Former ambassador to Finland, Qatar and Italy K.P. Fabian said that India as a country lacked a basic structure for formulation of long-term foreign policy other than what was initiated by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and M. K. Gandhi.
Speaking on the subject, India's Foreign Policy: The Big Picture, at the lecture organised jointly by the Centre For Policy Studies and the National Maritime Foundation at the Public Library here on Friday, he said that the country lacked a system wherein the foreign policy was evolved based on discussions by stakeholders in a brain-storming session involving the civil and defence officials. “Regrettably, individual whims and fancies took precedence over a system of evolution of policy which did not exist. Governments would come and go but a strong foreign policy foundation with a national outlook is the need of the hour,” he said.
‘No foresight'
The former ambassador dwelt on past experiences of our country's foreign policy which reflected inconsistency, lacking in foresight and devoid of long-term vision and betrayal of national interests in some cases. Mistakes were made with regard to policy formulation towards Iran and in the process national interests with regard to laying of a pipeline from Iran to India touching Pakistan had been affected.
A proper analysis of repercussions of the country voting against Iran had not been made. Similarly we had failed to fathom the designs of China with regard to their claim over Arunachal Pradesh, he said. Chinese still consider Arunachal Pradesh as part of their territory by calling it Southern Tibet. Indians who apply for a visa from that State to visit China were being told that they needed no visa as it is part of their territory. A blind policy of ‘India-China Bhai Bhai' was followed and Chinese aggression opened our eyes belatedly.
Defining that foreign policy is one that should protect national interests, Mr. Fabian cited the example of Union Carbide which offered a mere $ 470 million as compensation to the Bhopal gas tragedy victims against the demand made by India for $ 3.03 billion. “This is a clear case wherein our country's interests could not be protected.”
Soft-pedalling
On the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai, our country's policy in still negotiating with Pakistan on punishing the culprits is under attack. Our policies on several issues appeared to be soft pedalling, lingering and confused with regard to articulating our stand. He maintained that our failing to see the writing on the wall with regard to fall of Hoshni Mubarak of Egypt and Libyan President Gadaffi and our assessment of things were wrong. He felt that there should be a strong U.S presence in East Asia to check the hegemony of China.
Earlier Director of Centre for Policy Studies A. Prasanna Kumar said that one of the recent changes in our foreign policy was our country's shift from non-alignment to close relations with USA and protection of country's self interests.
Chairman of Central for Policy Studies D.V. Subba Rao spoke.
