The biggest problem for India is our neighbors. We have not yet succeeded in shaping the political strategy with them.
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The foreign policy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first term was full of energy and hard work, but it was not rational and clear. New Delhi sought to reach out in many directions - reaching out to its neighbors, the Indian Ocean and the islands in the South Pacific, as well as gaining the support of people of Indian descent, major powers and the Sheikh community in the Gulf. Has our foreign policy achieved the desired goal, that is, has it succeeded in enhancing our security and prosperity? The honest answer to this question is, no.
The goal appears to be to mend broken ties in this second term of government. Attempts to overthrow Beijing alone have failed, prompting a two-step process. In the case of Pakistan, India's foreign policy towards its neighbors, which is in a quandary with a well on one side and a gorge on the other, is projected to focus on the eastern nations. Leaders of the BIMSTEC group (BIMSTEC countries - Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan) were invited to the swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister last month. One more thing to note here is that in 2014, the leaders of the SAARC member countries were invited.
In the case of the US, India has been cautious. In his speech to Shangri-La in June last year, Modi had redefined the geographical context of the Indo-Pacific. It should also be noted that Modi has not met the leaders of the free countries in the West since November 2017. India must now think pragmatically and change its approach, putting aside its intention to compete with China. We need to focus on what we can do for our own development.
The biggest problem for India is our neighbors. "We have not yet succeeded in shaping the political strategy with them." That statement was made recently by Ashley Teles. Neither our economic nor military power can have a decisive influence on the foreign policy of our neighbors. The situation is exacerbated by the rise of China as an economic and military power in Asia.
It is very clear that we have failed in our relationship with Pakistan. India first tried to seduce Pakistan by showing them carrots and when it failed, India used a stick. While this has benefited the election greatly, the question of whether it has benefited Islamabad to change or improve its behavior remains unanswered. Pakistan already has a lot to spend on India, especially to fight Pakistan's undeclared war against India and keep national security intact. There is no denying the fact that we have to spend a lot because of their hostility.
Pakistan has refused normal trade and communication with India. Not only that, but they are a barrier between us and Central Asia and West Asia. Therefore, we are unable to establish trade with that region by rail, road or pipeline. India is enlisting the help of the Chabahar project and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) to overcome this situation.
But now that we have some signs of success, the United States has imposed sanctions on Iran. Right now India does not have the kind of influence on the international stage that we can challenge the US. So no one will be willing to invest money in Chabahar and INSTC until this problem between Iran and the US is resolved.
You will know about the snooze button in Gmail. Using this snooze button, you can now hide a message and retrieve it as needed. It is a tool that we can use to deal with a problem when we are able to deal with it. Such a mechanism is necessary when dealing with parts of the world, such as Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.
It is true that these regions are close to India, but it will be important for New Delhi to set aside its Eurasian ambitions for a while. India should use its limited resources to focus on its neighbors and the opportunities presented by the community in the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. It is also necessary to find a way to deal with Pakistan. Pakistan is such a neighboring country that it is not possible to use the 'snooze' button for it and it would not be wise to do so. Also, we should not be under the misconception that we can sit quietly until everything is fine.
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