Paper no. 1603	08. 11. 2005
INDIA: FOREIGN POLICY UNDER LEFTISTS’ SIEGE by Dr Subhash Kapila  Introductory Observations Last year when the Congress Government (with the Indian Communist Parties as the main coalition partner) came into power this author in his paper: “India’s New Government and its Foreign Policy Options: An Analysis” (SAAG Paper No 1049 dated 07/06/2005) made the following concluding observations, which bear repetition: “India’s foreign policies cannot be made captive to the delusional non-alignment gladiators or India’s Communist Parties who have never been known for their objectivity or to India’s minority Indian Muslim vote banks where every issue is viewed in a Pan-Islamic context.’ “In today’s global security environment and the international strategic realities for the next 50 years, India neither has the luxury nor the time to find new anchors for her foreign policies from the fossilized remains of Nehruvian Non-alignment or her “presumed power-potential” not concretized so far” “In the last eight years the center-piece of India’s foreign policy has been the evolution of a strong political and strategic partnership with the United States. United States and India recognized the mutual convergences and imperatives and have been engaged in establishing a substantive bi-lateral relationship” “India’s national security and economic interests dictate that this is India’s only foreign policy option available. India’s national aspirations can best be met by formulating India’s foreign policy inter-dependent with United States national interests and not in opposition to it” It was a measure of great professional gratification that India’s Ministry of External Affairs, in a paper on the official letterhead of the Ministry, reproduced by the University of Arizona (USA) on its website echoed the following on the very first page: “Confirmed progress toward world power status is a top objective of New Delhi. As Dr Subhash Kapila writes for the South Asia Analysis Group (SAAG), there are three main structured components that shape Indian foreign  policy. He lists the global security environment, existing global power structure and United States re-definition of South Asia priorities” as the framework for future Indian foreign policy  decisions. Kapila describes an air of cooperation within the Indian external affairs apparatus over the past decade, noting that foreign policies “have enjoyed bi-partisan political support domestically” since the 1990s (Kapila). However in 2004, the elections “witnessed a change of political complexion of the government in India” and that it “raises uncertainties” on foreign policy. Undoubtedly, the pronouncements of India’s new Foreign Minister did raise a fair share of uncertainties besides the “Foreign Policy” component of the Congress Party Election Manifesto (2004) composed by him was critical of the on-going process with the United States. Somewhere, along the line, better sense prevailed, presumably in the institutional base of the Ministry of External Affairs and re-enforced by the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister, that stayed the main thrust of India’s foreign policy. This has led in 2005 to the landmark United States – India commitments, ensuring their 21st century national security interests namely: Defense Relationship Agreement (June 2005) Joint Agreement July 18, 2005(signed by President Bush and PM Manmohan Singh) In the last three months after the signing of these accords, an extensive debate has taken place in informed circles in India. However, this debate seems to have concentrated more on the centerpiece of the July 18, Joint Agreement, namely, the US-India civil nuclear energy deal. However, in terms of India’s foreign policy, the Communist Parties group, forming the major component of the coalition led by ruling Congress Government have rejected outright the two US-India agreements above. They have threatened mass agitations on the streets on this issue and also seem set to corner their ruling partners in the winter session of the Parliament from November 23, 2005. Nothing highlights more the hold of India’s Communists Parties than the sight of India’s Foreign Minister, Natwar Singh, (besieged on the Volcker Committee report issue). visiting Communist Party leaders to rally support for his continuation in office. As per media reports, the case was being made out that since he was of the Nehruvian mould he was being targeted by USA. Before analyzing the Indian Communist Parties attitudes and approaches to the present issues, it would be in order to spell out some guiding principles for India’s political parties on the issue. India’s Foreign Policy – The Touchstone for Analysis by India’s Political Parties India’s political parties must bear in mind the following factors when thinking about foreign policy: Foreign policies of any nation do not function in a vacuum. They are a product of the prevailing, international environment and the countries indices in terms of geo-strategic location, economic health, military strength and domestic stability India’s foreign policy should be primarily determined by India’s national security interests and economic interests India’s foreign policy, therefore, cannot be based on ideological considerations India’s foreign policy should enjoy bi-partisan political support to make it credible in international relations. If it is conceded that India’s foreign policy should stand on the principle of securing India’s national security interests, then: India’s political parties can have no two opinions on this principle; debate can be on the nuances In the prevailing international environment, India must emerge as a global power. This too is in India’s national security interests India in its foreign policy options has to determine that in the international power system, which country or countries can facilitate India’s rise to global power status. It needs to be recognized that India on its own cannot become a global power. It needs facilitation by others Lack of proper appreciation of the above principle and factors lead to Indian political parties inappropriate responses to India’s foreign policy. The chief example of which is the unrealistic approaches of the Indian Communist Parties to India’s foreign policy challenges. Indian Communist Parties Monochromatic Approach to India’s Foreign Policy India’s Communist Parties have all along adopted a monochromatic approach to India’s foreign policy, and which most of the time has been at great variance with the prevalent mood in the country. Some notable features that need to be recounted are: Though not connected with foreign policy, but indicative of communist mindset, was that while India was fighting for freedom, the Communist Party came out in support of Britain, the moment the Soviet Union