The bold initiative taken by the Prime Minister-designate, Narendra Modi, to invite leaders of the SAARC countries to his swearing-in ceremony scheduled for 26 May, Monday, is a most welcome sign. India’s diplomatic flaw in how it engages with its neighbours is a matter of concern which has hindered our country’s progress and has been weakness which has been extensively exploited by other super-powers.
India, the world’s largest democracy with its 1.2 billion people, is a force to reckon with and with some clarity in our approach, we will surely emerge as a super-power in the truest sense.
For instance, geographically and culturally Nepal is more at ease with India than any other neighbour. Also, its river systems originating from the mighty Himalayas are the lifeline of the vast plains of India. The country being the birthplace of Gautama Buddha and at one time, the ‘only Hindu Kingdom in the World’ with its ancient temples with strong links with other eminent temples in India, Nepal has a very strong sentimental attachment to India. As such a secure and economically developed Nepal is in India’s interest.
So is the case with Bangladesh. It is in downstream of ‘Indian’ rivers like Teesta and the mighty Brahmaputra. These two rivers bind the region intricately and the region is so linked so as to prompt someone to comment that some houses along the border lie half in India and half in Bangladesh. Again, not to forget the Bengalis in Kolkata who will go into a frenzy if the Hilsa fish does not reach their markets on a daily basis from across the border. Importantly, all the seven States in the NE Region stand to benefit significantly, socially as well as economically, if they get right-of-way through Bangladesh to commute to other parts of the country besides trading rights which would be in our mutual interest.
Our Look East Policy will remain an empty dream without taking Bangladesh on our side. Sharing of water from Teesta and exporting of electricity, now in the offing from Tripura, are issues which the new Government intends to prioritize and this is a welcome move. A large country like India should bear in mind that when the nation’s foreign policy and its bearing becomes paramount, the interest of the States should be subservient. Sikkim is in the process of generating good amount of hydel power and Nepal and Bangladesh could be the best clients. To learn that Kathmandu suffers load-shedding for almost 16 hours a day, the export of a couple of hundred Mega Watts from Indi would deliver immense relief besides ushering in a sense of good neighbourliness.
Returning to Pakistan, despite all the uncalled for speculations as telecast on national new channels, Nawaz Sharif will be attending the event. It is a huge step forward in Indian diplomacy. The India-Pakistan-Afghanistan triangle can be developed into an immense collaboration, one which has potential to change the world political scenario. Fishing in troubled waters by world powers at India’s cost, rather the entire region’s, is detrimental and a hindrance and it must be tackled with a broadness of heart and a sense of trust and opporuntinies. Give and take might be necessary and India should think of larger interests. How long can India afford to spend billions year-in, yea-out guarding its porous borders? It is well nigh impossible to stop terrorist activities in this rather transparent world with sophisticated technology at everybody’s command. Border fencing and amassing of troop are not long-term solutions. Solutions require deeper thought and unconventional strategies. That comes only with dialogues on equal terms – no matter how small a country as each has its own self respect.
India being the eldest brother in the family in the SAARC region, all it could possibly do is to make concerted efforts to live with them with a strong sense of trust. We hope this is the beginning of an era of harmonious neighbourhoods and lasting friendships based on trust and mutual respect. As someone said- we cannot change geography, neither can we choose a neighbour.
After pragmatic and harmonious neighborhood policy, the Centre should engage itself on internal issues that have remained vexed in areas like Kashmir and the North-East. The situations requiring resolution are Kashmir, Darjeeling, Bodoland, Nagaland and these should be approached with a view to bring stability and a stronger sense of belonging. The North-East Region, despite its vast resources, has its own problems due to its geographical isolation which Delhi-based and Delhi-centric planning has remained unable to address. The inter-state problems could best be solved by making grounds for their leaders to sort out issues between themselves with Centre acting as an honest broker. Its vast potential to open the vast market both with and through Myanmar, with whom India shares an extensive border, and Bangladesh with Chittagong as its outlet should not be whisked away.
