Foreign policy needs reforms, says PM, think out of old box

So while he reiterated the stated position on Pakistan—talks only if Islamabad is sincere about stopping cross-border terrorism and ‘‘dismantling’’ its infrastructure—he painted the larger picture.

Of how India needs to be ‘‘pragmatic’’ for the boundary talks with China to succeed and how New Delhi needs to look ‘‘beyond the geographical confines of South Asia.’’

The Prime Minister argued how India has ‘‘exploited the fluidities’’ of the New World Order to forge alliances worldwide. And that it was a combination of ‘‘diplomatic repositioning, economic resurgence and military firmness’’ that’s given the country a ‘‘new importance in the international league.’’

Vajpayee said that the ‘‘magnitude of these developments is not fully grasped.’’ Too many of us are caught up in ‘‘limiting ideologies,’’ he said, and ‘‘in a limited vision of what India is doing and where it should be going.’’

For example, he said: ‘‘We have re-established our cordiality with USA, while strengthening our strategic partnership with Russia.’’ Added to this, he said, was the summit-level dialogues with the European Union and ASEAN, the key role in Cancun, discussions on India-Russia-China cooperation, an India-Brazil-South Africa.

Regarding the recent peace initiative with Pakistan, Vajpayee said that ‘‘our constant effort is to encourage those elements in Pakistan, who recognise the folly of permanent hostility towards India.’’

Referring to China, Vajpayee said that the recent decision of the two Governments to appoint Special Representatives to discuss the boundary question from a political perspective was a ‘‘particularly significant’’ measure.

A final resolution of the boundary question, he said, would release considerable ‘‘military energies and finances’’ for other more ‘‘purposeful activities.’’ It is, therefore, a ‘‘strategic objective’’ and to achieve it, ‘‘we should be willing to take some pragmatic decisions,’’ the Prime Minister said.

Saying that in the ‘‘globalized world,’’ every strategy is inter-disciplinary, Vajpayee called for close synergy between ‘‘our security agencies, our armed forces, our diplomats and our Finance, Commerce, Energy and other Ministries.’’ For, in the 21st century, war in whatever form can be ‘‘won only through multiple levers of power.’’

He also expressed concern over the activities of Maoist groups in Nepal and their links with ultra leftist groups in India.

As for the war on terrorism, the Prime Minister said that in the recent past, he has been stressing the need to develop technologies to counter actions of terrorists and insurgent groups.

Given India’s continuous exposure to the proxy war from across the borders, he said, ‘‘it is important that we evolve a comprehensive counter-terrorism doctrine backed by manpower and high technology.’’

In his address, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani said that although the world view on terrorism changed after September 11, it ‘‘has not prevented our adversaries from continuing to do what they are doing.’’