By Prem Khanal
India has recently done much to broaden its global reach to establish itself as an influential global player but, at the same time, done little to strengthen its image among immediate South Asian neighbors.
No doubt, India’s growing clout on the global stage has become distinctly noticeable in recent years with its powerful presence in global forums like G-20 meetings, climate change talks and global trade negotiations. India’s growing ambition to play a larger role in the Asian stage was also reflected in the recent presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the East Asian Summit along with US and Russia in Hanoi in October. Not only that, the hard effort that Indian has put to come up with a long-term economic and strategic partnership with South Korea and Japan during Singh’s recent visit to the region also reinforce the fact that India is looking beyond the South Asian horizon and wants to stand up shoulder to shoulder along with other Asian powers.
The support that US President Barack Obama announced for a permanent seat for India on a reformed United Nations Security Council during his recent visit has been hailed as a spectacular diplomatic victory for New Delhi. That followed former US President George W Bush´s maiden visit to India in 2005 that produced the civil nuclear deal, which, in fact, was the first bold step taken by the US to recognize India as a growing power.
America’s new strategy of searching new like-minded friends in the rapidly changing global context is understandable. Being the most powerful country in the world, it is obvious for America to take up a strategy of teaming up with other rising powers to contain China, which seemingly is gathering power to repel decades-old American influence in the Asia and Pacific region.
In addition, the poor shape of the American economy and its flagging financial muscle, ever-growing threats of terrorism and reemergence of tensions in its relationship with China have also compelled the US to look for rising muscular partners like India and Vietnam so as to bundle them up with US´s traditional allies like Japan and South Korea. This is being done not only to create a ‘soft alliance´ against China but also to explore emerging economic opportunities there. In addition, the recent assertive diplomacy opted by China has also alarmed its neighbors—most of them are ideologically close to the US, like India, giving enough reasons for the US to reinforce its role as an ultimate guarantor of security and stability in the Asia and the Pacific region.
Among the newly-found friends, it is obvious for the US to find India in its closest orbit, as both the country share many common features such as unshaken commitment to democracy and human rights, independent judiciary and free press. Many Indians still appreciate the great help that the US extended to it during its bloody and humiliating war with China in 1962. Responding quickly to the appeal made by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the US not only supplied arms but President John F Kennedy instructed one of their aircraft carriers to sail to the Bay of Bengal to help the Indian Army, which forced China to announce a ceasefire and lay out a timetable for withdrawal of its forces back to the borders.
Though the recent successes that India has made in establishing itself as an emerging power in global forums is laudable, it is too early for India to rejoice for there is a long way to go before it can widen its global influence. Make no mistake, American backing to India´s attempt for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council is not really an acknowledgement that India has already become a global power but a trust that it would emerge as a sober and responsible power. President Obama rightly pointed out that increased power comes with increased responsibility and that increased responsibility should first reflect in its dealings with its neighboring countries.
True, India has been an uneven supporter of democracy and human rights. It has played a laudable role in promoting democracy in the South Asian region. It stood against Nepal’s repressive regime and helped to restore multiparty democracy in Nepal both in 1990 and 2006, persuaded Bhutan to gradually opt for multiparty democratic system in 2008. However, its entire image as a promoter of democracy in the region fades away when its policy toward Myanmar’s military regime is taken into account.
Once India allowed Burma’s dissident radio station to operate on its soil and honored the recently-freed democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi with the Nehru Award for International Understanding in 1993. But an amazing U-turn has taken place in India’s foreign policy toward Myanmar’s military regime since then. Not only has its intensity in criticizing the junta remarkably diminished, it showed no hesitation in rolling out the red carpet to Burma’s military leader Than Shwe and used all means to cash business opportunities from the reclusive country. Still, it can restore its badly-tarnished ´Burma Policy´ by putting pressure on the junta regime to respect fundamental values of democracy and human rights if it aspires to emerge as a responsible global power.
India’s economic cooperation with its smaller neighbors such as Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh is appreciable. But that generosity is sometimes overshadowed by activities in the border areas, water disputes, trade barriers, and interference in internal matters, among others.
India’s recent success in the economic front is laudable. Studies have reckoned that India that is closely following China’s hefty economic growth track has the potential even to overtake China´s economy in the next decade, thanks mainly to its demographic strength. However, India does not seem open enough to share its economic prosperity among its neighbors and create a conducive environment for them to grow. Not that it has done nothing. India’s economic cooperation with its smaller neighbors such as Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh is appreciable. But that generosity is sometimes overshadowed by activities in the border areas, water disputes, trade barriers, and interference in internal matters, among others.
India is still putting a number of non-trade barriers, which is hindering export potential of these countries. Willful obstruction in trade is often used as a tool to secure other economic or non-economic concessions. For example, though Nepal enjoys duty- and quota-free excess to India for its exports, hundreds of commodities are still victims of Indian additional customs duty of 4 percent. Similarly, an Indian allegation that Nepal’s media were making negative publicity against Indian joint ventures operating in Nepal just because they were not given advertisements shows how immature its policy toward small neighbors is. Of course, the smaller neighbors have to take on reciprocal responsibilities and must not allow any activities against India and should be sensitive toward core Indian interests.
India, on the other hand, should extend all possible support for economic prosperity, political stability and promoting democracy in its immediate neighbors like the US did in Europe and Japan after the Second World War. Unstable and fragile neighbors are far dangerous than prosperous and stable ones. As an ancient Roman poet Harace says, your own safety is at stake when your neighbor´s house is ablaze.
