India stands at the second position in world in terms of highest number of population. It is known as the world’s largest democracy with a secular outlook. Moreover, it has one of the emerging economies of the world in 21st century, and owes a large number of armed forces while aspiring to be recognised as a great power. Although India is known to have a potential to get the status of a Great Power for which the United States has also pledged to help it, it is yet awaited. Indian nation has been dreaming since long to achieve such a prestigious position but has been unable to understand the reasons for failure in fulfillment of their long awaited dream.
To be known as a Great Power, a state does not only need to acquire a military capacity and economic superiority or having a democratic system, it requires to have a capacity to deal with international affairs in a sensible and mature behaviour in conduct of their relationship. But unfortunately, Indian leaders perhaps consider ‘assertiveness’ as the major ingredient for becoming a major power. Therefore, Indian leadership has always pursued assertive policies in conduct of their relations with other nations. They are unable to understand that ‘assertiveness’ does not work everywhere.
In its search for a long-awaited status of Great Power with an ‘assertive’ mindset, India is now looking towards the United States to help achieve greater military strength and influence around the world while adopting assertive attitude towards other states in the South Asian region including Pakistan. Confronting with the immediate neighbours with a hope of support from outsiders like the United States in the region, is manifestation of folly attitude on part of India which will never work.
In their policy to isolate Pakistan in international arena, Indian diplomatic community has gone to the extent of using bizarre language which is more damaging for India itself and less for Pakistan
It is well known that India is pursuing many projects for advanced defence acquisitions and military procurements. It is looking for advanced fighter jets, drones, missile systems, missile defence, and nuclear cooperation around the world and has become the largest importer of arms according to the SIPRI Year Book for 2017.
India’s fast ventures for military modernisation with the US support are not only contributing to its hard power, but also adversely affecting the country’s strategic thinking where a ‘false sense of superiority’ is overwhelmingly determining Indian attitude towards its conduct of international relations. Starting from immediate neighbours to regional and international spheres, Indian leaders are assuming themselves to be supernatural entities that deserve to rule the world.
This false sense of superiority has created a sort of superiority complex in the minds of Indian leadership as well as Indian people, which is dangerous not only for the regional peace but will also prove to be self-annihilating for the Indian state itself. This is an era of respect for sovereignty of every state in the world irrespective of states’ size and capacity. One cannot dominate merely by acquiring military capacity or coercive attitude. Iter-state relationships are established on the basis of sovereign equality and respect for each other. In their lust for Great Power Status, Indian leadership has forgotten this principal requirement in conduct of international affairs.
Without taking into account the consequences of unnecessary diplomatic ridicule, Indian leadership has introduced a culture of disrespecting the diplomatic lingua. In their policy to isolate Pakistan in international arena, Indian diplomatic community has gone to the extent of using bizarre language which is more damaging for India itself and less for Pakistan. The most recent manifestation of such an attitude was the address of Indian representative in the UN Eenam Gambhir, who called Pakistan as ‘Terroristan’. Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj praised the theme of the UNGA event ‘Focusing on people:
Striving for peace and a decent life on a sustainable planet’, but was unable not only to notice the indecent attitude of Ms Gambhir but she herself showed indecency by targeting Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. This indicates the abusive strategic thinking of Indian leadership who, in surge for defaming Pakistan, has gone to the extent of setting aside the diplomatic manners. Disrespecting your counterpart’s name and founding fathers will result in worsening the already fragile strategic environment in the region. It cannot, in any way, show a serious intension for peaceful dialogue process. It is manifestation of just an assertive attitude towards other nation which will never work rather acts as a ‘peace spoiler’.
If Indian leadership really wants peace and prosperity in the region, they will have to amend their attitude towards other nations in general and towards Pakistan in particular. Indian leadership is required to recognise and accept the reality of Pakistan’s strength and strategic importance in the region and will have to come out of Pakistan phobia.
They will have to learn to talk to Pakistan on equal footing while setting aside their hegemonic attitude. Efforts to isolate or malign Pakistan shall prove to be counter-productive. India shall have to settle regional issues with Pakistan for a peaceful rise. Attitudinal fault lines based on perceived support from outside world need to be addressed through respect for other’s sovereignty and with a positive commitment towards peace and tranquility. Last but not least, diplomatic manners need to be adhered strictly in the whole process.
The writer is a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Strategic Vision Institute, Islamabad. He serves as Assistant Professor in Political Science at Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan. He can be reached at [email protected]
Published in Daily Times, September 29th 2017.