External Affairs minister Mr SM krishna’s comment that” the foreign policy is not being made simply by the foreign Affairs minister—but the cabinet”
is a smart attempt on his part to cover up for the lapses of his own turf. Whether is the Oz issue or his periodical comments on Indo_Pak relations, there is a clear indication that Mr Krishna still does not have a clear command over his Ministry and there is no fresh initiative to re-cast and re-draft the overall approach of External Affairs ministry in the light of the changing world scenario as well as developments in South Asian region.
In today’s ‘global village’ foreign policy, economy and defence & internal security of a country, or a region, have become first cousins and the trio has also come to acquire a ‘cause-effect’ relation. Any development in one sphere is bound to have a cascading effect on the other two. Despite nation-states being inter-dependent for economy and security on each other, foreign policy objectives of nations are as diverse as the colours of the spectrum.
However, while most other nations are more or less, clear-headed about their foreign policy goals, the Indian foreign policy, on the contrary, appears to be stuck in a time- warp. This is largely due to the fact that foreign policy has come to be looked upon as the ‘exclusive preserve’ of the Indian Foreign Service – be it in the realm of politics, or the bureaucracy. Till IFS raises the white flag to the intense ‘turf war’, things are not likely to change much. The efforts of IFS have to be actively supplemented by the civil society – from within the country and the Indian Diaspora settled across the globe.
Today, foreign policy has to be a balanced and judicious mix of perception management, subtle, yet aggressive posturing on vital international issues, stoutly defending the nation’s interests wherever necessary and deciphering diplomatic nuances. Till the time, India led the NAM, its foreign policy was a resounding success, but the break-up of erstwhile USSR and emergence of US as the only superpower of the unipolar world changed the equations drastically.
The nation must have foreign policy that has a vision, is forward-looking and sets it apart from others in the region. The time-tested dictum that ‘There are no permanent friends or enemies in international politics - only permanent interests’ must be remembered. Today, no nation can be treated as a ‘Pariah’. The foreign policy establishment could draw inspiration from P.V Narasimha Rao’s tenets – ‘Look East’ policy and bringing India’s relations with Israel on to the surface. South Block would also do well to dig out one of the exhaustive notes on China, once prepared by K.R. Narayanan as Deputy Secretary of China Desk and see how best it can be activated in the changed context and times.
China and Pakistan serve as two test cases of the sluggishness and pusillanimity of India’s foreign policy. Traditionally, India has never trusted China, but our foreign policy is never able to project this untrustworthiness of China in a subtle manner to the world community. If at all, the much unpublicised faux pas involving Pandit Nehru and V.K Krishna Menon (when the word ‘suzeranity’ was erroneously written as ‘sovereignty’ vis-à-vis China) is also one of the major reasons plaguing our relations with China.
As for perception management, China even with its ‘Iron Curtain’ and ‘closed’ social structures has never allowed the Tiananmen massacre to tarnish its image on the world stage. It has rather projected itself as an attractive investment destination and expanded its economic share in the world market!!! On the contrary, India has been unable to change the West’s perception of being an ‘unsafe’ country – particularly for women and as an unattractive investment destination.
The jungle law of ‘Might is Right’ seems to apply to the field of international relations too. Moreover, it may be pertinent to note that China has resolved its boundary disputes with most of its neighbours, except India. In fact, Indian Army’s Directorate General of Military Operations apprehends a Chinese attack on India by 2017! The scenario visualises China launching an Information Warfare before launching a short, but intense offensive against India. In such a scenario, India’s precarious relations with smaller nations on its flanks like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Tibet and Bhutan could spell double trouble for India!!
As for Pakistan, it continues to be an ever festering sore for India. As Chanakya once said – “What peace can we expect from a rascal friend?” Despite attacks on our self-respect on Mumbai in 1993, Kargil in 1999 and Mumbai in 2008 (not to talk of numerous other attacks from time to time), we still continue to talk peace with Pakistan!!! Do we need more proofs in the form of more terror attacks to convince ourselves of the insincerity and deceitful attitude of Pakistan? Kautilya said this possibly for Pakistan – “Do not inhabit a country where you are not respected, cannot earn your livelihood, have no friends, or cannot acquire knowledge.” Ironically, the cradle of Chanakya Niti – Taxila University is today situated in Pakistan!!
Rajendra Mathur, one of the doyens of Hindi journalism had once written of Pakistan – ‘Just as in Physics, you have ‘matter’ and ‘anti-matter’, among nations you have ‘states’ and ‘anti-states’. Pakistan is an ‘anti-state’!! Rather than bashing up an ‘errant junior classmate’, India all the time seems to be pleading to the school authorities for justice!! Despite our best efforts, US has for decades been funding Pakistan – ostensibly to keep China at bay, but somewhere down the line US seems to be wary of the ‘rise and rise’ of India. At the risk of crying over spilt milk, it is pointed out that India committed a cardinal sin in returning 5, 000 sq miles of captured Pakistani territory, without getting Pakistan to accede to some tough pre-conditions.
