Prima facie, it was an instance of the proverbial pot calling the kettle black. When Pakistan released its “first ever” National Security Policy this week, its central part blamed India as the promoter of terrorism in the subcontinent. It said India employed terrorism as a “preferred policy of choice” to undermine stability and national harmony (of the Pakistani society). The allusion was to the acts of some Afghan militants in Pakistan, allegedly at India’s behest. In effect, Pakistan turned the familiar script – of Pakistan hugely nurturing terrorism on its soil – upside down and sought to project India as the villain of the piece. When it comes to strategizing, trading lies at diplomatic level, and acts of deceit as in its hiding of Osama bin Laden with full military cover, or running with the hare and hunting with the hound, Pakistan has a unique style of its own. Its national security policy runs its script through such a familiar territory.
Even as Indians look at Pakistan as a chaotic entity and its elected governments are seen acting on dictates from the military, the Islamic nation has its tasks cut out with a sense of determination and long-term vision. This is more so after it lost what was East Pakistan half a century ago with the formation of Bangladesh. India, on the other hand, is adrift, failing to firm up its policies on the external affairs front. After Indira Gandhi, those who led this nation have often displayed their failure to face situations squarely. That saga continues even today.
India’s lack of cohesive policies on the external affairs front is reflected in a situation in which it is ‘neither here nor there’. In the new season when Russia ended its old fascination towards the Non-Aligned Movement, nations like India fell between two stools. Both Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi edged a bit closer to the US in the post-Cold War era. Yet, the Indian leadership showed a lack of courage to firmly side with the US even as China began breathing down our neck. Pakistan, on the other hand, retained its old ties with the US and also won China to its side as an “all-weather” friend. That’s the strength of its leadership. It gains from both sides. Effective strategizing is integral to good diplomacy. India’s diplomacy is at odds with the realities on the ground. It stops at its Prime Minister putting a hand around the shoulders of a Trump or Biden at international fora or hosting a Xi Jinping in Mahabalipuram with no material gains whatsoever.
