Editor's Pick

It's time for India to step up

3 February 2010, 18:00 PM
EDITORIAL
Shahedul Anam Khan
MOST of the critiques related to the PM's India visit have been affected by a predetermined mindset. Either everything was bad or it was a grand success. However, a more objective assessment would suggest neither was the case. Diplomacy requires visible results; at least the public demand that the diplomatic forays produce tangible outcomes for it to be considered a success. While people are also fully cognisant of the fact that, in interstate relationship, there has to be give and take; they would not stand for a situation where one party takes ten and gives one. The general impression is that it is Hasina who has taken several steps forward to reach out to India to bring about a thaw in the relation, which was in a frozen state at best. The question is will India reciprocate in equal measure, if not more, behooving a bigger neighbour. At the same time the risks Hasina has taken in generating a new era of relationship between Bangladesh and India cannot have escaped one's notice. The justification of her actions rest on the way the details of the agreement are worked out between then two countries, and even more importantly, how India addresses the unresolved issues. When it comes to diplomacy and foreign policy India remains "the" factor not "a" factor for Bangladesh. That is a reality that many may not cherish but will have to live with. While history modulates the mind it hardly helps to be weighed down by baggage of history -- we cannot conduct foreign affairs in the 21st century with a mindset of the 20th. But it would be a folly to bin the experiences and the lessons of the past because on it will be formulated our bargaining strategy with our neighbours. And taking calculated risks is statesmanlike, but the results may take time to emerge in concrete form. The question is will all that have eventuated between the two countries ensure Bangladesh's national interest and fulfill its objectives in the long run? The policy regarding foreign insurgents on our soil is based on a principled stand with which some may take issue, but it has helped allay India's apprehension that had till recently considered Bangladesh a greater security threat than Pakistan, a view that was not made a secret of during formal and informal discussions by Indian diplomats and scholars. And this stemmed from what was perceived by India as a disconnect between the then government's articulated policy and the ground realities vis a vis ULFA. The policy has been acted upon by Bangladesh in a very tangible manner but some apprehend that there is a potential risk of violent riposte from ULFA. I for one would discount any such possibility since Bangladesh remains a natural fall back position for any NE insurgent group, and ULFA leadership is well aware that neither governments nor policies are permanent. But one cannot discount that political leadership may still be targeted by foreign dissident groups with axe to grind. All manner of apprehensions are being expressed regarding the use of the two ports by India. Some consider the vision of making Chittagong port an in international transport hub a chimera. The ports' capacity may not be able to cope with the fast growing volume of our own trade, according to critics of the policy, although as per figures available, more than 60 percent of the capacity of the two ports in the average remains unutilised. The issue of transit, aka corridor, aka connectivity, call it what you will, strikes different chords in different people. The point at issue here is not so much the issue of Indian connectivity. Many link it with the continued lack of connectivity with Bangladesh's enclaves within India. And use of ports to some means granting India connectivity, particularly to its NE. While Bangladesh has done her bit to improve bilateral relations, India should act fast to make the gains for Bangladesh from the recent understanding perceptible. Frankly, it is not so much the newer gains but the old unfulfilled assurances that India need to act quickly upon. Therefore, if Bangladesh has acted fast to alleviate India's immediate security concerns on its eastern border why can't India do likewise to ensure that no more Bangladeshis fall victim to BSF firing. When Bangladesh has agreed to provide India additional outlets to the Bay of Bengal India should to deliver immediately on its commitment to allow Bangladesh uninterrupted link with Angarpota and Dahagram? Sheikh Hasina has taken great risks, both political and otherwise, for herself and her party in committing what she has to India. Much will depend on how India responds in tangible manner. For some, the proposed monetary aid and promise of 250 MW of electricity by India doesn't mean very much. In this regard an Indian scholar's advice to the Indian government that, "India's assurance of it being a reliable and genuine partner for mutual cooperation and benefit be unambiguously conveyed by addressing many of Bangladesh's genuine concerns; India's commitment towards Bangladesh needs clear illustrations," gives a good pointer as to how India should act.
Brig Gen Shahedul Anam Khan ndc, psdc (retd) is Editor, Defence and Strategic Affairs, The Daily Star.

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