Shyam Saran:

The challenge for our diplomacy lies in convincing our neighbours that India is an opportunity not a threat, that far from being besieged by India, they have a vast, productive hinterland that would give their economies far greater opportunities for growth than if they were to rely on their domestic markets alone.

As the largest country in the region and its strongest economy, India has a greater responsibility to encourage the SAARC process. In the free markets that India has already established with Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan, it has already accepted the principle of non-reciprocity. We are prepared to do more to throw open our markets to all our neighbours.

We are prepared to invest our capital in rebuilding and upgrading cross-border infrastructure with each one of them. In a word, we are prepared to make our neighbours full stakeholders in creating a truly vibrant and globally competitive South Asian Economic Community.

At the same time, we do expect that they demonstrate sensitivity to our vital concerns. These relate to allowing the use of their territories for cross-border terrorism and hostile activity against India. As partners in progress, we need to create a positive and constructive environment by avoiding hostile propaganda and intemperate statements. India cannot and will not ignore such conduct and will take whatever steps are necessary to safeguard its interests.

India would like the whole of South Asia to emerge as a community of flourishing democracies. While political expediency may yield short term advantage, it also leads to a harmful corrosion of our core values of respect for pluralism and human rights. The interests of the people of South Asia sharing a common history and destiny require that we remain alert to the possible dangers we face when attempts are made to extinguish a democratic order or yield space to extremist and communal forces.

However, the importance of our neighbourhood requires that we remain engaged with whichever government is exercising authority in any country in our neighbourhood. Our sympathy will always be with democratic and secular forces. We will promote people to people interaction and build upon the obvious cultural affinities that bind our peoples together.

To remain relevant, SAARC must begin to function as an effective vehicle to facilitate such contacts, bringing scholars, artists, scientists, youth and sportsmen together in regular events.

India’s destiny is inseparable from what happens in its neighbourhood. We need, therefore, a peaceful and tranquil periphery. This objective is integrally linked to economic development in our neighbouring countries, and would be best served by India giving access to its neighbours to its huge and growing market. Economic integration must restore the natural flow of goods, peoples and ideas.

India wishes to reassure its neighbours that it respects their independence and sovereignty. What it regards as unhelpful is the display of narrow nationalism based on hostility towards India that often becomes a cover for failure to deliver on promises made to their own peoples. This inhibits the development of normal relations, including economic cooperation, and prevents our region from emerging as a region of both political stability and economic dynamism.

If the creative energies of over 1.3 billion people were pooled together what heights could we not achieve? Let us make a new compact. Our peoples deserve nothing less. (Concluded)

Saran is India’s Foreign

Secretary