India needs to aggressively push forward with the policy of ‘concentric circles’ to counter China’s ‘string of pearls’. India must establish military/political/economic/cultural relations with its neighbours – Mongolia, Russia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan in a bid to encircle China.
As for US, its stakes lie in the ‘Great Asian Game’. It wishes to encircle China with the help of India and Pakistan. India should ensure that it doesn’t end up becoming the ‘pawn’ on the chessboard between US and China. Most importantly, India must not sign on the dotted line on CTBT and ward off the latest pressure being mounted by US on CTBT.
Our foreign policy has to shed the status of India being a ‘soft State’. The soft power status is the reason why smaller nations like Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, often even though being propped up financially, have the gumption to stare India in its eyes! Most of these nations kowtow to China, on the other hand.
The recent spate of attacks on Indians in Australia too has been an instance of the utter failure of our foreign policy. To quote Chanakya Niti again – “Wise men should never go into a country where the people have no dread of anybody, have no sense of shame, no intelligence, or a charitable disposition.” India should have at least handed out the threat of recalling all its citizens in retaliation to mount pressure on the Australian Government! At the very least, India should now vehemently raise the demand of convening a Commonwealth Summit just to discuss this issue.
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE:
Diplomacy is game of "constants" and "variables' where an alert and well informed minister, as well as ambassadors always must score over their counterparts. While, a few salient features of India's foreign policy would always remain the "core" of its interaction with the world comity, there are certain factors which keep changing and these" variables' need to be looked into and seriously examined from time to time in the light of the emerging, economic, political and diplomatic realities as various levels.
Need for Fresh policy initiatives:
1. A fresh look at various regions and the emerging political and diplomatic challenges across the globe.
2. A blueprint for the emerging global economic order in the light of present economic recession is the urgent need of the hour. Another blueprint for fresh set economic challenges and the need for economic offensive through diplomatic channel and need for more viable and long-term economic cooperation through diplomatic initiatives.
3. Combating terrorism through constructive engagements and increased cooperation on information sharing and improved strategic ties.
4. A more proactive role by our Press Attaches posted at various places through diplomatic missions across the globe. Their clear brief should be a) keep an eagle's eye on the political developments, diplomatic and economic development in that country from India’s perspective and keep the ministry posted on a regular basis and b) information on terrorist groups which cast an evil eye on India and c) keep a watch on Indians in that country to avoid an Australia-like situation.
5. A fresh perspective on the entire Middle East. Find more ways and means to further strengthen relationships on an individual basis. The recession has also affected the GCC for the first time and India needs to take a fresh look at bilateral ties, need to review and revise the contours of the present engagement and look for a bigger role in their economy.
6. A fresh policy initiative on Pakistan. India not only needs to isolate Pakistan and call its bluffs, but also needs to keep her continuously on the back foot not, only at international fora, but also at regional and bilateral interactions through dexterous and deft handling of various issues.
7. Pakistan Desk in MEA needs to play a more pro-active role in digging out every small development on a regular basis.
8. Sri Lanka would be a major challenge after the death of LTTE chief Prabhakaran. India should not only ensure a respectable rehabilitation of displaced Tamil population but also see to it that the tiny island nation does not pose any security threat to India in future. India needs to make Lanka totally subservient to its needs and desires.
9. There should be a major thrust on increased bilateral and multi-lateral trade and commerce. India needs to explore the possibility for more economic ties. This is one area where our efforts have been mostly on a piecemeal basis. MEA needs to work out a comprehensive study and future plans for more gains in economic and trade terms and hence the need for proper accentuation.
10. Above all, there has to be an overall paradigm shift in our foreign policy and every region and continent needs to be viewed afresh. India needs to compartmentalize various regions in order of priority and work upon various, strategies, parameters and issues for maxim diplomatic gains.
11. Indian foreign policy establishment is found particularly wanting in media management in major events. A point in case is the Agra Summit. Even otherwise, Pakistan invariably scores points over India in handling media on various occasions. As pointed out earlier, in today’s world, Information Warfare is a potent tool – but one which must be used extremely cautiously and selectively. Indeed, India need not go hyper over the Information Warfare, but it must have an action plan in place – if need be. For this, the foreign policy establishment must draft in media professionals – from within the Government and from the field of journalism alike.
Considering the vast stakes, foreign policy managers must draw up a vast, experienced think-tank, drawn from experts on international relations defence & internal security and economy (the likes of G. Parthasarthi, Jasjit Singh and P. Sainath). The think-tank should devise and present a common strategy to the Government so that India can take the appointed seat it so richly deserves in the comity of nations. For that to happen, the foreign policy has to break free from its ‘exclusivity’ mould. Else, the foreign policy will remain a policy that is largely ‘foreign’ - in principle.
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