The paper begins by establishing a historical context, noting the end of World War II and the subsequent division of Korea along ideological lines. It highlights the emergence of India as a new international leader in the post-colonial era, adopting a neutral stance in international diplomacy. The central research question revolves around India's involvement in the Korean unification process and the Korean War, focusing on its actions within the UN and its peacekeeping contributions. The paper emphasizes India's unique position as the largest and most vocal Third World country not aligned with either Cold War superpower, with Nehru championing anti-imperialism and neutralism. The introduction underscores the significance of understanding India's approach, given its internal challenges and its geographically sensitive location bordering hostile Pakistan and a potentially threatening China. The author intends to examine India's actions through the lens of its neutral foreign policy, exploring how this approach shaped its role in the UN and its impact on the Korean peninsula. The paper aims to showcase India's 'soft diplomacy' as a key element in its peacekeeping strategy.

The paper draws upon a broad range of existing literature, referencing works by Barnes, Tayal, Tiwari, Kumar, Ankit, Tao and Li, and Zhang among others. These sources help contextualize India's foreign policy under Nehru, highlighting its emphasis on decolonization, anti-imperialism, and neutrality. The literature review also incorporates previous studies on India's role in the UN and its specific actions related to Korea, including its participation in UN commissions and its medical and custodial contributions during the war and the subsequent POW repatriation process. The author employs these sources to build an argument around India's strategic approach to maintaining neutrality while actively engaging in international peacekeeping.

The paper employs a historical analysis approach, drawing upon a wide variety of primary and secondary sources. Primary sources include UN documents (GAOR, UN DOCs), archival materials from the Ministry of External Affairs (India), and personal accounts and testimonies from those involved. Secondary sources encompass books and journal articles focusing on Indian foreign policy, the Korean War, and international relations during the Cold War. The author uses these sources to reconstruct India's actions and motivations in the context of the Korean conflict, examining its diplomatic interactions with other nations, its decision-making processes, and the impact of its policies on various actors in the conflict. The paper uses case studies of India's participation in specific UN commissions (UNTCOK, NNRC, NNSC) and its non-military contributions (PFA, CFI) to illustrate its approach to peacekeeping. The methodology involves detailed examination of these specific instances to understand India's overall strategy and its impact.

The paper's key findings highlight several aspects of India's role in the Korean conflict: First, despite its own internal challenges and geopolitical vulnerabilities, India actively participated in UN efforts related to Korean unification and the Korean War, reflecting its commitment to international peace and anti-imperialism. Second, India's approach as a neutral power allowed it to act as a mediator and peacemaker between the superpowers. The UNTCOK chairmanship allowed India to propose a modified US plan for national elections, though this ultimately failed to achieve unified Korea. India's vote in favor of UN Resolution 82 demonstrated its commitment to the UN mandate, even though it abstained from the vote on Resolution 83 concerning military intervention. Third, the deployment of the 60th PFA demonstrated India's humanitarian commitment. The PFA's actions, described as a 'Bucket Brigade' during a retreat from Pyongyang, highlighted bravery and dedication to aiding wounded soldiers from all sides of the conflict. In addition to front-line medical aid, the PFA also provided significant assistance to improve health infrastructure in South Korea. Fourth, India played a crucial role in the repatriation of POWs through the NNRC and NNSC, serving as a neutral arbiter in a highly contentious process. The establishment of the Custodian Force India (CFI) to manage the POWs demonstrates India's commitment to humanitarian intervention and protection of human rights. Despite challenges and tensions with South Korea, India successfully facilitated the repatriation of many prisoners and provided a safe haven for those who chose not to return to their home countries. Finally, while India's neutral stance sometimes led to misunderstandings and opposition from both sides of the conflict, its soft diplomacy secured a significant role for India as a global peacemaker, particularly within the UN framework, influencing the course of the Korean War and its aftermath.

The paper’s findings illuminate India’s ability to navigate the complex dynamics of the Cold War while pursuing its foreign policy objectives. India’s success in mediating the POW repatriation process reveals the efficacy of neutral diplomacy. The discussion explores the implications of India's actions in shaping the Korean War’s resolution and the subsequent reconstruction efforts. The paper highlights the tension between India's commitment to neutrality and its active participation in UN peacekeeping. Its analysis underscores that India’s non-military contributions, such as medical assistance and humanitarian efforts, significantly contributed to resolving the conflict and its aftermath. The discussion emphasizes how India’s unique position as a non-aligned nation helped bridge the gap between the superpowers and contribute to a more peaceful outcome, demonstrating the potential of neutral diplomacy in international conflict resolution. This role-model of peacekeeping contributed to India’s global image as a mediator and peacebuilder.

This paper demonstrates India's pivotal role in the Korean War and its aftermath, highlighting its commitment to peacekeeping through soft diplomacy. India's participation in UN commissions, medical assistance, and POW repatriation efforts showcased its effectiveness as a neutral actor on the world stage. Despite facing challenges and tensions, India successfully influenced the course of events, contributing to a more peaceful resolution. Future research could explore the long-term consequences of India's actions in Korea, examining their impact on its international relations, and its own national identity. Further investigation into the specific dynamics between India and the various actors in the conflict (US, USSR, China, South Korea, North Korea) would offer additional insights into the nuanced complexities of this historical event.

The paper acknowledges that certain aspects of the Korean War, such as the exact number of casualties, remain contested. It also notes the limitations of relying solely on historical records, which may not always fully capture the complexities of decision-making processes. Furthermore, the paper primarily focuses on India's official actions and interactions within the UN framework, potentially overlooking other perspectives or informal influences. It also notes that due to the passage of time, information on certain events could be incomplete.