By Lt General M K Das 

 

 

IT WAS heartening to see heads of State of India’s neighbours and Indian Ocean region attending the swearing in ceremony of Modi 3.0 Cabinet on 9 June 24. The seven leaders from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Seychelles, Mauritius and Maldives brought confidence to the policy mandarins. The presence of Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu during the event is indeed significant. Now with the visit of External Affairs M inister S Jaishankar to Sri Lanka on 20 June 24, the focus is back to reinvent and reinvigourate India’s ‘Neighbourhood First Policy (NFP)’. NFP was conceived in 2008 and it aimed at fostering stronger ties, enhance regional cooperation and address mutual concerns with immediate neigbouring countries. With the stagnation in the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), India had to look beyond. Prime Minister Modi made NFP a foreign policy priority on assuming power in 2014. The policy as such gave good dividends but this too needs to be reinvented by the Modi 3.0 Government. With continuity of S Jaishankar as the Foreign Minister, the foreign policy now has to graduate to the next level. China has made rapid strides in our neighbourhood. It started with the String of Pearls in 2004, with creation of Chinese military and commercial network along sea lines of communication. In our context, China targeted the facilities in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives. Along with China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative, this sort of encirclement is a major security concern for India. With its economic might, it has virtually lured some of our neighbours into a well-planned debt trap. India has to calibrate the foreign policy with this grim reality. First about the SAARC.

 

With eight members in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan and Pakistan, we can easily see where does it stand. Afghanistan and Pakistan are virtually out of the ambit. No heads of state summit has taken place since 2014. With Afghanistan under Taliban control since 2021 and obstinate nature of Pakistan, SAARC clearly does not have a bright future. Time has come to resuscitate the organisation as SAARC 2.0 by extending membership to SAARC Observer States like Mauritius, South Korea and Japan. The necessary economic teeth may come from the new members and India can extend goodwill of COVID-19 vaccine diplomacy to influence the decision making. We can continue with Pakistan and Afghanistan as dormant members. India is also a founder member of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi – Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) since 1997. The seven-member body has India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and Thailand from Bay of Bengal region and they collaborate in 14 priority sectors of economic cooperation. A free trade agreement is on the anvil and India has major stakes in its success including the Act East Policy.

 

A glance at the comparison between SAARC and BIMSTEC clearly indicates that interests and ideas have to converge for the success of a regional grouping. Secondly, the relations have to recognize the big brother in the grouping. India is already the fifth largest economy in the world and the key driver of both the groupings. But we do not find the member countries supporting the cause of India as the permanent member of the UN Security Council. As regards the immediate neighbourhood, the regional groupings can only take you this far. The foreign policy has to explore new areas of cooperation. As things stand today, time has come to build military alliances. So far being part of a military alliance has been untouchable subject for the policy makers. We also find that some immediate neighbours do not buy arms and ammunition from us but depend on China and other nations. Many of these nations train with our Armed Forces but continue to pursue a different policy for procurement of armament. India has never pursued any expansionist agenda as part of its foreign policy. Therefore, our immediate neighbours have nothing to fear.

 

Indian Armed Forces are being reorganised into Theatre Commands and would be in much better position to lead a military alliance in the South Asia, Indian Ocean Region and Bay of Bengal. To counter balance the threat from China in the long run, a military alliance must seek the attention of those who shape the national security strategy. The proposed military alliance need not be a copy of the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation). There is no requirement of keeping permanent bases in the member countries. A beginning can be made in equipping the armed forces with similar or compatible armament, communication tools, protocols and procedures. India already participates in multi nation training exercises and these can be tailor made to meet the regional challenges. The training methodology and military exchanges can be formalised. We can plan for the next five years and get a fair idea of each other before inking a formal military alliance. Fight against terrorism including sea piracy can be another area of congruence. Most of the member nations suffer from this scourge and a formal agreement with like-minded nations is feasible.

 

We are witnessing resurgence of sea piracy and the maritime resources are already stretched to deal with this menace. It is my belief that a universal acceptance of a definition of terrorism is unlikely anytime soon but a limited number of nations can agree to the broad tenets to achieve the much-needed synergy in countering terrorism. The ultimate test of a great foreign policy is hassle free travel among the neighbours. Visa free travel for a short duration, say up to a week can be a terrific people friendly gesture. Some sort of arrangement already exists and the facility can be extended. India has emerged as the medical hub for our neighbours and I recall military officers of friendly foreign countries all praise for our medical tourism. The impetus on foreign policy and international relations is high on the agenda of the new Government as evident from the Prime Minister Modi’s visit to interact with G7 leaders in Italy. I am sanguine that the NFP will also be reinvented in tune with the changed regional dynamics and emerging challenges. (Lt General MK Das, PVSM, SM**, VSM (Retd))