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Modi's Neighbourhood First Policy - Is It Working?
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Losing Nepal
The most saddening fact about India’s neighbourhood policy in the last 2 years is its relations with Nepal. This Himalayan nation which has been one of the closest allies of India historically is now complaining of ‘big-brotherly’ attitude by India. Not only that, India has been accused of meddling in the internal affairs of Nepal.
With tension rising between the two countries, Nepal has chosen to move closer towards China…
The bilateral ties between the two countries have reached a low point due to Madhesis’ agitation against Nepal’s new constitution. During their agitation, 50 Madhesi agitators died. This resulted in the blockage of all crucial entry points on the Indo-Nepal border by Madhesis leading to the shortage of essential commodities in Nepal. The Nepalese government felt that the blockade was done at the behest of the Indian government, leading to strained bilateral relations.
Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli went on to say on record that the undeclared blockade by India and the resultant humanitarian crisis in the country had undermined the historic ties between the two neighbours. With tension rising between the two countries, Nepal has chosen to move closer towards China, which has agreed to assist Nepal in the exploration of hydrocarbon resources and expand the use of solar energy.
The Sri Lankan Problem
Not only Nepal, but in down south, Sri Lanka is also drifting away towards China. Under the Modi government, India set a dangerous precedent through its ‘subtle interference’ in Sri Lanka in the run-up to the elections there.
Many reports which came out on this issue establish the fact that India played a proactive role in promoting the coalition led by Maithripala Sirisena to defeat the then Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa whose anti-Tamil record and pro-China tilt was resented by India.
To make matters worse for India, Maldives have increased its engagement with China which led to increased Chinese investments in their infrastructure sector.
The new government in Sri Lanka wants China’s assistance in both its economic and infrastructural sector, which India can provide only in small measure. Sri Lanka’s drift from India is reflected by the fact that they have ignored India’s concerns over accepting China’s bidding to make Indian Ocean an economic hub around the port city of Colombo. India worries that this will help China to promote its military agenda in the region, especially in the Indian Ocean.
Meddling in Maldives
The relation with another Indian neighbour down south is also worrying. Maldives is a very important place in ‘geo-strategic’ terms in the South Asian affairs. India has been a long time ally of Maldives and has helped the island nation in the past through ‘operation cactus’. This was an Indian Army intervention which helped in preventing the coup that was attempted by a pro-LTTE group in 1988. From a point, where India acted as a ‘Friend in Need’ to a point where the relations with Maldives are at all time low, clearly shows how India is losing its neighbourhood.
India made the mistake by publicly saying that “it is concerned with the recent developments in the Maldives, including the arrest and manhandling of former President Nasheed”. In reply, the Maldivian government stated that it hoped that India would “adhere to the principle of Panchsheel and will not intervene in domestic politics of Maldives”.
The office of Maldivian President Abdulla issued a statement that his “government will not tolerate foreign parties interfering with the country’s domestic issues”. To make matters worse for India, Maldives have increased its engagement with China which led to increased Chinese investments in their infrastructure sector.
All these issues have led to a strain the Indo-Maldivian relationship, though efforts have been made by the Indian government to sign multiple bilateral agreements during the last visit of Maldivian President Abdullah Yameen to India.
Myanmar is crucial in the India’s ‘Look East Policy’. India is trying to foster its economic cooperation and defence ties with Myanmar in the recent past.
Messy with Myanmar
On the eastern front too, the picture is gloomy. The classic case of this is Myanmar, which is a gateway for India to the important South-East Asian region. Last year when the Indian Army conducted military operations against Naga militants along the Indo-Myanmar border, it was celebrated as a chest thumping victory by some ministers in the Government of India.
Statements like ‘going deep inside the borders of Myanmar’ and ‘surgical strikes’ by Indian army in Myanmar’s territory was resented furiously by Myanmar. They retorted by saying that “every country must respect the other country’s sovereignty”. Myanmar is crucial in the India’s ‘Look East Policy’. India is trying to foster its economic cooperation and defence ties with Myanmar in the recent past. Indo-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway is an extremely important project that will boost the economic ties between the two countries.
