As the 16th summit of Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM) kicks off in Tehran today, the world watches with keen
eyes the position India will take in the global stage.
The NAM took birth due to the Cold War
when a host of countries, then newly-independent or in dire poverty,
decided they could not afford to offend either blocs. Though the NAM
claimed moral high ground, it was primarily the desperation for aid
from both the blocs that necessitated the movement.
The NAM had strength in numbers, but
its role was inconsequential in international politics as all
international bodies, including the United Nations, were structured
to allow control by superpowers. The group of developing countries
were reduced to fence-sitters and in course of time many drifted to
either of the blocs and reduced their non-alignment to lip service.
India too could not escape this as the
1962 war with China made it realise that applause from its NAM
friends do not translate into political and military power.
Realpolitik considerations drove India into an all-weather friendship
with Soviet Union and those bonds strengthened our position.
With the end of the Cold War and the
emergence of a new world order, the relevance of NAM has come under
question. Erstwhile Soviet satellite states are now Nato members and
China has emerged as the uncrowned superpower.
However, Indian foreign policy
continues to have one foot in the bygone era and is hindering our
transition from a regional player to a global power. From
gas exploration deals in disputed waters off Vietnam to safeguarding
our territory abutting the Line of Actual Control (LAC) — which
Chinese patrols violate with impunity — we are being cowed down by
our giant neighbour.
The Communist state has beaten India in
most commercial undertakings across the world, especially in Africa,
where the states were once India’s strongest allies. Sheer economic
might and a ‘no-strings attached’ policy in regional politics
have given the dragon a big edge.
Though nuclear-armed India is
considered a force to reckon with and its growing economy is emerging
as a big draw for investors, there are policy flaws that undermine
our credibility.
Pakistan continues to bleed India
through a thousand wounds, terrorism being the primary weapon. From
circulating counterfeit currency to the recent SMS/MMS campaign that
triggered the exodus of people of North East from South India, our
estranged sibling’s unabated attacks reduce our economic and
military might to mere paper tigers.
Our deafening silence on decades of
dictatorship across in West Asia and feeble support for Palestine
shows that we are still incapable of pushing our agenda in the global
arena. We were forced to scale down our support to Aung San Suu Kyi
after the Burmese junta began harbouring and arming anti-India
militants.
In the last few years, India has
allowed the US to arm-twist it in several matters, including doing
business with Iran. The nuclear liability Bill has been watered down
to appease possible partners. Though they voice protest about its
‘stringent clauses’, Indian follow-up of Bhopal Gas Tragedy has
demonstrated amply that the rules would be more of an irritant than
measures that would enforce liability or accountability.
With government after government at the
Centre crippled by alliance compulsions and giving in to populist
(and incredibly stupid) measures, we have little offer to the rest of
the world as a power that has the will to get its way — and
unwilling to go all the way.
(This
article was published as the editorial column in Postnoon on
August 29, 2012)
No comments:
Post a Comment