Dialogue with Jaishankar: Development before politics

However, Jaishankar, a diplomat-turned-politician, will not publicize New Delhi's thoughts on internal politics and equation issues until he reaches Kathmandu.

According to Prime Minister Prachanda, during this visit, India will sign an agreement to purchase 10,000 megawatts of electricity from Nepal in 10 years. There may be some other minor agreements as well. Alternative air route, West Seti Hydropower Project, Pancheswar Multi-Purpose Project detailed project report, etc. may come up for discussion. Activating the bilateral mechanism can help.

The visit of a powerful figure of Indian power is an opportunity to advance bilateral relations on the basis of mutual benefits. In the words of the Indian leaders, they won't allow the bilateral relations to get worse even for achieving their international mission, having suffered from Kathmandu's "ultra-nationalism" and "ultra-politicization of nationalism". There is no question that New Delhi does not understand that the publicizing of strained relations with its neighbors may put a stop to its ambitions to become a powerhouse.

Where is Nepal in India's priorities? New Delhi, which is on an ambitious strategic journey to become a Shaktishrastra, only weaves a conspiracy against Kathmandu every day? Isn't Nepali's greater awareness pushing development cooperation back? This is the angle that is being debated here.

Power relations

Usually geography is not as important as neighbors. Because no matter how bad it is, there is no option to face it, the country does not move, the geography cannot be exchanged with another. It is true that India is a neighbor of Nepal but it does not consider being a neighbor of Nepal as its strength. But Nepal considers India and China as its neighbors as important powers.

Prime Minister Modi and the entire BJP government are on a strategic mission to make India a world power. The Western acceptance that the balance of world power has shifted from 'Eurasia' to the 'Indo-Pacific' and the corresponding policy and diplomacy identify India as a 'strategic partner' and China as a 'strategic competitor'. The 2008 financial crisis came as a blow to the two decades of US monopolies and China's claim to its sole superpower. The US capitalist economy, which collapsed due to the financial crisis, and the Chinese socialist economy, which was not weakened by it, are the basis for the transformation of the unipolar world into a multipolar one. But India started to establish itself as a power on the world stage only after Modi became Prime Minister and Jaishankar more so as Foreign Minister. Although America and China are the leaders of the multipolar world, its emerging members also include countries like India, Indonesia, Brazil, and South Africa.

In the spirit of 'One Earth, One Family and One Future', India has proved its rising power by successfully hosting the summit of the group of powerful nations 'G-20'. made universally acceptable. The forum includes 19 of the world's largest economies and the European Union, which accounts for 85 percent of global GDP and more than 75 percent of world trade. India has spearheaded an initiative to create the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). A decision was taken to connect India from the Middle East to Europe by sea and rail, in which the US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union signed a memorandum of understanding. Even if it is called a 'counter' project of China's BRI, it is a proof of Indian power. The US is also aggressively implementing the Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) to counter the BRI.

India has now taken the leadership of 78 countries of the world i.e. 'Global South'. India has taken its lead with the conclusion that the first world i.e. the western world cannot lead the issues and problems of underdeveloped and developing countries. While he has suggested Europe to change its thinking, it has also adopted a policy of cooperation and resistance with the US and Canada on the basis of issues, such as the Canada-US vs. India cold war in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In his book 'The India Way', Jaishankar explained the Indian foreign policy and said - the present time is for the policy of 'engagement' with the US, 'diplomatic management' with China, 'building relations' with Europe, and 'reassurance' with Russia. Similarly, it is India's policy to field Japan as a strategic friend, to draw its neighbors closer and to expand other traditional areas of external cooperation. Although he did not explain the list of priorities in Indian foreign policy in order, America and Russia are the first priorities, and China has also been added to the list.

This is a special relationship between country and power. Besides, according to Jaishankar, maintaining a permanent balance of power in Asia is India's first priority. Since India and China are the most affected by regional instability, there is no other option but to maintain a strategic understanding between these two countries, even if there is tension on the border. Even if it is thought that only a multipolar Asia can lead towards a multipolar world, India and China should be seen as the main powers in trade cooperation. Therefore, now India should start building a multi-power rather than choosing between an American-led world and a China-led world. As India takes the lead in the UN reform agenda, it also demonstrates its strength. Prime Minister Modi has emerged as one of the most powerful heads of government in the world. New Delhi has prioritized expansion of relations with Russia, China and Europe, not limited to America's Asian partners.

Diplomacy is based on mutual benefit. The policies of Modi and Jaishankar are guided by the protection of Indian interests. What any sovereign nation looks at is its national interest, the security of its citizens. India has made full use of the realist theory of international relations. There are many examples of this, such as - Australia, India, Japan and the United States (Quad), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS. It is also a strength to co-exist relations with the US, China, Russia, Australia and Japan with the country's benefits at the center. India, which is trying to strengthen, is a neighbor of Nepal, but for India, Nepal is one of its nine neighbors that are geographically connected and two that are connected by sea. Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar are neighbors of India connected by land, while Sri Lanka and Maldives are connected by water. The BJP government's 'Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas, Sab Ka Vishwas' policy is both foreign and domestic. This Indian desire for the common development of all with the help of all is similar to China's 'shared development and shared destiny'. It expresses a fundamental desire to engage extensively with the world, regardless of where it is imported from.

Similarly, the 'neighbourhood first' policy adopted by Modi when he first became Prime Minister is part of the overall Indian foreign policy. This does not mean that New Delhi leaves Shaktishrastra and prefers neighbors like Nepal and is present day and night in the service of its neighbours. In diplomacy one policy does not replace another policy. Even between hostile neighbors, formal diplomatic talks are used to make bilateral relations cordial. Whether in New Delhi or Kathmandu, Modi, from members of his cabinet to ambassadors at the Lanchaur Embassy, ​​interact with the Nepalese leader as if the relationship has reached new heights or worsened, not in a single conversation. Since diplomacy is dialogue, it continues.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu has worked to increase bilateral relations. But Nepali people should be freed from the ancient illusion that every leader of India and every employee of the South Block always wants to merge Nepal with India and is engrossed in conspiracy for that or only conspires against Nepal. India knows the importance of Nepal. Because if there is an attack in the neighborhood, it will affect the next neighbor with the courtyard. From an Indian perspective, it is natural to want to maintain influence and control over the neighbourhood. India seeks assurance that there is no security threat from Nepal, which Nepal will ensure. Nepal should not allow interference in Nepal's internal affairs but should liberally ask its neighbors for help in economic development. There are more than 200 countries on this earth. The illusion that the Indian government thinks about Nepal round the clock should not be maintained.

Indians are seriously reviewing the past and drawing a roadmap for the future. They are not only regretting that the partition of 1947 shrunk the geography, economic reform started 20 years later than China. Realizing that weakness, the neighbor first brought the policy. According to Jaishankar, this policy liberally connects economic and social relations in the subcontinent, which ultimately works in India's favor.

Therefore, during Jaishankar's visit, Nepal should prioritize economic agenda and dialogue. Political issues should not be left aside but should not be made a barrier to economic partnership and development-focused debate. Until one is economically strong, one does not develop the capacity to create harmony on political issues. If it becomes economically strong or if the economy becomes independent, the bargaining power of Nepal will also increase. Examples of that are China and India. Because China is the second largest economy in the world and India is the fifth largest economy, today the world is looking towards Beijing and New Delhi.