Pretensions cannot go a long way in diplomacy
New Delhi:
It is time for India to take a decisive and giant leap in geo-strategic policy making.
Perhaps it is the best time now – the fag end of July 2021 – that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would raise his concept and vision of ‘New India’ onto the international landscape.
India is already an important player in the Indo Pacific and Quad format. As underlined in International Solar Alliance (ISA), Modi's vision of global interdependence has undoubtedly assumed a new dimension.
The issue is New Delhi has to take it forward at a time when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is making a crucial visit. In the defence domain, the Indian government has indicated that both sides are expected to explore ways and means to deepen their collaboration during the visit.
Here comes the catch.
Indeed, India took a decisive and giant step on January 9, 1991, when Late Chandrashekhar was India’s Prime Minister – ironically banking on ‘outside’ from the status-quoist Congress party.
Between January 9 and February 26, 1991 – every day US military aircraft– at least one each or even more would land in Mumbai, Agra and Pune for what was later stated to refuel the planes. Chandrashekhar took a significant step by giving clearance to the US aircraft that used to fly between military airbases in the Philippines and Jordan.
All his life, Chandrashekhar pushed aggressively for ‘secular polity, but when it came to taking a critical decision with long term impact, he was not hesitant.
Supporting his government, Rajiv Gandhi perhaps presumed the decision should have been otherwise as the Congress party was then quite desperate (as it is now with his son and daughter around) to bounce back to power. He did not want the government to been seen supporting an ‘anti-Iraq or anti-Islamic’ power.
When Rajiv Gandhi and other Congress members raised the issue in Parliament, Chandrashekhar asserted that these were only civil supplies -clothes and food. But the fact of the matter was different.
According to a report in 'New York Times' (January 30, 1991) "Aince the beginning of the Gulf War", Chandrashekhar had taken a stand "more critical of Iraq" and was accused of pandering to "American imperialism".
The paper had hailed Chandrashekhar as "a pragmatic man" despite no experience in foreign policy and appreciated the fact that Chandrashekhar had also rejected "attempts to link the annexation of Kuwait (by Saddam Hussein) with Israeli occupation of areas claimed by Palestinians".
That decision to go along with US forces was a significant departure from so-called 'Non-Aligned' foreign policy.
As Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to say, the “Ghari ki Sui (clock of the hand) has taken a full circle and come around. It’s time for India now to take yet another giant step in the geo-strategic perspective.
The US considers India a ‘critical partner’ in the region.
In the words of Dean Thompson, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, “All of Afghanistan’s neighbours and countries in the region have an interest in a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan”.
If India desires a ‘global place’ for itself in two decades, circa 2021 has to play like potential and dependable regional and global power.
Today’s agony or chief challenge is on the Afghanistan front, and yes, New Delhi should give itself a central role vis-a-vis in good coordination with the Americans.
As for the Taliban challenge and the fact that all this is happening in India’s neighbourhood, there is no dispute that today's world stands on the edge of a precipice or a cliff.
Thus, India has to give itself a role to ‘achieve’ jointly with other global players, especially the United States, notwithstanding certain ‘mistakes’ committed by Washington.
The ‘military alliance’ should not be a bad word in the new world order. Of course, the factors that drew India and the US closer to each other are because both perceive China as an emerging problematic area.
For the Modi-bashing ‘China-pandering and Pakistan-loving’ veterans of Indian media and strategic experts, of course, all these will come as a dazzling bolt from the blue.
In fact, over the years, isolating Pakistan's adversarial mindset with the Taliban has been a wrong idea.
For long, the Left apologists have tried to argue that just as India has special interests in countries such as Nepal or Sri Lanka, Pakistan too views Afghanistan through the same prism.
This was to be on another erroneous path.
It’s time to avoid the beaten track.
@DrSJaishankar talks about "reality of last 20 years".... may be in reference to #Pakistan not acting and doing enough in fight against terror
(in presence of @SecBlinken )
Answering questions on areas of convergence between India and US on Afghanistan; Dr Jaishankar said, "On the whole we agreed that Peace Negotiations should be taken seriously. It is the only way to create a lasting solution" .
India, US will work together in Afghanistan to ensure regional stability: Secy Blinken
New Delhi: President Joe Biden feels a 'deep personal commitment' to strengthen Indo-US ties, the visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said here on Wednesday and maintained that both the countries strongly favour peaceful, secured and stable Afghanistan.
"India and the United States share a strong interest in a peaceful, secured and stable Afghanistan. As a leader and a criticalpartner in the region, India has made and will continue to make vital contributions in Afghanistan's stability and development.
And we will continue to work together to sustain gains for Afghan people and support regional stability after the withdrawalof the coalition forces," Blinken told a joint media conference with his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar.
Both the leaders said they held extensive talks on multiple issues including Covid19 crisis, economic fallout,vaccination, Quad, regional peace and Climate Change.
He said, "Even as we are withdrawing, we remain engaged in Afghanistan".
Blinken said his meeting with Dr Jaishankar and also with NSA Ajit Doval and Prime Minister Narendra Modiprovide valuable opportunities to carry forward the relationship.
He also said the US will be keen to host the next round of 2-Plus-2 Dialogue in the later part ofthe year.
Blinken asserted that there can be "no military solution" to the problems in Afghanistan and both he and Dr Jaishankar maintained that negotiations should finally lead to peace and end of violence in the war-ravaged country.
