India's Flawed Regional Diplomacy at work in Sri Lanka
Madhavi Bhasin
October 29, 2008
India's bilateral relations with Sri Lanka have come to define India's wider approach towards South Asia. The infamous 'Indira Doctrine' had its origin in India's involvement with the Sri Lankan ethnic crisis in the late 1980s. The policy of non-involvement in internal affairs of regional states is inspired by the IPKF episode and continues to dominate the parameters of India's South Asia policy. As a matter of fact India's Sri Lanka policy is a microcosm of the ills that characterize India's regional diplomacy. India's diplomacy continues to be reactive rather than pro-active and is dictated by immediate events rather than long-term holistic policy.
With regard to Sri Lanka, India's policy reflects the 'once bitten, always shy' approach. Several lessons accompanied the IPFK experience, including the need for better diplomatic skills and reasoned political decision making. Unfortunately, India has made the Sri Lankan experience the sine qua non for distancing itself from internal crisis in regional states.
The recent interactions between India and Sri Lanka over the threatening ethnic crisis has once again reflected the lack of innovative leadership on India's part. As the Sri Lankan Army has launched a major offensive in the northern regions of the country, international aid agencies have withdrawn from the region. Sri Lanka is currently facing a massive humanitarian crisis, as the civilian population is exposed to the extremities of the armed forces and the LTTE. The government of Sri Lanka is making sincere attempts to gain support from India. India continues to adopt an ambivalent approach that neither addresses the concerns of the Tamilian population in India, nor facilitates the Sri Lankan Government's efforts at conflict resolution. The Sri Lankan ministry of Foreign Affairs had invited India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukerjee to Sri Lanka with a view of clarifying the position of the Government of India with regard to the humanitarian mission in the northern regions of Sri Lanka.The Sri Lankan proposal results from the appreciation of India's socio-political demands accompanying any involvement with the Tamilian issue in Sri Lanka. Basil Rajapakse, Special Advisor to Sri Lankan President, has recently stated that Sri Lanka would address India's concerns over the safety of the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The increasing pressure on the UPA from DMK, a coalition partner, was the principle reason behind Basil Rajapakse's reassuring statements. Sri Lanka's new government has made all efforts to establish cordial relations with India. Sri Lanka has supported India's bid to permanent membership of the Security Council. Mahinda Rajapaksa soon after his election in November 2005, visited India, in his first official trip abroad as the nation's President. In short, the Sri Lankan diplomacy is servingits national interests to the optimum.
India on the other hand continues to be guided by the shadow of history. India's policies have demonstrated support for neither the Government policy in Sri Lanka nor the popular sentiment in the two countries. Any query on India's Sri Lanka policy results in a standard response: "India favors a politically negotiated settlement acceptable to all sections of Sri Lankan society within the framework of an undivided Sri Lanka, consistent with democracy, pluralism and respect for human rights. India adheres to this politically correct statement, without seeking to address the intricate issues through diplomatic deftness. Nevertheless, India has not failed in communicating about the gravity of the ethnic crisis on the Island state. The rhetorical concerns are considered to compensate for the lack of policy action. On October 18, 2008, after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to discuss Sri Lanka, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, summoned the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, C.R. Jayasinghe, to express India's 'grave concern' on the effect of the ethnic crisis on civilians. A few days later External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, in a Statement in the Rajya Sabha, emphasized that India would not like any 'influx of refugees to Tamil Nadu because of a situation over which we have no control'. He wen on to add that India is is 'prevailing upon them (Sri Lankan Government) that it is their responsibility to provide food, shelter and medicine to your people'. The policy of disconcern with the looming humanitarian crisis is in sharp contrast to the Jaffana airlift undertaken by India.
India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has also in a recent statement declared that the situation in the Island state is a cause for 'serious concern' and emphasized upon Colombo to find a negotiated settlement rather than looking for a military victory. Such injunctions by India, without any concrete assistance in conflict resolution is reflective of 'formal diplomacy' by India. India's diplomatic efforts are aimed at merely formally acknowledging the crisis situation. Innovative and pro-active diplomacy aimed at genuine and deeper involvement is continuously avoided.
This disinterested diplomacy is punctuated by occasional symbolic gestures of support.Once such recent gesture is the decision to send 800 tonnes of food aid to Sri Lanka. Such measures are meant to counter any allegations of regional disinterest on India's part.
