The Hindu : Entrenched negativism

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 18, 2003

Opinion

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Entrenched negativism

THE ENTRENCHED ATTITUDE of negativism towards some of India's neighbours, that has been the hallmark of the political dispensation ruling in New Delhi, has once again been manifested in the address delivered by the President, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, to the joint sitting of Parliament at the start of the budget session. The formulations in respect of Pakistan and Bangladesh contained in the President's address, which reflects the view of the Government, demonstrates that New Delhi has yet to cultivate a sober attitude towards the countries in the neighbourhood and develop a creative new approach on that basis. In regard to Pakistan, the address made for yet another exercise of an unduly prolonged effort to establish that the chief threat to India's internal security came from this external source. With references to the killing of innocents, the targeting of the families of security personnel and attacks on pilgrims, the conclusion was drawn that all of this showed that there was a method in the madness of Pakistan-supported terrorist violence. It was observed that the assurances given by Pakistan on the issue had remained unfulfilled, that the infrastructure of terrorism remained intact in that country and that Islamabad continued to fund terrorist groups. The nation was urged to be vigilant against an adversary which was described as one that was unwilling to give up its anti-India stand.

Bangladesh appears to have made itself an unwitting target of the animosity which New Delhi bears towards Pakistan in that cross-border infiltration from this direction — which is largely undertaken by those in search of a living — was described as having an additional dimension of the ominous because Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence was said to be active in the territory of the eastern neighbour. There is a strong hint of prejudice in the fact that the ruling dispensation in New Delhi has picked on these two neighbouring states because a majority of their populations are made up of people belonging to a particular religious faith.

Since the policy towards Pakistan has been frozen in a negative mode, the strong words against that country were not unexpected. It is less easy to understand the harsh words used against Bangladesh at a juncture when that country's Foreign Minister, Mohammed Morshed Khan, had just concluded talks with the top echelons of the Indian political leadership which were uniformly described as "candid" and "cordial". The use of such terminology had suggested that Mr. Khan had given a patient hearing to the Indian leadership when it raised all matters of concern and as much had been confirmed by the Minister for External Affairs, Yashwant Sinha, who felt it apt to compliment his Bangladesh counterpart for adopting a constructive and positive approach. New Delhi does have a right to expect that Bangladesh would actively address issues such as illegal immigration, the presence within it of insurgent groups that claim they are advancing the interests of the people of the north-eastern States, the alleged use of its soil by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence to mount anti-India operations and the existence of religion-based militant groups that have an anti-India tilt. But the Government should not fail to note that Bangladesh's systems are not structurally perfect and should try to understand that Dhaka cannot instantaneously respond to the demands made on it. Bangladesh had professed its interest in a productive relationship with India but the tone taken in the address could well have the effect of setting off a slide back to the tensions that vitiated the atmosphere earlier this month.

During his stay in India, the Bangladesh Foreign Minister did point to the need for mutual respect among nations. India's neighbours are already convinced that New Delhi, on account of its size, often acts as if it does not have any respect or regard for them. Such an approach on India's part significantly more sharp-edged now contributes to the animosity that its neighbours bear towards it. Self-interest as well as principle should dictate that New Delhi quickly shed its overbearing attitude.

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