The Hindu : Front Page : World needs to do more, says Pranab

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Tuesday, Dec 23, 2008
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Front Page

Front Page

World needs to do more, says Pranab

Sandeep Dikshit

“India has successfully managed to convince other countries to pressure Pakistan”

— Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

Participants at a two-day conference of Indian diplomats on terrorism, addressed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, during the inaugural session in New Delhi on Monday.

NEW DELHI: After the Mumbai attacks, India has successfully managed to convince other countries to pressure Pakistan to act against non-state actors orchestrating terror attacks from its soil, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told 120 Indian heads of mission here on Monday.

However, the effort by the global community is not enough and much more needs to be done. The actions should be pursued to their logical conclusion. “We need effective steps not only to bring those responsible for the Mumbai attacks to justice but also to ensure that such acts of terrorism do not recur.”

However, Mr. Mukherjee drew satisfaction from the foreign policy for the immediate neighbourhood, pointing out that it has yielded results, except with Pakistan.

Besides the terror strikes, India must craft a policy to manage the ongoing financial and economic crisis. The effort should also be to place the country in a position to play a role in any future global financial or political structure.

“The challenge for us is to shape a set of policies encompassing both the security and foreign dimension so that we can ensure an external environment conducive to India’s transformation and continued development.”

The External Affairs Minister drew attention to an emerging trend — a multiplicity of actors including think-tanks, NGOs and the media which were exercising a significant level of influence.

During the civil nuclear cooperation discussions, he said, there was a concerted effort to unsettle negotiations and pointed out that though at times they might hold views which could be antithetical, there was no alternative but to engage with them at various levels. “In the coming years, the crafting of sound policies will also depend on the influence we are able to bring to bear and the way in which we manage these processes and actors,” he said.

Mr. Mukherjee placed the foreign policy successes of the United Progress Alliance government in four categories and claimed success in all, except for Pakistan.

On the regional front, India took heart from the transition to democracy in many of its neighbours and believes it has made them realise the increased opportunities and benefits of being partners in economic progress. The second was the “energisation” of South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation during New Delhi’s chairmanship by moving it to the implementation phase and launching several regional initiatives in food security and education. The third achievement was the forging of deeper and stronger ties with major powers such as the U.S., Russia, China, Japan and European Union, South East Asia and Central Asian countries. On the civil nuclear initiative, he noted that India for the first time was able to change international rules in its favour. “From being a target of the technology denial regimes we are now regarded as a partner,” he said.

The fourth success was in launching the Passport Sewa project which would lead to better and efficient passport services. By the end of 2009, passports should be issued in three days and all miscellaneous services in a day. India has also outsourced visa work in 29 missions resulting in better use of available manpower and also better service to the people.

The Minister also emphasised the advantages of utilising India’s soft-power which is projected through scholarships, mid-career training programmes, defence cooperation and related technical programmes. However, India has so far not monetised these programmes. Mr. Mukherjee said there was need for a more realistic assessment and an audit of their utility.

Terming the Indian diaspora an asset as it was not only affluent but also influential, Mr. Mukherjee felt the efforts of previous years to engage them must continue.

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