India's diplomatic potential is put to vigorous test with regard to framing a pragmatic policy for addressing the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka. If India is able to address the national, regional and international concerns surrounding the Sri Lankan ethnic issue, the case for its regional and global leadership would be strengthened. Sri Lanka is a testing case for proving India's leadership potential. Thus far the record and performance are unimpressive and much needs to be done before India proves worthy of dawning the leadership mantel.
With regard to Sri Lanka, India's policy reflects the 'once bitten, always shy' approach. Several lessons accompanied the IPFK experience, including the need for better diplomatic skills and reasoned political decision making. Unfortunately, India has made the Sri Lankan experience the sine qua non for distancing itself from internal crisis in regional states.
The recent interactions between India and Sri Lanka over the threatening ethnic crisis has once again reflected the lack of innovative leadership on India's part. As the Sri Lankan Army has launched a major offensive in the northern regions of the country, international aid agencies have withdrawn from the region. Sri Lanka is currently facing a massive humanitarian crisis, as the civilian population is exposed to the extremities of the armed forces and the LTTE. The government of Sri Lanka is making sincere attempts to gain support from India. India continues to adopt an ambivalent approach that neither addresses the concerns of the Tamilian population in India, nor facilitates the Sri Lankan Government's efforts at conflict resolution. The Sri Lankan ministry of Foreign Affairs had invited India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukerjee to Sri Lanka with a view of clarifying the position of the Government of India with regard to the humanitarian mission in the northern regions of Sri Lanka.The Sri Lankan proposal results from the appreciation of India's socio-political demands accompanying any involvement with the Tamilian issue in Sri Lanka. Basil Rajapakse, Special Advisor to Sri Lankan President, has recently stated that Sri Lanka would address India's concerns over the safety of the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The increasing pressure on the UPA from DMK, a coalition partner, was the principle reason behind Basil Rajapakse's reassuring statements. Sri Lanka's new government has made all efforts to establish cordial relations with India. Sri Lanka has supported India's bid to permanent membership of the Security Council. Mahinda Rajapaksa soon after his election in November 2005, visited India, in his first official trip abroad as the nation's President. In short, the Sri Lankan diplomacy is servingits national interests to the optimum.
India on the other hand continues to be guided by the shadow of history. India's policies have demonstrated support for neither the Government policy in Sri Lanka nor the popular sentiment in the two countries. Any query on India's Sri Lanka policy results in a standard response: "India favors a politically negotiated settlement acceptable to all sections of Sri Lankan society within the framework of an undivided Sri Lanka, consistent with democracy, pluralism and respect for human rights. India adheres to this politically correct statement, without seeking to address the intricate issues through diplomatic deftness. Nevertheless, India has not failed in communicating about the gravity of the ethnic crisis on the Island state. The rhetorical concerns are considered to compensate for the lack of policy action. On October 18, 2008, after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to discuss Sri Lanka, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, summoned the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, C.R. Jayasinghe, to express India's 'grave concern' on the effect of the ethnic crisis on civilians. A few days later External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, in a Statement in the Rajya Sabha, emphasized that India would not like any 'influx of refugees to Tamil Nadu because of a situation over which we have no control'. He wen on to add that India is is 'prevailing upon them (Sri Lankan Government) that it is their responsibility to provide food, shelter and medicine to your people'. The policy of disconcern with the looming humanitarian crisis is in sharp contrast to the Jaffana airlift undertaken by India.
India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has also in a recent statement declared that the situation in the Island state is a cause for 'serious concern' and emphasized upon Colombo to find a negotiated settlement rather than looking for a military victory. Such injunctions by India, without any concrete assistance in conflict resolution is reflective of 'formal diplomacy' by India. India's diplomatic efforts are aimed at merely formally acknowledging the crisis situation. Innovative and pro-active diplomacy aimed at genuine and deeper involvement is continuously avoided.
This disinterested diplomacy is punctuated by occasional symbolic gestures of support.Once such recent gesture is the decision to send 800 tonnes of food aid to Sri Lanka. Such measures are meant to counter any allegations of regional disinterest on India's part.
India's diplomatic potential is put to vigorous test with regard to framing a pragmatic policy for addressing the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka. If India is able to address the national, regional and international concerns surrounding the Sri Lankan ethnic issue, the case for its regional and global leadership would be strengthened. Sri Lanka is a testing case for proving India's leadership potential. Thus far the record and performance are unimpressive and much needs to be done before India proves worthy of dawning the leadership mantel.
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