Some called India timid, some
called lack of political will, some said India is extra patient, some more
asked for 100 heads and few others abused the government and slept. Ultimately
nothing promising has come out. Once we define our motto, we will have to keep
our act align with it. Then only goals can be achieved and accomplished. Just
because our neighbour throws garbage into our compound, we should not do the
same in return. That doesn’t mean that we should keep quiet and wait for God to
give punishment or to give him a sound mind which directs him not to throw
garbage into other’s compound. Instead we should take the best action to stop
the neighbour from resorting to lawless cowardly actions. Wisdom always says physical
punishment is not long lasting but rebounding. Show of military strength has
rarely deterred the opponents. Therefore, there is a need for considering some
alternative through strategic deterrence.
Economic
and Strategic importance of India:
In the recent past, India is being
treated as an important nation by the countries both in the east and the west
of the globe. India has very good ties with most of the developed countries
like USA, UK, Russia, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Ukraine and so on.
There may be some conflict between the interest of India and these countries.
But positive side weighs much more than the negative. Blooming pharmacy and IT
industries have given a major thrust for India to have greater ties with these
countries. India, being a major market for most of the goods produced in the
manufacturing economies, has been befriended by them for their survival and
betterment. In return they provided market for Indian goods too. Similar
reasons along with common interests and common goals have made India a friend
of many developing economies like Brazil, South Africa, Iran, Ghana etc. Other
underdeveloped countries of the world seek India’s assistance for upward
movement in various sectors like health, science and technology, defence, agriculture
etc.
It is not just economic interests
which determine the importance of India among world countries but strategic
interests too. In the recent past, the pivot has been shifted towards east with
foreign policy of USA ‘Pivot towards Asia’ and ‘Trans Pacific Partnership’,
Japan’s ‘Arch of Freedom and Prosperity’, China’s ‘String of Pearls’ and
India’s ‘Pan Indian Ocean Network’. India being placed strategically in Indian
Ocean, which is a major route where 50% of the world trade is carried out, has
given an extra edge to us. USA, despite having differences in Iran issue, is
improving very good relations with India in order to accomplish its interest in
Myanmar. For Japan, India is an old friend tied with cultural connections,
becomes important to counter the rise of China in Asia. India has gained
importance in Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) with its aid to
anti-terrorism initiatives in the Afghanistan region with the provision of
Zaranj – Delaram road and Farkhor airbase in Tajikistan. India with its martial
action plan has become a strategic partner of Afghanistan too. Considerably
good relations have been maintained with Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh,
Sri Lanka, Maldives though there were some bitter moments with Sri Lanka with
regard to unilateral sanction and with Maldives over Male’s Ibrahim Nasir
airport contract for GMR. The increased role of China in Indian Ocean region
has been a cause of concern for India. Though India has good relations with China with respect
to economic relations, the border issues have caused bitterness in Indo-China
relations. With special interest of our Prime Minister there has been increase in the ties with ASEAN very recently. This is
definitely a positive step for India to achieve its naval doctrine ‘Blue Water
Navy in Indian Ocean’.
How
to go about?
