A. B. Vajpayee vs Qiying

Vajpayee was sworn in as Prime Minister of India for the third time, leading a coalition government of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). His tenure marked the first non-Congress government to complete a full term.

Vajpayee authorized a series of five nuclear tests at Pokhran, making India a declared nuclear weapons state. The tests drew international sanctions but boosted India's strategic autonomy and national pride.

Vajpayee led India during the Kargil War against Pakistani infiltrators in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian military successfully repelled the incursion, restoring the Line of Control.

Vajpayee signed the Lahore Declaration with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, pledging to resolve the Kashmir dispute peacefully and promote bilateral trade. The declaration was undermined by the Kargil War later that year.

Vajpayee's government launched the Golden Quadrilateral project, a major infrastructure initiative to connect India's four major cities with a network of highways. The project aimed to boost economic growth and connectivity.

Qiying, as Qing plenipotentiary, negotiated and signed the Treaty of Nanjing with Britain, ending the First Opium War. The treaty ceded Hong Kong, opened five treaty ports, and imposed an indemnity, marking the start of the unequal treaty system.

Qiying negotiated the Treaty of Wanghia with the United States, granting Americans extraterritoriality and most-favored-nation status. This further eroded Qing sovereignty and set a precedent for other Western powers.

Qiying was executed by the Qing court for his failure to negotiate effectively with the British during the Second Opium War. His death reflected the court's dissatisfaction with his handling of foreign affairs.