Let hawks remain hawks

The West will be making a grave error if it equates Hindu nationalism with Islamic fundamentalism. While Islamic fundamentalism is opposed to the Western intellectual tradition which has as its bedrock liberalism, Hindu nationalism in its essentials draws inspiration from the rational doctrine of the Vedas, the same Aryan thought that triggered Western rationalism.

But Western intellectual tradition is playing a minimal role in European and American foreign policy. In some ways it reflects the decline of Western intellectualism which, in turn, leads to confusion in identifying eastern ideology and determining which is friendly and what is hostile.

The BJP8217;s desire to restore India to its rightful place in Asiashould not be equated in Western capitals with narrow fundamentalism. Despite all the integration of the European nations in a motley union, nationalism is still not a dirty word in Europe. American foreign policy has supranationalist goals. The problem with the West is its double standards, what is good for them is bad for us. It is this neo-colonialist thinking which gets reflected in foreign policy in the US and in foreign policy and racism in Europe.

The West must look at the BJP8217;s foreign policy and defence goals with a healthy realism. Not since the old Swatantra Party has any other party a more open mind towards the West than the BJP. But do not interfere with what8217;s good for India, the West must be told, and keep in mind the Islamic fundamentalist threat emanating from Pakistan, because it is the same bigotry which is threatening the West.

The BJP Government must undo Inder Gujral8217;s infamous tilt towards Pakistan. His Chamberlain Pakistan policy has done little good for the country but heightenedtensions in Kashmir and demoralised the military. The Pakistani problem must be dealt with firmly. Experience has taught us that military strength keeps the Pakistanis on good behaviour. On this question there is a healthy consensus between A.B. Vajpayee and Sonia Gandhi. Pakistan may become the rallying point to bring the BJP and the Congress closer.

A tough Pakistan policy is called for. One which will change the present defensive posture to an offensive one. It is only military might which will ensure peace in the region. Yet, India must temper might with pragmatism. The detente with China must continue. China is India8217;s most important and powerful neighbour and good relations are absolutely essential. With other South Asian neighbours the new government must be patient and helpful. Most of them need Indian assistance for their development.

Vajpayee who has been a hawk in the Opposition must not become a dove in office. The first thing the BJP will have to give urgent attention to is the widespreaddemoralisation in the armed services. The genuine need of the men must be attended to, morale restored and elan bestowed.

The services must get the equipment they need. There is no point in talking about capability and not doing anything about it. The Agni must be developed at the earliest and the missile programme updated. India8217;s nuclear option should not be theoretical. Whether a bomb needs to be tested or not should be determined by scientific necessity, but the competence and capability must be real. 1974 is a long, long time ago.

BJP8217;s Jaswant Singh in a talk in New Delhi spoke about India, in European terms, stretching from Scandinavia to Iberia and felt its security needs should be matched by its geographical size and location. He was right. But the longer India takes to meet its geostrategic requirements the weaker it will get to a point that it will not be able to regain capability. It might even become a big, rotting banana republic.

We must be prepared for reprisals and sanctions from theWest. But the Chinese example is extremely relevant. Like China, India can do without the West, but the West cannot do without India. In terms of trade, location, population, geographical size and political potential the West will never be able to ignore India, however much they dislike the government. It is time to call the Western bluff.

Lack of development assistance and technical knowhow will be a squeeze and life could turn harder. The government must anticipate sanctions. There must be a national plan to tackle problems created by hostile countries and contingencies planned how, and where, the belt is to be tightened.

Yet, things may never come to that point for all the American rhetoric. The Europeans will be divided and nuclear bomb or not many will be more than willing to deal with India. India could exploit the fight between France and Britain to be the dominant force in Europe and the Germans are always happy to go where there is profit. As too are several other European nations, the Japaneseand many others.

The Americans will continue to need India as a counterbalance to China and for all their talk will not risk alienating Asia8217;s two largest countries. The new government is safe in building up its missile and nuclear capability. Let8217;s hope it has the will to do so. The first, and foremost, task of the new government is to build India as one of the world8217;s great powers. The country has the size, the manpower and the will. What it has lacked is leadership. As India8217;s first nationalist government the BJP has a historic responsibility. Let8217;s hope they are up to it.

The writer was a fellow at the Institute of International Studies, Berkeley, California