Ties with Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a neighbour which owes its creation itself to India way back in 1971. It is surrounded on three sides by India and interestingly it doesn’t share its border with any other country except India. All these aspects make Bangladesh very vital to India’s national interest.
Both the countries have signed the historic ‘land boundary agreement’ last year. The agreement was seen as a catalyst in the improvement of relations between the two neighbours. Arguments were given that it would secure the borders between the two countries and make the lives of people on both sides of the border more stable.
…it is evident that the ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ has not worked well till now. India is losing its neighbourhood fast and most of the neighbours have drifted towards China.
Yes, the argument is true but only to a small extent. There is no doubt that those people who were living in conclaves for years without any citizenship, their lives have become relatively more stable but it doesn’t mean that cross border tensions over the issue of Bangladeshi immigrants have boiled down.
Secondly, the rise of religious extremism in Bangladesh which has led to attacks on the minority ‘Hindu’ population’ has its repercussions in India becauseright wing forces in India are looking it as Hindu versus Muslim problem. This narrow mindedness which is leading to a tendency of ‘tit for tat’ among many fringe groups in India is just adding to security threat arising from Bangladesh.
The Bhutan Bonhomie
The relations with Bhutan have been traditionally very amiable which has continued under Modi government. The Indian Prime Minister took his first foreign visit to Bhutan after assuming office, thereby giving prominence to Indo-Bhutanese relationship. Bhutan is of ‘strategic value’ for both India and China and it is in India’s interests to maintain good relations with Bhutan in order to prevent its drift to China.
Conclusion
To conclude, it is evident that the ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ has not worked well till now. India is losing its neighbourhood fast and most of the neighbours have drifted towards China. India’s loss seems to be China’s gain. Amidst the Indo-Chinese rivalry for regional supremacy and a drifting neighbourhood, India needs to ‘rethink’, ‘rebuild’ and ‘reorient’ its Neighbourhood policy.
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4 thoughts on “Modi’s Neighbourhood First Policy – Is It Working?”
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Finally, an article that points out what a disaster this BJP government has been in terms of foreign policy. I personally believe that this is the reason why so much more noise is made about relatively unimportant matters like NSG-membership and others in the domestic media, many of whom are getting very generously funded by this government.
After reading this article I feel like writer just wanted to get his article published on IDR, it’s pitty to see how the writer in one go has completely sprouted out his narrow mindness without giving any “reasons” to his ” correct assertions”, if one has to look carefully from madhesi to Maldives one would surely find how anti-india elements are being breeded and in some cases we are paying hard cash unknowingly in the form of aid but what can we expect from “ultra modern” aka dalals of a “particular university” where an ” African studies “student is considered to be most well versed intellect in the matter of Kashmir.
It seems that your problem is not my article but where I study matters more to you. Its people like you who are narrow-minded. Having disagreements over any issue
is one thing but slanderous remarks just for the sake of it shows your immaturity.
Why don’t you write a comprehensive essay on the same topic in reply to my article. That would be a best way to reply rather than hurling abuses. As a citizen of this country and as a student of International Relations, it is my duty to point things which are not going right.
Just clapping at every decision and moves of the government won’t do any good in reality, unless someone wants to turn a blind eye to it. To become a great power, we need good relations with our immediate neighbours and we need people’s participation on foreign policy issue who can point out the lacunae in the country’s foreign policy.
And for the record, not every JNUite is a communist or the blind supporter of Kanhaiya Kumar. Its a shame that your blood is boiling in the name of JNU because at present there are countless people from JNU who are working as distinguished bureaucrats under Modi government. NDA passouts get their degree from JNU, so think before you speak.
After reading this article I feel like writer just wanted to get his article published on IDR, it’s pitty to see how the writer in one go has completely sprouted out his narrow mindness without giving any “reasons” to his ” correct assertions”, if one has to look carefully from madhesi to Maldives one would surely find how anti-india elements are being breeded and in some cases we are paying hard cash unknowingly in the form of aid but what can we expect from “ultra modern” aka dalals of a “particular university” where an ” African studies “student is considered to be most well versed in the matter of Kashmirs.Sorry but that jnu tag makes my blood boil!!!!