Topic by Deepak
What should be the foreign policy of new Indian government? And who is best suited to be the External Affairs Minister?
Responses
Bharani
Very relevant topic, Deepak. My take on India's foreign policy:
1. While attempting to maintain good relations with all its neighbors, it should be flexible to handle situations on a case-by-case basis – like the SriLanka-T.Nadu fishermen crisis, Maoist insurgency, and the perennial threat from our North West neighbor. It should play a more dominant role in the SAARC arena.
2. It should project a Secular image of India and not the Hindutva image. Although the US is predominantly Christian, it does NOT project itself as a Christian country.
3. FDI investments should continue to be encouraged. India also needs to be a key player in global environment protection programs.
Regardless of who is entrusted with External affairs, I think it should be supplemented with technocrats and experts for advice.
Venkat (05/26)
Thanks for the subject Deepak.
Within India the popular sentiment has been that we are too soft an administration and that we lack the assertiveness when it comes to dealing with sensitive issues.
In my opinion, despite its massive failings in internal governance, the previous Congress Government hadn’t done much wrong when it came to external affairs. Securing the nuclear deal with US was the high point and was a great job. I also think it handled the Sri Lanka problem reasonably well despite coming under enormous pressure from TN groups. If anyone still doubts India’s willingness to flex muscles when needed, Khobragade issue would have dispelled it. In fact it probably wasn’t in all propriety.
There are some major questions though. Are we too soft on Pakistan? And to China’s border aggressions?
Living in the middle-east and amongst the Pakistani expats one can also see how on the other side they think their internal strife is sponsored by India and it is agencies. I am not suggesting that we remain quiet to a Kargil or tolerate Taj Mahal Hotel, but we would do well not to escalate this to full fledged conflict unnecessarily. In case of China too, there are different perspectives one could read in the foreign media.
We had affected the relationships with Nepal and Bhutan in the past and I am glad we are not letting Sri Lanka fall in to the hands of China completely through the same imprudence.
In other words, I would like the foreign policy and diplomacy of the erstwhile Govt enhanced where needed but see no reason for drastic change.
What should be the foreign policy of new Indian government? And who is best suited to be the External Affairs Minister?
Responses
Bharani
Very relevant topic, Deepak. My take on India's foreign policy:
1. While attempting to maintain good relations with all its neighbors, it should be flexible to handle situations on a case-by-case basis – like the SriLanka-T.Nadu fishermen crisis, Maoist insurgency, and the perennial threat from our North West neighbor. It should play a more dominant role in the SAARC arena.
2. It should project a Secular image of India and not the Hindutva image. Although the US is predominantly Christian, it does NOT project itself as a Christian country.
3. FDI investments should continue to be encouraged. India also needs to be a key player in global environment protection programs.
Regardless of who is entrusted with External affairs, I think it should be supplemented with technocrats and experts for advice.
Venkat (05/26)
Thanks for the subject Deepak.
Within India the popular sentiment has been that we are too soft an administration and that we lack the assertiveness when it comes to dealing with sensitive issues.
In my opinion, despite its massive failings in internal governance, the previous Congress Government hadn’t done much wrong when it came to external affairs. Securing the nuclear deal with US was the high point and was a great job. I also think it handled the Sri Lanka problem reasonably well despite coming under enormous pressure from TN groups. If anyone still doubts India’s willingness to flex muscles when needed, Khobragade issue would have dispelled it. In fact it probably wasn’t in all propriety.
There are some major questions though. Are we too soft on Pakistan? And to China’s border aggressions?
Living in the middle-east and amongst the Pakistani expats one can also see how on the other side they think their internal strife is sponsored by India and it is agencies. I am not suggesting that we remain quiet to a Kargil or tolerate Taj Mahal Hotel, but we would do well not to escalate this to full fledged conflict unnecessarily. In case of China too, there are different perspectives one could read in the foreign media.
We had affected the relationships with Nepal and Bhutan in the past and I am glad we are not letting Sri Lanka fall in to the hands of China completely through the same imprudence.
In other words, I would like the foreign policy and diplomacy of the erstwhile Govt enhanced where needed but see no reason for drastic change.