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Journalism of Courage
UN
As India takes its non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council in New York,New Delhi will have to monitor international developments round-the-clock. So,whether a crisis in Burundi or a situation elsewhere,India will have to take positions for the next two years. While it intends to put terrorism from Pakistan on the agenda and hopes for early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism CCIT,much will depend on New Delhi8217;s ability to closely coordinate with the P-5 countries. On Iran too,a lot of eyes will be on India.
Neighbourhood
Indias engagement with neighbours will be key this year. Nepal,which is grappling with uncertainty in political transition,will be a test case. Myanmar,where the ruling junta has conducted the elections this year,will be another place where New Delhis engagement will be closely watched,especially since in both Nepal and Myanmar,Beijings involvement has been quite obvious. In Sri Lanka,New Delhi will be interested in the process of devolution of power to Tamils,following the promise in this regard made by Mahinda Rajapaksa during his visits this year. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be visiting Bangladesh in the first half of the year to consolidate ties after PM Sheikh Hasinas visit to India in the early part of 2010.
Pakistan
It will be a critical year for the 26/11 trial on in Pakistan,and much of what happens there will be impacting its relations with India. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureishi is expected to come to New Delhi,and there is even talk of foreign secretaries meeting ahead of the ministerial meet. But a lot of negotiations will be needed before that. The battle in the international court of arbitration on Kishenganga,a first under the Indus Water Treaty,might be another hotspot in India-Pak ties.
China
How Beijing resolves the stapled visa issue will be watched very closely,as that dominated the conversation this year. Also,how the trade imbalance is sorted out,with greater market access,will be a confidence building measure in bilateral ties. Defence cooperation,stalled in 2010,could witness a breakthrough.
P-5
The India-US relations will be carried forward this year as strategic dialogue will take place between foreign ministers,and there is movement expected on export restrictions being eased off. This is closely linked to India8217;s membership in the Australia Group an informal forum that seeks to ensure that exports do not contribute to the development of chemical or biological weapons,Missile Technology Control Regime and the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies,and ultimately the Nuclear Suppliers Group. This has been a recurring theme in conversations with all P-5 countries.
Africa
Three years after 2008,its the turn of the second India-Africa summit. Some new initiatives and reaping of the dividends on existing ones will be discussed at the summit to be held in Africa,as India deepens its cooperation with the continent and with its regional groupings.
Indian Ocean
India will spend a lot of time on the issue of piracy and the ways to tackle it,as the problem reaches closer to Indian shores. This will be an area of growing partnership,starting with Indonesia in January and then with other countries in the region. Indian Naval activity in the waters has already increased and Delhi is reaching out to Maldives,Seychelles,Mauritius and Mozambique,building on its natural advantages in the region. Another area of concern is China deepening its presence in the waters.
G-20
With Indias growth back on track,New Delhi will be the most-watched case in France when the top heads of G-20 countries meet to exchange notes on the economic recovery.
Regional groupings
There will be a lot of new groupings,as well as existing groupings will be strengthened. A case in point will be Indonesia,which is keen to join BRIC Brazil,Russia,India and China grouping,to soon include South Africa. This will be a topic of conversation with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono,who has been invited as the chief guest for the Republic Day parade. Similarly Turkey also wants to engage India as a regional grouping,as does Malaysia.
