Discuss the role of civilisational and cultural diplomacy in India's foreign policy. Can culture be insulated from security concerns?

Civilisational diplomacy uses shared heritage such as language, art, faith and manuscripts to build trust beyond hard bargaining between states. India is hosting the first SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum in New Delhi (20–22 November 2026) and has invited Pakistan too [1]. This shows that culture is now a deliberate tool of foreign policy. Its reach, however, stops where security concerns begin.

Role of civilisational and cultural diplomacy

• Soft-power projection: The Forum's themes are art and architecture, and language, literature and manuscripts. They present India as a civilisation-state, not merely a market [1].
• Extended neighbourhood: China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan confirmed early. This shows that heritage builds goodwill across Eurasia [1].
• Institutional reach: The ICCR and the UN-declared International Day of Yoga have made culture a regular part of diplomacy.
• Low-cost channel to adversaries: India invited Pakistan's culture minister, not its foreign minister. It is the first ministerial-level invitation since 2023 [1]. India signals openness without reopening security or trade issues.
• Diplomatic leverage: As host, India meets its multilateral obligations, and the burden of refusing shifts to Islamabad [1].

Can culture be insulated from security?

Limits: security prevails

• After the 2025 Pahalgam attack, a "national policy" on Pakistan covers even cultural contact. The MEA may deny Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann clearance to attend a Punjabi conference in Lahore [1].
• Goa precedent: Pakistan's foreign minister attended the SCO foreign ministers' meeting in 2023. India's position did not change: Pakistan must first create a conducive environment free of terror [3].
• India itself uses SCO stages to raise cross-border terrorism, as Jaishankar did at Goa [2].
• Foreign affairs falls in the Union List (List I, Entry 10). So a state's cross-border cultural ties are subordinate to national security.

Space for culture

• Multilateral cultural forums keep a door open when bilateral channels are frozen [1].
• Shared Punjabi identity sustains people-to-people links. Critics point out that the Centre invokes a "shared civilisation" in Delhi but not in Lahore [1].

Overall, culture gives India both reach and leverage, but it can only be cushioned from security, not fully insulated. The way forward is calibrated, multilateral-first cultural engagement. The Centre should also consult border states before denying clearances and keep heritage exchanges going at the track-II level. This would reflect Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and Article 51's commitment to international peace while keeping national security first.