Writing exclusively for Hindustan Times today, Rabi Lamichhane, founder president of the ruling Rashtriya Swatantra Party, called for cross-border connectivity, air connectivity and infrared connectivity. It focused on the positives between India and Nepal without further escalating the border issues, which were deliberately inflamed by pro-China communists KP Sharma Oli and Prachanda in order to incite Nepali nationalism.
Given that the US, China and Europe, including the UK, will not give up agitation against India in the subcontinent, the Narendra Modi government has taken the right decision to engage neighboring countries except the West’s favorite Pakistan. India has sent clear signals and intentions to the West by re-engaging with Myanmar and paving the way for President U Min Aung Hlaing, thus ensuring protection of its northeastern flank from anti-India rebels based in Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
Since taking office in India in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for closer ties with Nepal, and is willing to go 100 miles to ensure the Himalayan republic grows with India through economic integration.
Prime Minister Modi wants the Ministry of External Affairs to pay more attention to the neighbourhood, as India cannot be described as a global power until such time as it has excellent relations with the countries of the subcontinent. Despite the so-called Track II dialogues promoted by the US to enhance dialogue with Pakistan, the Modi government has made it clear that it will not engage with Pakistan until such time as Rawalpindi stops cross-border terrorism against India.
As for China, India equally emphasizes that all bilateral engagements will be in direct proportion to peace and tranquility in the 3,488 km LAC region. China allowing Jammu and Kashmir to be included in the joint statement during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Beijing this month shows that India is facing two fronts, with Communist China pushing Pakistan into at least the middleweight category.
In this context,. It is important for India to maintain close relations with Bhutan and Sri Lanka, while ensuring that the Maldives also receives economic assistance despite the election of its leader Mohamed Moizo based on anti-India slogans. While India is aware that its neighbors like Bangladesh and Nepal are walking a tightrope when it comes to dealing with the two Asian giants, India does not get any quid pro quo or significant interest in implementing major infrastructure projects in the subcontinent.
However, instead of allowing China to penetrate Indian influence in the subcontinent, New Delhi should unilaterally reach out to neighbours, especially Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar, by appointing envoys who are not afraid to take initiatives to strengthen bilateral ties. The overthrow of Sheikh Hasina from Bangladesh has taught India a lesson about how rapidly climate change can occur with Western powers and the United States tending to obstruct India as a regional power. This suits not only the neighbors, but also the major powers who all believe in competing with India’s rise.
The fact is that Prime Minister Modi was and still is in favor of ‘Chai’ diplomacy in the Indian subcontinent where leaders can come when they want rather than going through a grand diplomatic protocol. The visits of Rabbi Lamichhane and General Hliang show that India is ready to engage neighboring countries in its national interest.
Relations with Bangladesh have improved, but Islamic fundamentalists have not been punished for attacks on minorities simply because they practice a different religion. Bhutan needs to address Chinese encroachment on its territory with a focus on seeking to open diplomatic relations with the Himalayan kingdom. Sri Lanka can only revive itself economically by strengthening relations with India. The Maldives has realized the importance of relations with India for economic survival as it is the only country that provides aid and loans without any conditions.
It is clear that the Modi government is focusing on the neighbors without wasting time on other countries promoting Pakistan in order to have a foothold in the Indian subcontinent.
