Bharat Ek Soch: One similarity between diplomacy and war strategy is that what is visible to everyone with open eyes is not what actually happens and what actually happens is not visible to anyone. While the entire world saw the valour and technical proficiency of the Indian Army through Operation Sindoor. It also became clear how self-reliant India has become in matter of border security. But, one thing that has surprised 1.4 billion Indians is the attitude of Unites States and China. Indians are guessing what exactly happened that America suddenly took side of Pakistan? During Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army brought Pakistan to its knees. Even after that, the leaders of Pakistan are declaring their victory. From where is Pakistan getting air and water?
Why did most Muslim countries remain silent during India-Pakistan tensions? Will countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar stand with Pakistan under US pressure? Why did China openly support Pakistan? Did Russia choose to remain neutral during the India-Pakistan tension due to China’s upper hand? Has trade and balance of power become so important in the diplomacy that there is no place left for emotional relationships? How much have diplomatic relations changed due to Operation Sindoor?
Alliances And Animosities Are Shaped by Situations
Notably, in diplomacy, when a friend becomes an enemy and an enemy a friend, it all depends on the situation. But, it is also true that the real test of friendship is in times of crisis. Chanakya, a great scholar of politics, gave many principles of diplomacy to the world about two and a half thousand years ago, in which concept like friend’s friend is enemy, enemy’s enemy is friend are present.
The idea of nation’s interest was carried forward in the personal relations of the king, but in the present times, trade is in the driving seat in shaping diplomacy and defining relations. Operation Sindoor has left a major question before Indian diplomats, that is who will stand with Delhi in a crisis situation and who will instantly change sides? China’s President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi were urging for better relations with India, after being troubled by US President Trump’s tariff policy.
A Clear Shift Seen In The US Stance
While, it was being predicted that the chemistry between Delhi and Washington would improve in Trump’s second term, but a big change in US’ stance was clearly seen between the action and reaction of Operation Sindoor. The US helped Pakistan secure a fund of Rs 8,500 crore from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during Operation Sindoor. And, in the coming days, Pakistan is sure to get more than Rs 11,000 crore. This raises a question, that America which till yesterday called itself a friend of India, why did it suddenly stand with Pakistan? In such situation, a theory is also coming to light that the nuclear weapons that Pakistan has are not its own and instead belong to America.
Muslim World Corners From Pakistan
Over the past few years, there was a lot of talk about Delhi’s closer relations with the countries of the Muslim world. Pictures of meetings, travel and hospitality were analysed from time to time. It was also being said that the Muslim world has distanced itself from Pakistan, which nurtures terrorists. In such a situation, the question arises whether President Trump’s one visit and some business deals pushed countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar to observe silence? Have relations in diplomacy become like a wall of sand, which even a small storm or the sound of profit and loss could destroy?
Every Country In Is Dependent On One Another
Every country is connected to each other in the era of globalisation and technology. They all are dependent on each other for their need. America needs India as much as India needs America. Perhaps, this is the reason why a team led by the country’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is going to sit on the negotiating table in America from 19 to 22 May for a bilateral trade agreement. On one hand, the tension between India and Pakistan was constantly increasing, on the other hand, the deal on tariff between America and China was also sealed. Moreover, China also stood with Pakistan in the hour of crisis. Pakistan tried to carry out air strikes in Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan with Made in China weapons, which was foiled by the Indian Army. Now in the changed circumstances, how Delhi will take forward its diplomatic relations with Beijing is also an important question.
This also raises question, whether cooperation in business and operation amid military tension on the border will go on simultaneously? Has America once again made move to pull Muslim countries to its side? Is Trump pushing the script of breaking the alliance being formed between China, Pakistan and Iran? Now the question arises that the Muslim countries which till yesterday were seeing their bright future in better relations with India, which path will they take in the future?
