With bricks and mortar, Modi puts a foreign policy in place

[Free Karma]

With bricks and mortar, Modi puts a foreign policy in place - The Times of India

NEW DELHI: Two months ago Prime Minister Narendra Modi cancelled a summit with Japan because he wanted a substantive visit. On Monday, Japan and India ramped up ties in a significant way, laying the way for India's economic development and transformation. It also gives a good peek into what Modi's foreign policy is really like.

Since the moment Narendra Modi invited the Saarc heads of state to attend his swearing-in ceremony, the new NDA government has opened up foreign policy into a veritable hive of activity. Most Indian commentators believed Modi was turning soft on Pakistan after the evident bonhomie during the meeting.

While 100 days is really no time to assess a new regime's foreign policy, recent developments give a fair idea of where he wants to go with it.

First, it can best be described as a 'hub-and-spoke' approach to foreign policy. At the core is the growth and development of India. This is the paramount principle governing all Modi's foreign policy. The second concentric circle, tied closely to the first, is the South Asian neighbourhood. Modi is a believer in the truth, first articulated by former PM IK Gujral, that India's development will be incomplete if its neighbours don't tread the same path. The spokes would be the countries India will engage intensively which would assist the development of his core principles.

These would be Japan, Israel, Germany, Singapore, Canada and the US, not always in that order. These are countries that India will invite to help transform India, its economy, its skill-sets, its cities and its technology. The Japan visit is a big step in that direction despite the possible disappointment of a failed nuclear deal.

Placed in this context, Modi's big bang beginning makes complete sense. His first visits to Bhutan and Nepal too are clearly part of the same vision. Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj made Bangladesh her first port of call, making way for a possible Modi visit by year-end. Modi has started reaching out to Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, indicating his readiness to work out a political deal with the Bengal chief minister to take the Bangladesh relationship forward perhaps with the land boundary agreement.

Sri Lanka will pose a slightly different challenge, but bilateral ties now are currently on cruise control. India has refused visas to UN investigators seeking to interview people in Sri Lanka regarding the UNHRC resolution, which India abstained in March.

When Modi abruptly called off foreign secretary talks with Pakistan, the government took a lot of flak on what seems like a see-saw Pakistan policy. But there are several indications that India's approach to other South Asian neighbours will not be replicated in Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif's decision to come, despite the strictures against meeting the Hurriyat then did not go down well with the Pakistan army, but sent a positive signal to Modi.

What did not, was the ISI-LeT attack on the Indian consulate in Herat, Afghanistan. Coming a couple of days before his swearing in, the incident showed the dangers that underlay the apparent bonhomie.

Why did Modi draw a red line on the Hurriyat meeting? For conversations with many familiar with developments, Modi's approach to Pakistan will be guided by a couple of things — first, a tough stand on the border and LOC, which has been evident for the past few weeks. For the second time in as many weeks, Pakistan has complained about Indian firing on the border. The "sentinels on the border" as the MEA calls them, have been ordered to give back more than they get.

That does not mean Modi will cut off diplomatic contact, though it's very clear Modi's interest in Pakistan as a nation is minimal, unlike his predecessor. If Nawaz Sharif survives his current crisis and makes it to New York for the UN general assembly, Modi and Sharif may well sit down for a chat. India will make trade concessions to Pakistan to sweeten a stalled trade deal, but that's it. Inside Kashmir, Modi has a very different vision — the elections in November will be the first time Modi-Shah combine will test their policy. A state government, not opposed to the centre, more nationalistic in tone than before, can alter ground situations more than any conversation between India and Pakistan.

In 100 days, one thing is clear. Modi is not enamoured of either the foreign minister, or the foreign office. While MEA officials are scrambling, they are frequently being ticked off for lack of ideas and even preparation. The old-fashioned diplomatese that MEA dishes out in high-level briefings is leaving Modi cold. He wants crisp output from MEA in tune with his vision.

Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj is competent and hands-on minister and wants to keep her ministry away from the PMO marauders. She may not succeed, particularly if Modi appoints a foreign policy adviser as many have speculated. At this point though, Sushma can claim several successes, including evacuating Indians from troubled spots in the Middle East. But the disconnect between the MEA and PMO is real.

"Modi's vision is bigger than we all imagine it to be," said a source who is believed to be close to the PM. "What we don't know is how successful he will be."

I found the last part quite interesting. IMO Sushma has done okay, perhaps this is speculation?

 

[sob]

And in the run up to the elections, Congress was questioning how would Modi handle foreign relations, as he had no experience.

The results are out and he is doing a much better job than his predecessor.

Remember our earlier FM describing the Chinese incursions as acne on the face.......