The Hindu : National : Diplomacy sans economic inputs has no meaning, says Rasgotra

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Sunday, Jul 30, 2006

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Diplomacy sans economic inputs has no meaning, says Rasgotra

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy on Saturday released Strategic Consequences of India's Economic Performance, a book by Sanjaya Baru, Media Adviser to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Mr. Reddy said Mr. Baru was an intellectual "seeking approximation to reality." The former journalist had also not been bothered by the need to be consistent.

T.N. Ninan, Editor, Business Standard, said there was a need for "strategic clarity" in the Indian situation.

M.K. Rasgotra, convener of the National Security Advisory Board and former Foreign Secretary, said diplomacy and foreign policy without economic inputs had no meaning.

Changed circumstances

Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, said India's foreign policy earlier was guided by the need to stand together. But now circumstances had changed. India, which would see a huge increase in its clout in the coming years, should not posture itself as a leader of the Third World.

The book, a collection of academic essays and newspaper columns, has been published by the Academic Foundation.

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