joined the Allies in World War II During the run-up to the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict, India’s Communist Parties were more supportive of China’s stand, than India’s national security interests; for them China was right and India was wrong The “China is right and India is wrong” syndrome continues to prevail even today The Communist Parties in India have adopted a single point approach to India’s foreign policy. Everything today that India does is seen through the “Chinese Prism” and not through India’s national security interests. This can best be illustrated by an encounter that this author had with one of the leading lights of the Communist Party (M) at a diplomatic reception. The conversation went something like this, in brief: Why are you against the USA and the US-India Defense Framework and July 18 Agreement The answer was: Because USA is anti-China and the agreement seems to be aimed at China When questioned as to what were his comments on China’s anti-Indian stances in terms of nuclear weaponisation of Pakistan etc there was no answer, just a polite excuse me and walk away It thus becomes abundantly clear that: The Communist Parties in India approach India’s foreign policy issues not on the principal determinant of India’s national security interest The approach is determined by China’s national security interests If the above is wrong and refuted, then this author has a number of posers for India’s Communist Parties in their approaches to foreign policy issues. Foreign Policy Posers for the Indian Communist Parties The major Communist Party (M), which is a leading supporter of the Congress Coalition Government may like to provide answers to the following posers; How are India’s national security interests jeopardized by a strategic partnership with USA? Why has China opposed India’s bid for a United Nations Security Council Permanent Membership Seat? Why has China been opposing American efforts in the Nuclear Suppliers Group and IAEA for making India as an “exceptional case’ so that India could be provided civil nuclear energy equipment and resources Do China and Russia have the clout and the capabilities to propel India into a global power status? Would China even ever have the intention to do so? Who strategically and economically facilitated China’s rise into a global power status? The Indian Communist Parties will have no cogent answers to all of the above questions. As for the last question they would hesitate and hate to admit that it was the United States, which did so in late 1970s and 1980s when China was in a quasi-strategic alliance with the United States against a fellow Communist nation – the former Soviet Union. So, they should explain if what was good for China then why does it not remain good for India, too? The Indian Prime Minister Should Breach the Leftist Siege of India’s Foreign Policy India’s foreign policy cannot become an ideological plaything of the Indian Communist Parties, nor can the Indian Government allow itself to become hamstrung by foreign policy becoming an endless controversy in UPA’s Coordination Committee. The threats of street demonstrations against India’s present foreign policy initiatives in the last three months and the Leftist demonstrations in Kolkatta and Kalaikunda against Indo-US military exercises are a serious distortion of India’s external image and the credibility of its foreign policy initiatives. Will India’s Cabinet Committee on Security have to go into emergency sessions, every time the Communists threaten some foreign policy development? The country would also like to know why the Communist Parties did not conduct demonstrations when the Russian troops arrived in Rajasthan for military exercises or when Chinese military observers come to observe Indian military exercises. India’s foreign policy under the present Congress Party stands besieged on India’s external relationships on the following issues: The Communist Parties are notably against the transformation of the Indo-US relations to a strategic partnership The Communists interfered in India’s West Asia policy leading to Israel’s riposte of examining an Israel-Pakistan relationship The Communists have been supporting a pro-Maoist insurgency Nepal policy by India The Communists have an influences on India’s Bangladesh policy The Communist Parties insist on the Congress reverting to India’s non-alignment policies The Communist Parties oppose an essential component of India’s foreign policy to emerge as a liberalized and open economy. They oppose FDI in areas which could kick-start India’s economy The Communists oppose the Indo-US civil nuclear energy deal India’s Prime Minister should awaken to the reality, that: Indian Communist Parties have no understanding of Indian national security interests and issues India’s Communist Parties have acquired an over-riding influence on India’s foreign policies formulation without the accompanying accountability that should go with it While the Congress Government may have its compulsions to kow-tow to the Communist Parties dictates on domestic policies issues, it can ill-afford to be dictated by Communist Parties on foreign policy issues. In this sphere, not only are India’s national security interests at stake but also India’s standing and credibility in the international arena. Nothing is more piquant than to witness India’s Foreign Minister now singing the Communist Parties line, (under pressure on the Volcker Committee Report) qualifying that it is his opinion as the Foreign Minister of India. Surely, he is the Foreign Minister of the Congress Party Government in power of which the Prime Minister is Dr Manmohan Singh. Surely, he was playing to the Communist gallery. It is high time that the Prime Minister breaks the siege of India’s foreign policy by the Communist Parties, if not in interests of India, at least, for the interests of the Congress Party. Concluding Observations The Communist Parties in India like to camouflage their ideological mind-set approaches to foreign policy in the garb of “protecting India’s non-alignment policies”. Indians at large have discarded their support for non-alignment as a foreign policy precept. This is evident from the ongoing debates in informed circles. Nobody doubts the patriotism of India’s Communist Parties leaders. What is being disputed is their approach to India’s foreign policy. They must also take a rational and realistic approach to India’s national security interests. Their crusading political creed needs to be shorn from external interests and subordinated to India’s national security interests. (The author is an International Relations and Strategic Affairs analyst. He is the Consultant, Strategic Affairs with South Asia Analysis Group. Email drsubhashkapila@yahoo.com)
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