Our roots are in the soil of every country I have visited. Yes, China is all over but China is like an ATM on wheels – it is persuasive and compelling but India offers a partnership of the soul. All we need to do is to feed that partnership and ensure that our roots grow deeper, said Salman Khurshid, Union Minister for External Affairs while delivering a talk on Public Policy of the country in Dehradun on Saturday.
“Foreign policies are designed in the country’s interest. India, today, ranks among the top countries of the world. War is no solution to any problem. Constant communication is a better tool to build good relations with our neighboring countries,” added Khurshid. India’s growing engagement with ASEAN and its blooming partnership with China would provide huge opportunities for the future. India was the leading country amongst the developing countries of the world.
“We should not just be considered a developing country, as in some aspects we are competing with the developed nations of the world. Due to the excellent foreign policies of the Union Government, our relations with neighbouring countries have considerably improved,” he declared. He stressed that war should not be an easy option. “At the end of war, one has to talk again. So it is better to try resolving issues by talks before thinking of the option of war. War should not be an easy option but to be prepared for war has been an important part of our strategic policy.”
He further appreciated the foreign policies forged former Prime Ministers like Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and lal Bahadur Shastri, because of which the country was ahead in several areas. He said that owing to globalisation and economic reforms, there had been a lot of change in the country. The Prime minister and Chief Ministers should have more interaction, especially on India’s strategic interests. The concerns of every state will have to be factored in the foreign policy but finally, the foreign policy has to be of the entire nation.”
Several aspects such as welfare of the common man and interest of state governments also had to be considered while drafting foreign policies. In the present era, use of technology had considerably increased thus the work of government had to be communicated immediately. Through Public Diplomacy, the government aimed at involving public’s participation in topics relating to the welfare of the country. It was important for the young people to be concerned at least about serious policies relating to the state. Both, national and international circumstances had to be considered while formulating policy.
EKhurshid said that the entire nation is very sad about the natural disaster that hit the state and the Union Government is extending all possible help to Uttarakhand. State Chief minister Vijay Bahuguna was implementing relief work with great efficiency. He had held a meeting with the state officials and reviewed the relief work being undertaken in the State.
The External Affairs Ministry had also been instructed to take up all required correspondence with other countries regarding missing people. He stated that it was time for all to concentrate on the work of relief and rehabilitation. The Centre had also speeded up the work it was required to do. In his address CM Bahuguna said that the Union Government was extending all possible help to the State, for which he was very thankful. Their government followed all foreign policy crafted by the Union Government.
Since Uttarakhand was a border state, special consideration of the geographical location and strategic importance of the Himalayan areas should be done while drafting foreign policies. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the External Affairs Minister was doing a good job. He asserted that under no circumstances would there be any compromise on the country’s unity and territorial integrity.
Democracy was strong in the country and every individual has the right to freedom of opinion. There were various kinds of issues at the international and national level which had to be considered while making foreign policy. He said the State Government is going to organise a conference in New Delhi soon where all Himalayan States would get together to evolve a policy in order to balance development and environment. Joint Secretary Reema Ganguly gave a presentation on the initiatives taken by the External Affairs Ministry on this subject. Doon University Vice Chancellor Prof VK Jain introduced the subject of the seminar.