Putting India’s foreign policy in perspective

Book Review

By

Randeep Wadehra

Pax Indica by Shashi Tharoor

Allen Lane (Penguin). Pages: 449. Price: Rs. 799/-

Since ancient times, when India was not a single political entity, the country’s influence could be discerned in different parts of the world. Greek and Jewish seafaring traders, who passed through the Indian Ocean’s waterways, found the peninsular India a lucrative destination – both as a market and a source of exotic goods, especially spices. Similarly, the northwestern and northeastern parts had trading links with different countries in West and Central Asia. India accounted for more than 23 percent of the world’s GDP up to as late as 1820.  The country’s soft power influenced cultural evolution in many a littoral state in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Although Tharoor mentions all this and much else his book is neither a work of history nor a trip to nostalgia. Instead, given the background of India’s economic and cultural might of yore, the author investigates India’s current status in the comity of nations and its future prospects in the light of various economic, strategic and foreign policy challenges – both existing as well as potential – not to mention the ones posed by the domestic political scenario. Accordingly, he has divided this book into eleven chapters.

While dwelling upon India’s equations with various SAARC countries Tharoor has explored both challenges and opportunities. If Islamist fervor in Bangladesh was a problem, now we have entered a phase of cooperation in various developmental endeavors. However, doubts persist regarding the Indian government’s ability to get the exchange of isolated enclaves on the borders ratified in the Parliament – which would require at least two-thirds majority. In Nepal too the anti-Indian sentiment needs to be addressed even as China makes deep inroads into that landlocked country – both in diplomatic and economic terms. Similarly, even as the Tamil sentiment vis-à-vis Sri Lanka remains on the simmer in India there have been quite a few positive developments as far as infrastructure building in the isle is concerned. But, Tharoor is not happy at India allowing China to bag the Hambantota Port project by default.

India is investing heavily in Afghanistan’s economic and political rejuvenation; it has completed or almost completed projects ranging from road building and electricity generation to education and construction of Afghanistan’s Parliament building. But the author is right in pointing out that one cannot ignore the region’s volatility – given its history of perpetual conflicts. However, while his take on the Indo-Bhutanese relations is positive one thought that there was a need to have a look at the recent Chinese attempts to get closer to Bhutan – in diplomatic as well as economic terms. Bhutan is an important strategic buffer state and we can ill afford to let the Dragon swallow it. Already, in Burma we have had to do an about turn to neutralize the growing influence of China and Pakistan. And Burma, along with Bangladesh, apart from being important for the development of our eastern region, is also our gate to the strategically and commercially important ASEAN countries.

Tharoor’s analysis of the situation in Pakistan, its past history and the yo-yoing equation with India is arguably the most interesting part of this tome. While narrating the history of Indo-Pak relations since independence he has focused on Pakistan’s policy of exporting terrorism to India as epitomized by 26/11. He commends the Manmohan Singh government’s policy of uninterrupted engagement with Pakistan while building pressure on it to mend its ways. However, he is extremely cautious about the end results. China is another country that Tharoor explores at length – as India’s rival, enemy and trading partner. Its recent strategic asset acquisitions consist of warships that give the Indian Navy blue water capabilities. Although way behind China on several economic and strategic counts India has increasingly begun to matter as a strategic player of substance in China’s backyard that comprises such South East Asian countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, South Korea etc. Apart from the above, this book deals with various other challenges like gaining access to hydrocarbons and various minerals in West and Central Asia.

Students of international affairs and related fields will find it a great source material as it provides informed insights into the manner in which India is currently handling various foreign policy issues.