Turkey President Forgot Everything In Just 15 Months
Just memorise, in February last year, how a powerful earthquake rocked Turkey. People of Turkey were crying for help and then India launched “Operation Dost” to save the people and countless lives were saved. But, in barely 15 months, Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan forgot everything and stood with Pakistan. Israel certainly stood openly with India. United Kingdom and France also extended support to Operation Sindoor. But, the attitude of countries like Germany, Italy and Spain remained indecisive. In such a situation, the next challenge before Delhi is to press the reset button in diplomatic relations.
Russia Saw Advantage In Being Neutral
Russia is referred as an evergreen friend of India. History is witness to the fact that in the 1971 war, Russia stood completely with India and did not let the US and Western countries have their way from the United Nations to the Indian Ocean. But, amid the recent tension, our evergreen friend Moscow remained silent. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov definitely said that Western countries are setting India and China against each other.
Today, there are still many weapons in the Indian Army’s that are Made in Russia. In recent years, India has reduced its reliance on Russian weapons and secondly, it is buying news weapons from America and France. Third, an emphasis has been placed on developing indigenous weapons of advanced quality. At the same time, Russia, which has been fighting a war with Ukraine for the last three and a quarter years, is largely dependent on China. This could be the reason why Russia must have seen its benefit in remaining neutral amid the changing diplomatic equations.
Dilemma Of Russian President Vladimir Putin
India clearly knows the dilemma that Russian President Vladimir Putin is going through. There must be internal efforts to find a way out as to how Delhi and Moscow should proceed amidst Russia’s neutral stance. The government, on the other hand has made preparations to send a delegation of MPs to deliver the right information to the world on Operation Sindoor. The names of 7 MPs who will lead the delegation have been released by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs- which includes Shashi Tharoor of Congress, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda of BJP, Sanjay Kumar Jha of JDU, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi of DMK, Supriya Sule of NCP (Sharad Pawar) and Shrikant Eknath Shinde of Shiv Sena (Shinde faction). There is talk of keeping 5 MPs including the leader in each delegation.
Narasimha Rao Had Sent Atal Bihari Vajpayee
When PV Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister, he had sent the opposition leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee to the United Nations to present India’s side. The purpose was to foil Pakistan’s plans on the Kashmir issue. This was the thinking of country above party. Now again there is a motive to expose Pakistan in front of the world by taking the ruling party and the opposition together. The diplomatic alignment and power balance, which started with Operation Sindoor is expected to change to a great extent. But, we also have to understand how the relations with America have progressed since independence till now.
To Be America’s Friend Is fatal
There used to be a foreign minister of America – Henry Kissinger. One of his famous quotes is – “It may be dangerous to be America’s enemy, but to be America’s friend is fatal.” This implies that enmity with America is dangerous and friendship is fatal. History has been a witness that whoever befriended America, be it Saddam Hussein of Iraq, Colonel Gaddafi of Libya, Zelenskyy of Ukraine, the result is before everyone.
There was a time when Pakistan used to be America’s favourite in Asia. But, today the condition of Pakistan is not hidden from anyone. American rulers create dictators for their own benefit. The deep state there creates tension in the world and creates race of arms. History is a witness that most of the tensions created in the world have strengthened the American economy.
Delhi Will Have To Take Steps Cautiously
In such a situation, America is trying to use Pakistan as pawn to strengthen its hold in Muslim world and break the new alliances being formed in the Muslim world by removing Pakistan from China’s lap. This means that Delhi will have to move ahead very cautiously in such a situation. Friends will have to be tested afresh. It will have to be kept in mind that India is the fastest growing power in the world. And, to stop this, superpowers can join hands; they can try to put a brake on the pace of India’s progress by creating unrest in the region.
May be, that is why China and America are trying to pull India’s neighbours in their own ways. But, diplomacy is also all about appearing together on international forums and also being cautious at every step. One has to talk about peace on every platform and also keep making oneself stronger every day. It is the need of the hour to identify the masked faces in the guise of friendship clearly and deal with them in a practical way.
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