India must stand up when it matters
India did make bold to come out with its nuclear device, but in general it has preferred caution or diffidence — sometimes even ill-fitting moderation — to forthrightness in its approach to bilateral, regional and global affairs since the days of Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
US President Barack Obama more than hinted at this when he addressed our Parliament late last year, complaining that while India aspired to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council, it did not speak up on important items on the international agenda. What he meant was that India did not regularly line up with Western positions on major issues. Therefore, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s candid observation to the combined commanders’ conference in the national capital earlier this week is apt to surprise the US leader.
Not mincing words, the Prime Minister noted that the international strategic and political environment had “deteriorated” on account of the economic difficulties facing the leading Western nations, curtailing their ability to intervene in global affairs. As such, he said it was necessary for this country to “consolidate its strategic autonomy” and prepare for independent action on questions that concern it. This falls well short of defining a new doctrine. But there is no doubting the statement of intent. The point really is, will India be delivering when it matters? It should be kept in mind that we are not talking of military options necessarily, though everything ought to be on the table for the policy-maker. A lot of the time unambiguous political statements, diplomatic actions and trade-related moves will be called for to gain a key objective — in short, the kind of options that China, for example, does not lose sight of.
In the recent period, India has been forthcoming in expressing itself on the international stage. While being solicitous of Pakistan, it has not pulled punches on Afghanistan, letting all concerned know how its core interests are configured. In spite of persisting US displeasure with Iran, New Delhi has not obfuscated its intention to do business with that country and called it a factor for stability in Afghanistan as well as the Gulf. These are observations of far-reaching import. Overlooking Chinese reservations, it has sought to forge closer ties with Japan and others in East Asia, and gone ahead with oil exploration projects with Vietnam in the South China Sea. Going over Western objections, it has not flinched from dealing with Burma, whose leader it is now hosting, although the leadership of that country has of late taken steps to cool tempers in Western capitals. The test would be when India maintains a forthright posture when challenged.
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