External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar also said, "We are convinced that the world will never accept cross border terrorism".
Blinken said as Senator Joe Biden in 2006 had said his "dream" is that in 2020 the two closest nations in the world will be India and the United States."It is 2021, Joe Biden is President of the US, and the friendship between India and the United States is one of the most consequential in the world. We too look to the future".
"We believe this partnership will be critical in delivering stability and prosperity in the Indo Pacific region," Blinken said.
Answering questions on areas of convergence between India and US on Afghanistan; Dr Jaishankarsaid, "On the whole we agreed that Peace Negotiations should be taken seriously. It is the only way to createa lasting solution"
He pointed out that it is true the US has had a "very unique" involvement in Afghanistan."As an immediate neighbour with historical connection we do feel that the way we are looking at it and what needs to be done, I would say our views were quite similar. I think that would be a fair description".
Blinken also said for a solution, it would require the Taliban and Afghanistan government to "come to the table".
"...It has to be an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process," Blinken said.
During his talks with Jaishankar, Blinken said, "There's greater imperative on cooperation among countries than ever before".
"I deeply appreciate the work that we have been able to do together (on Covid challenges) and the work that we are going to do together in coming months," Blinken said adding the US was thankful to India for its generous support during the Covid crisis that hit the US in 2020.
Dr Jaishankar also said, "we must work together even more closely on key contemporary challenges like terrorism".
Blinken also met civil society leaders after which he said the US and India share a commitment to democratic values.
ends
"Even as we are withdrawing, we remain engaged in #Afghanistan," says
@SecBlinken
There is no military solution to problems in #Afghanistan
#AfghanistanConflict :
@SecBlinken
Pretensions cannot go a long way in diplomacy.
New Delhi:
It is time for India to take a decisive and giant leap in geo-strategic policy making.
Perhaps it is the best time now – the fag end of July 2021 – that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would raise his concept and vision of ‘New India’ onto the international landscape.
India is already an important player in the Indo Pacific and Quad format. As underlined in International Solar Alliance (ISA), Modi's vision of global interdependence has undoubtedly assumed a new dimension.
The issue is New Delhi has to take it forward at a time when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is making a crucial visit. In the defence domain, the Indian government has indicated that both sides are expected to explore ways and means to deepen their collaboration during the visit.
Here comes the catch.
Indeed, India took a decisive and giant step on January 9, 1991, when Late Chandrashekhar was India’s Prime Minister – ironically banking on ‘outside’ from the status-quoist Congress party.
Between January 9 and February 26, 1991 – every day US military aircraft– at least one each or even more would land in Mumbai, Agra and Pune for what was later stated to refuel the planes. Chandrashekhar took a significant step by giving clearance to the US aircraft that used to fly between military airbases in the Philippines and Jordan.
All his life, Chandrashekhar pushed aggressively for ‘secular polity, but when it came to taking a critical decision with long term impact, he was not hesitant.
Supporting his government, Rajiv Gandhi perhaps presumed the decision should have been otherwise as the Congress party was then quite desperate (as it is now with his son and daughter around) to bounce back to power. He did not want the government to been seen supporting an ‘anti-Iraq or anti-Islamic’ power.
When Rajiv Gandhi and other Congress members raised the issue in Parliament, Chandrashekhar asserted that these were only civil supplies -clothes and food. But the fact of the matter was different.
According to a report in 'New York Times' (January 30, 1991) "Aince the beginning of the Gulf War", Chandrashekhar had taken a stand "more critical of Iraq" and was accused of pandering to "American imperialism".
The paper had hailed Chandrashekhar as "a pragmatic man" despite no experience in foreign policy and appreciated the fact that Chandrashekhar had also rejected "attempts to link the annexation of Kuwait (by Saddam Hussein) with Israeli occupation of areas claimed by Palestinians".
That decision to go along with US forces was a significant departure from so-called 'Non-Aligned' foreign policy.
As Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to say, the “Ghari ki Sui (clock of the hand) has taken a full circle and come around. It’s time for India now to take yet another giant step in the geo-strategic perspective.
The US considers India a ‘critical partner’ in the region.
In the words of Dean Thompson, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, “All of Afghanistan’s neighbours and countries in the region have an interest in a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan”.
If India desires a ‘global place’ for itself in two decades, circa 2021 has to play like potential and dependable regional and global power.
Today’s agony or chief challenge is on the Afghanistan front, and yes, New Delhi should give itself a central role vis-a-vis in good coordination with the Americans.
As for the Taliban challenge and the fact that all this is happening in India’s neighbourhood, there is no dispute that today's world stands on the edge of a precipice or a cliff.
Thus, India has to give itself a role to ‘achieve’ jointly with other global players, especially the United States, notwithstanding certain ‘mistakes’ committed by Washington.
The ‘military alliance’ should not be a bad word in the new world order. Of course, the factors that drew India and the US closer to each other are because both perceive China as an emerging problematic area.
For the Modi-bashing ‘China-pandering and Pakistan-loving’ veterans of Indian media and strategic experts, of course, all these will come as a dazzling bolt from the blue.
In fact, over the years, isolating Pakistan's adversarial mindset with the Taliban has been a wrong idea.
For long, the Left apologists have tried to argue that just as India has special interests in countries such as Nepal or Sri Lanka, Pakistan too views Afghanistan through the same prism.
This was to be on another erroneous path.
It’s time to avoid the beaten track.
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