Whining India?

By any account, India is being increasingly seen across the world as a rising power. Several western observers have argued that the global power shift from West to East is under way, with China and India expected to influence the course of global events on a greater scale in the future. This assessment is based largely on data about economic growth and the broader parameters of national power. An increasing number of countries 8212; recognising the ground realities of the international power structure 8212; now agree that countries like Japan, Germany, Brazil and India must be included in the UN Security Council as permanent members. New Delhi would obviously expect that this position also comes with what the UN Charter has specified in respect of permanent members 8212; that is, veto power. And Russian president, Vladimir Putin, endorsed this formulation even if after some diplomatic shuffling.

At another plane, the recent ASEAN summit clearly indicated the desire of 10 Southeast Asian countries to participate in India8217;s rise to power, especially in its technological and economic growth. Our trade as well as political relations with China 8212; the real rising power 8212; has been growing rapidly. Our relations with the EU have begun to move towards more promising outcomes. We undoubtedly remain conscious of our numerous weaknesses, the poverty that must be eradicated, the socio-economic disparities that must be narrowed, the rampant corruption that should be controlled, and several other issues. But the challenges should spur us to greater enterprise and effort rather than make us defensive.

Some of our foreign policy articulations of late have acquired a defensive tone. Take, for instance, the statement of External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh on the US offer of arms supplies to Pakistan. Surely this anxiety to remain equated with Pakistan does not quite behove a nation with ambitions to sit at the high table of international engagement. Having made a measured point through the Indian spokesman, would it not have been better to leave it at that rather than enter into a debating paradigm. While a heavily armed Pakistan is not in the interests of the subcontinent, surely India has the means to ensure that any military aggression would not be allowed to succeed? This is just one example. There are other examples, too, of policy statements that smacked of an overtly defensive and anxiety-ridden mindset when what is required is a more relaxed, more self-confident, one.