If India aspires to be a a leading power in the world, its diplomacy has to be multi-layered and multi-pronged to maximise the partners and players, and minimise the problems, Senior Advocate Ashok Bhan said.
Speaking at the executive meeting of the Kashmir (Policy and Strategy) Group (KOSG) in New Delhi, Bhan, who is also the Chairman of the KPSG, said Bharat needs to develop deep national strengths. The political narrative has to be inclusive, science and modern technology have to fundamental foundations for manufacturing. The economy of the country should be boosted based on the doctrine of comfort, trust and international collaborations with a comity of progressive nations.
The meeting saw the attendance of members of the strategic community as well as diplomats.
Bhan said, “In a polarised and suspicious world, the success of collaboration with larger nations in the world depends on the pursuit of effective diplomacy. The era of conflict and climate change India has entered has the powerful implications for connectivity.”
Recalling recent challenges to global security and trade, he said, “The supply chains and logistics have become resilient and redundant. The world has witnessed the consequences of tension in the Red Sea and the blocking of the Suez Canal. Derisking is only possible when enough countries come together for their shared enterprise to become serious players.”
Bhan noted that many of the recent endeavours are focused on India. The IMEC corridor connects India to Eroupe and the Atlantic through the Arabian Peninsula. The INSTC traverses Iran and Russia. To India’s east, the trilateral highway can take India all the way to the Pacific.
In a post-Covid world, all significant nations are in quest for strategic autonomy. Today in the world everything is being weaponised. Bharat too has to ensure that its basic needs and critical infrastructure are nationally developed, he said.
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections and its results on June 4 is crucial for determination of the inclusive social equanimity nationally and global stature of Bharat. Bhan hoped mature Indian voters will make an informed decision. “India being the largest democracy of the world and people are expected to demonstrate a matured and astute voting pattern and to elect a government that takes the country forward in its march for eradication of poverty, solution of huge unemployment issues, to build largest manufacturing hub, science, technology, collaborative diplomacy, inclusive society, rule of law and pursuit of Constitutionalism,” he said.