India's look east policy: In its second phase

The qualitative and structural changes brought about by the end of cold war led to new orientations in the foreign policies of India and countries of Southeast Asia. On the one hand, India started movieng towards Southeast Asia to build strong economic, strategic and political ties with these countries. And on the other hand, Southeast Asian countries, by leaving all inhibitions of the past came closer to India to develop warm and friendly relations with it. By adopting Look East Policy in 1991 by P.V. Narsimah Rao, this region has become more prominent in India's foreign policy. The Look East Policy has marked a strategic shift in India's perspective. It started with the aim to enhance economic relations with ASEAN countries and has reached towards the strategic, political and institutional linkage. Today, India's Look East Policy has become more comprehensive because of the adoption of “extended neighbourhood” theory, according to this India's Look East Policy includes not only ASEAN but also Northeast Asia, apart from Australia, Newzealand,China,Japan and South Korea.