1,043 Words Essay on Has Iran Done Any Extraordinary Favour To India?

Do other NAM countries consult India while exercising their international options? Should we consult Cuba or Venezuela before voting at the international forums? Do our actions at international meets need certification from any quarters to prove that our voting is or is not pro-American?

A section of the media and the Left political parties appear to believe so. If this is their idea of India’s standing, role and place in global politics, then they have only a squinted view of India’s heightening status in world politics.

Non-Alignment Movement got launched in mid- twentieth century when most of the Afro-Asian countries were gaining their Independence and cold war was furiously raging. NAM’s assumed plank of neutrality between the Soviet and Capitalist blocs in the context of decolonization, anti-apartheid campaign, nuclear disarmament placed the poor and week nations in positions of advantage.

The two blocs vied with each other to enlist their support and offered inducements for it. They corrupted their leaders and weakened these Afro-Asian countries. NAM is now a relic and NAM-like neutrality or non-alignment passes.

The buoyant movement of the cold war times is now a conglomeration of diverse and in cohesive nations with conflicting political and economic interests. India is the only country among its founding members to have gained in stature. Indonesia, Ghana and Egypt have declined; Yugoslavia has disintegrated and disappeared.

Yet India has not abandoned NAM. It has been tying to revive the Movement with a new agenda of economic and development cooperation. India’s leadership at the WTO, especially at the Cancun Meet was strident as it successfully launched the G-22. NAM can adopt the G-22 agenda if it wishes to resurrect itself.

The foregoing observations on Indian Foreign Policy provide a perspective for understating India’s relations with major world powers, immediate region, a large number of other countries and the UNO.

Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh enumerated major initiatives of his government on foreign relations before the Parliament in a suo moto statement on December 21, 2004. India’s changing equation with the USA certainly marks a change of direction in our foreign so close but politically so averse to neighborly feelings with India.

A ramification of the US presence in Afghanistan and Iraq is its closer watch on Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. All these three countries have terrorists of various hues operating against India with the state connivance and even state backing.

Major western powers that were callously indifferent, after 9/11 Terrorist Attack on the USA have become alive to the terrorist threat emanating from these countries. These countries are infested with Osama or Maoist [link between the two is more than suspected] elements and bases. The entire western world is in a state of scare of the terrorist threat, especially the Islamic terrorism.

They also know that Pakistan and Bangladesh are harboring dangerous terrorists. Uncle Sam’s overseeing these countries is a minor relief to India as it is no longer alone while countering the nefarious terrorist designs.

His Majesty the King of Bhutan was the Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations. The President of Sri Lanka, Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, visited India from 3-7 November 2004. Sri Lank has a special trade agreement that largely works to its advantage.

Nepal, like India is a Hindu majority country yet not well disposed toward India. The King wants India’s military support for perpetuating his absolute rule and Nepali leaders find anti-India propaganda grist to their political mills. The Maoists operate from Nepal and have links in India. Nepal is more inclined toward China, perhaps for bargaining benefits from both India and China.

A happy augury is our vastly improved relations with Myanmar. The first Head of State level visit from Myanmar in 24 years took place in 2004. An MOU on Security Issues was signed during the visit. Myanmar has introduced curbs on terrorist activities against India. India has been tolerant and accommodative toward its immediate neighbors keeping them in productive engagement.

Relations with ASEAN and Singapore are the cornerstones of our “Look East” policy. “India-ASEAN Partnership for Peace, Progress, and Shared Prosperity” lays out a short to medium term road map of India- ASEAN cooperation in various sectors such as economic, science and technology, information and communication technology, agriculture, health, pharmaceuticals and people to people contacts. India- ASEAN Free Trade Agreements are a continuing process.

Since Mr. Vajpayee’s visit to China, steady progress toward settlement of border issues and cooperation in trade has been made. China has recognized India’s political claim on Sikkim and several rounds of talks at special envoy level have taken place. Our borders with China are peaceful.

Trade through Tibet is about to open. Indian and Chinese Premiers have met and reviewed again “the progress made in the two rounds of talks between our Special Representatives on the Boundary Question and agreed that these would continue with a focus on substantive issues”.

Russian President Putin’s visit on December 3-4, 2004 was of great significance and has given considerable momentum to our strategic partnership. Cooperation in the field of energy is of particular interest.

India and Russia have signed Five MOUs [Memoranda of Understanding] on cooperation in the petroleum sector. We also signed two agreements relating to cooperation in the field of space, including in respect of the Russian Satellite Navigation System GLONASS.

Russia remains India’s biggest supplier of defense equipment has given assurance on the supply of spares and made new offers on equipment. India too is supporting Russia in its accession to the WTO and its being treated as a Market Economy in anti-dumping investigations.

Lastly, we must remember that “in the world beyond parliaments, the press and think tanks, ideologies are being jettisoned to survive. Only the fittest will act internationally and manage change”. Will India change and choose a foreign policy befitting the challenge of times? Nation states are interdependent and foreign policy is now a central part of a nation’s political programme.

War and Terrorism are everybody’s nightmare. Even at the time of writing terrorist bombs are blasting busy markets of New Delhi. Therefore, diplomacy is everybody’s business.

“May the pens of the diplomats not run again what the people have attained with such exertions?” Lord Palmerston’s this 19th century wishes is today the 21^st century Indian’s fear!