We hope the new Government at the Centre will make an earnest effort to address these problems and bind the country with a stronger sense of oneness. We wish the new Government well.
India, the world’s largest democracy with its 1.2 billion people, is a force to reckon with and with some clarity in our approach, we will surely emerge as a super-power in the truest sense.
For instance, geographically and culturally Nepal is more at ease with India than any other neighbour. Also, its river systems originating from the mighty Himalayas are the lifeline of the vast plains of India. The country being the birthplace of Gautama Buddha and at one time, the ‘only Hindu Kingdom in the World’ with its ancient temples with strong links with other eminent temples in India, Nepal has a very strong sentimental attachment to India. As such a secure and economically developed Nepal is in India’s interest.
So is the case with Bangladesh. It is in downstream of ‘Indian’ rivers like Teesta and the mighty Brahmaputra. These two rivers bind the region intricately and the region is so linked so as to prompt someone to comment that some houses along the border lie half in India and half in Bangladesh. Again, not to forget the Bengalis in Kolkata who will go into a frenzy if the Hilsa fish does not reach their markets on a daily basis from across the border. Importantly, all the seven States in the NE Region stand to benefit significantly, socially as well as economically, if they get right-of-way through Bangladesh to commute to other parts of the country besides trading rights which would be in our mutual interest.
Our Look East Policy will remain an empty dream without taking Bangladesh on our side. Sharing of water from Teesta and exporting of electricity, now in the offing from Tripura, are issues which the new Government intends to prioritize and this is a welcome move. A large country like India should bear in mind that when the nation’s foreign policy and its bearing becomes paramount, the interest of the States should be subservient. Sikkim is in the process of generating good amount of hydel power and Nepal and Bangladesh could be the best clients. To learn that Kathmandu suffers load-shedding for almost 16 hours a day, the export of a couple of hundred Mega Watts from Indi would deliver immense relief besides ushering in a sense of good neighbourliness.
Returning to Pakistan, despite all the uncalled for speculations as telecast on national new channels, Nawaz Sharif will be attending the event. It is a huge step forward in Indian diplomacy. The India-Pakistan-Afghanistan triangle can be developed into an immense collaboration, one which has potential to change the world political scenario. Fishing in troubled waters by world powers at India’s cost, rather the entire region’s, is detrimental and a hindrance and it must be tackled with a broadness of heart and a sense of trust and opporuntinies. Give and take might be necessary and India should think of larger interests. How long can India afford to spend billions year-in, yea-out guarding its porous borders? It is well nigh impossible to stop terrorist activities in this rather transparent world with sophisticated technology at everybody’s command. Border fencing and amassing of troop are not long-term solutions. Solutions require deeper thought and unconventional strategies. That comes only with dialogues on equal terms – no matter how small a country as each has its own self respect.
India being the eldest brother in the family in the SAARC region, all it could possibly do is to make concerted efforts to live with them with a strong sense of trust. We hope this is the beginning of an era of harmonious neighbourhoods and lasting friendships based on trust and mutual respect. As someone said- we cannot change geography, neither can we choose a neighbour.
After pragmatic and harmonious neighborhood policy, the Centre should engage itself on internal issues that have remained vexed in areas like Kashmir and the North-East. The situations requiring resolution are Kashmir, Darjeeling, Bodoland, Nagaland and these should be approached with a view to bring stability and a stronger sense of belonging. The North-East Region, despite its vast resources, has its own problems due to its geographical isolation which Delhi-based and Delhi-centric planning has remained unable to address. The inter-state problems could best be solved by making grounds for their leaders to sort out issues between themselves with Centre acting as an honest broker. Its vast potential to open the vast market both with and through Myanmar, with whom India shares an extensive border, and Bangladesh with Chittagong as its outlet should not be whisked away.
We hope the new Government at the Centre will make an earnest effort to address these problems and bind the country with a stronger sense of oneness. We wish the new Government well.
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