today

India and China continue to maintain significant trade ties. In the financial year 2024–25, India’s chief exports to China included iron ore, chemicals, and cotton yarn, while imports from China comprised electronic items (including mobile phones and computer hardware) and various industrial equipment. Several Indian companies operate in China and vice versa.

However, the balance of trade^? currently tilts heavily in China’s favour — Chinese exports to India are worth approximately eight times more than India’s exports to China.

Recent years have also seen periods of heightened border tensions and a few serious conflicts. At the same time, both nations are making efforts to resolve disputes through trade, dialogue, and border resolution mechanisms.

India and Pakistan

Before the Partition of 1947^? — a legacy of the colonial era that continues to shape the present — Pakistan was part of India. Pakistan was founded on a religious basis, unlike India, which was established as a secular republic. These two nations share one of the most complex relationships in South Asia.

Since the Partition, several military conflicts — including wars in 1948, 1965, and 1971, along with the Kargil conflict of 1999 — have defined an ongoing tension. Frequent terrorist attacks against India, some launched with support from elements in Pakistan, have further prevented the normalisation of relations between the two countries.

The India-Pakistan border stretches across the Indian states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and the union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. It is not merely a geographical line but also a symbol of shared heritage alongside a tragically divided history.

Bridges of Culture and Faith

Despite the political turbulence, attempts at peace have included periods of increased trade and the opening of pilgrimage routes. The Katas Raj temple complex in Pakistan’s Punjab province is one such important site, linked to the Mahabharata and containing a sacred pond. Other ancient Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh shrines — like the Hinglaj Mata Mandir in Balochistan — remain important pilgrimage destinations. Languages, cuisines, music, and festivals continue to bridge the border between the two nations.

India's Neighbours at a Glance