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Geo-political situation of India's neighbouhood to change drastically: Mathai | Foreign Ranjan Mathai on Friday said that India would have to work
more to get positive geo-political results in the challenging environment that
its neighbourhood presents. Releasing a book ' India 's Neighbourhood Challenges
in the Next Two Decades' at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA)
here today, Mathai said he expected the geo-political situation in India's neighbourhood to
change drastically in the next two decades. India's neighborhood, he said, needs to be viewed
from the perspective of whether events like the Arab Spring (revolutions), or the rise in oil
prices, would affect traditional, or emerging
centres of power, both in the short and long-term. India, Mathai said is engaged
with its extended neighbourhood through various fora and platforms, which is providing
seamless continuity in relationships. Admitting that the dividing line between
terrorists and trans-nationals is disappearing, he, however, said that common
interests must be factored in while making policies for South Asia . "The dividing
line between terrorists and transnational criminals in disappearing. Access to
technology is increasing the dangers that we face. Even as South Asian nations
struggle to bridge their internal digital divides, they now have to divert resources
to foil cyber criminals operating in virtual world," he said. Commenting on the
role of domestic factors in framing foreign policy, the Foreign Secretary said,
"Domestic factors will influence policy towards neighbours. We have created presence in
some state capitals beyond the traditional passport offices by having branch secretariats." "We
have created within the (External Affairs) Ministry a development partnership administration
that will take charge of any development and aid programme with other countries. This will
help in optimising programmes that are being devised for development cooperation particularly
with our neighbours," he added. Mathai
said the higher growth trajectory of countries such as India and others has "led
to a discernible peaceful shift of global politico and economic centres of gravity."
"This has increased their weight and profile in international relations and enhanced
their capability to influence global events," he said. Mathai said global shifts
are often accompanied by an "inevitable backlash" as such movements are not welcome
by those who lose due to these changes. "The determined effort to choke our growth
through environmental norms and regulations is one such example. We also need
to consider that the upsurge now called Arab Spring and the changes it could bring
to oil markets in future, who would be affected most by it. Would it be traditional
centres of power or will it be the emerging ones," he said. On the challenges
in India 's neighbourhood, Mathai said, "The promotion of a politically stable
and economically secure periphery is a paramount foreign policy objective for
India." He said such a policy was essential to meet challenges of fostering sustainable
growth and "to ensure that regional differences could not be exploited by those
who would be happy to see us absorbed in these disputes." Mathai said India has
been "hard at work in fostering interconnectivity and mutual confidence in multiple
areas, in promoting trade and investment and trying to leverage India 's rapid
economic growth for a win-win arrangement with our neighbours." "South Asian Economic
Union, which is often spoken about, is possibly a distant dream but even an expanded set of
economic connections will not only transform the economies of Asia but will be a force for
political stability," he said. Mathai said there were very
few areas in the world where the logic of regional cooperation are as obvious
as in South Asia "but it is also a fact that there are very few regions where
the challenges in creating the structures for regional cooperation are so daunting."
He said countries are dealing with both historical challenges and challenges of
the 21st century. "For example, the problem of demarcating the borders are now
accompanied by completely different set of issues which arise due to irrelevance
of borders due to globalisation," he said. On the growing expectations from governments,
Mathai said if they are not able to meet the requirements of their people, they create "fragile
and weak" states. The foreign secretary said 2012 marks 20 years
of India 's engagement with the ASEAN and a commemorative event will be held in
September to celebrate it. He also said that while building strong ties with all
its neighbours and other countries, India is also attempting to build an 'Indian
Ocean Littoral Community' |
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