Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'India deals with Nepal and Afghanistan correctly' that was published in Newsband

India deals with Nepal and Afghanistan correctly

Recently India played host to Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani and Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ visits. Prachanda’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi was cordial.

The joint statement referred to Modi welcoming “the ongoing efforts of the Government of Nepal to take all sections of the society on board for effective implementation of the Constitution.” India focussed on delivering on its own promises to Nepal, including hydropower and highways infrastructure projects.

With Ghani, the outreach began a year ago, after it became clear that Afghanistan had lost confidence in Pakistan’s ability to bring the Taliban to book or to the table for talks. The U.S. is Afghanistan’s biggest security provider, and this superpower had cut India out of the security equation, and actively encouraged New Delhi to help provide military assistance to Kabul. Ghani’s ‘wish list’ consisted of helicopters, tanks and ammunition assistance. India and Afghans signed agreements merely mentioning their “resolve to counter terrorism and strengthen security and defence cooperation”. Mention of Pakistan’s support to terrorist groups was muted as well.

The Afghan and Nepali are in need of road and railway trade routes. With Afghanistan, even Russia, America, and NATO countries could not control and bring peace to that region. India must also be very careful

As for Nepal, India has no complicated relation. India needs Nepal because it is a buffer state between India and China, and Nepal needs India because it is landlocked and 75 percent of its needs are met by India.

The PM is announcing help in the form of billions of funds to these neighboring countries. Will such monetary help fetch their loyalties towards India? Money can buy merchandise but not friendships.

India's stand to building trust in neighboring countries, and efforts to forge partnership are commendable. In regard to Nepal and Afghan, India plays the good Samaritan role. Prachanda's visit to India was aimed at removing the past bitterness with Nepal caused by Oli government on Constitutional amendments. Oli moved towards China and signed agreements for the supply of essentials. After the departure of Oli, Prachanda took power and wanted to renew the cordiality that Nepal kept in Koirala's regime. India learnt a lesson, yet taking into account the open border vulnerability and Madhesi interest it has to play cards with Nepal and assure cooperation to Prachanda. Taking into account the vulnerabilities, India is right.

Relations with Afghanistan should be maintained as a matter of keeping fraternity and also on the Principle of foe's foe is friend, taking into account the Pakistan stand. Both for Nepal and Afghan India has to move with caution but cannot shun with the relation over all.