India must work to build trust in the neighbourhood
Support for democratic and human rights principles will go a long way towards dispelling some of the anxiety
Int he old days, Indians would speak of the “hidden hand,” accusing people of being on the payroll of CIA, or even the KGB. These days, Indian officials seem to have been attributed a similarly long and evil arm of influence by our neighbours.
After the mysterious disappearance and subsequent return of Far had Mazh ar, a Bangladesh i columnist and activist, on July 3, local media in Bangladesh reported conjecture that “Indian agencies” were responsible for the abduction. Nepali analysts have long spoken of “Indian agencies” being involved, usually in a negative role, in political decisions; but the dist rust runs so high that a Nepali national even suggested to me that India’s prompt earthquake rescue and relief mission two years ago, was motivated by a hidden agenda.
This is partly because India, by sheer size of its population, military, economy and geography, is an overwhelming presence in the subcontinent. But its officials should have realised by now that repeatedly saying that India wants peaceful ties, based on cooperation, is not enough.
While it is generally accepted that it will, like all other countries, prioritise its strategic interests, the open dismay toward India is not without basis. While many of the allegations might be dismissed as local paranoia, India also needs to reconsider its image. India’s clear and unwavering support for core democratic and human rights principles inneighbou ring countries might go along way toward dispelling some of the public anxiety.
For instance, many Bangladesh is, particularly opposition supporters, believe that India is bolstering the ruling Awami League. In Nepal, almost everything, even the potholes, are often blamed on“Indian agencies .” Bhutan’ s fledgling steps toward democracy, many Bhutanese believe, were derailed by India, which is accusedof weighinginto ensurethe election of its preferred candidate. India stumbled in the Maldives too, failing to stand up for the basic rights of the political opposition. Promoting human rights in both places would not only have helped the citizens of these countries, it could have ended the mistrust.
India’s footprint was much more visible in Sri Lanka where Tamil Nadu politicians actively campaigned for the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils.
When Prime Minister Modi invited regional heads of state to his government’s inauguration in 2014, there were hopes that he was signalling a shift in India’s relations with its neighbours.
Mo di now needs to turn that sentiment into action by promoting respect for human rights abroad. Concerns over“Indian agencies” are not going to disappear on their own.