'Fear' grips Indian foreign policy

When India's economy started growing during PV.Narasimha Rao's regime in 1990s and then the country conducted nuclear tests during Atal Behari Vajpayee's regime announcing its supremacy, many felt that days are not far when India can truly become a super power, dislodging US and China. However after ten years with India still practising the same foreign policy with fear writ all over it, people lament that the country lost a golden opportunity to become the supreme power.

The way India responded to Kargil incursions, 26/11 terror strikes and its inability to stop economy from crumbling has left the country in shackles. On top of it with the Country repeatedly kneeling before various countries be it Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Italy on issues regarding terror trails, protecting sovereignty of Nepal, succumbing to regional parties’ pressure in Sri Lanka and allowing Italian marines to escape the harsh punishment made it a weak nation in the eyes of the world leaders.

To top it, the country's response even when former and current Presidents and Prime Ministers were strip-searched made it a laughing stock in front of the world. This allows other nations to insult India's diplomats and people on one pretext or the other. The recent episode of Devyani in the US is one of many such incidents. Many felt that had India responded strongly when former President Kalam or Defence Minister George Fernandez was strip searched, things wouldn't reach this level.

India's foreign policy right from the time it gained independence lacks intent and vision. The country's first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, sometimes used to follow pro UK policy and at other times anti-UK policy. Though it was the founder of non aligned movement, India leaned towards USSR in the war for supremacy between USSR and USA. This enabled Pakistan to drift towards US.

Even in case of Israel, India's foreign policy is governed by its relationship with other Islamic and Arab countries. The policy makers failed to realise that however staunchly they supported Islamic and Arab countries in case of Israel, they never supported the country on Kashmir issue. Even after strongly supporting Iran, the much awaited pipeline through India, Pakistan and Iran never happened. Nehru raised the slogan 'Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai' developing cold feet on Chinese incursions in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh, but Chinese backstabbed the country attacking the country during 1960.

The country's meek and non response to Pakistan's terror groups is emboldening even tiny nations like Bangladesh, Myanmar etc in promoting anti-India activities on their soil. Even its foreign policy with regards to US too is not consistent. Depending on its coalition partners Congress led UPA government kept on changing decisions, which made US, belittle the country. When communists supported the Goverment, Union Government used to go slow on major policy decisions increasing distrust among the two nations.

Even its economical decisions are not based on ground economic realities prevailing in the country, but are guided by the pressures of World Bank in order to get loans. India tried pleasing even the tiniest nations across the world in order to get acceptability and thus permanent seat in UN security council. However, the country couldn't realise even that dream.

Analysts feel that weak Governments at the Centre affected by the pulls and pressures of coalition politics may have affected the foreign policy a lot. However even when the Country was ruled by single party, India's foreign policy was no better. It is only Pakistan centric or policy makers are keen on pleasing Islamic and Arab nations ignoring the wider perspectives of the world nations. China realised India's meek foreign policy practices and took full advantage and raced ahead of the country by well over 50 years.

It’s high time our leaders realises that no one recognises or respects a country whose foreign policy is gripped with fear. It is time leaders understand Swami Vivekananda's preachings 'Arise Awake and stop not till the goal is reached' to make India super power with powerful foreign policy.