Diplomacy Dil Se… EMERGENCE OF A POWERFUL GLOBAL LEADER!

It was decided on the day of his oath as Prime Minister that Narendra Modi will not only win the hearts of every Indian but also rule the world. With his mantra of Neighbours First as Foreign Policy, he extended a friendly approach towards the neighbouring countries.

The presence of the Heads of nations from neighbouring countries vindicated his open arms policy for the world. The people across the globe too reciprocated in the same manner to the Prime Minister who had taken off to win global friends. This was visible first on June 16, 2014 when Narendra Modi landed at Paro airport in the neighbouring Bhutan.

He mingled well with general public of Bhutan on his way to Thimpu. “I saw for the first time that Indian Prime Minister is making halts to meet and interact with common people on foreign soil. Likewise, when he went to Kathmandu then thousands of people thronged the road to get a glimpse of Narendra Modi, who stopped and met people putting security personnel in a tizzy.

I was also present when the Prime Minister went to Sri Lanka for the first time. In 28 years no Indian Prime Minister had visited Sri Lanka… that too Jaffna…where ever there is a problem, the fearless take up the challenge…this was a unique example of leadership,” remembered Syed Akbaruddin, a former diplomat. In the same sequence an unprecedented incident took place on December 25, 2015. The entire world was taken by surprise when Modi, while on his return journey from Russia through Afghanistan landed at Lahore airport without any prior schedule. It was an extreme risk taken by an Indian Prime Minister to mend diplomatic relations with arch-rival Pakistan. From the airport, Modi boarded a helicopter of Pakistan army and went straight to the residence of then Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif to greet him on his birthday. But such pleasantries didn’t change the stand of Pakistan, which backstabbed and masterminded the Pulwama attacks. Modi gave strong reply to Pakistan through surgical air strikes…but these military actions could have cost dearly to world’s diplomatic and military ecosystem. “Pakistan always said that if there would be any attack on us we will retaliate with nuclear weapons.

We have not manufactured nuclear weapons to keep them in museums…we will surely use them. But Modi put an end to Pakistan’s nuclear blackmail at one go. Now Pakistan leadership has stopped saying that they have nuclear weapons,” said Ashok Sajjanhar, a former diplomat. Modi had taken the decision of strikes after great understanding. “It was well within the limits of international law. Neither Security council nor the United Nations raised voice against the strikes…

It was a successful diplomatic response, “ Akbaruddin cited. The way Prime Minister Modi showed a blow hot and blow cold diplomacy to Pakistan, relations with China turned out to be a mixed bag. Modi hosted Chinese President XI Jinping at his home state Gujarat in order to bring resolution to the long-standing border dispute. But China didn’t reciprocate the warm behaviour and tried out the patience of India on the border areas of Doklam and Ladakh. The Sino army escalated tension on border and tried to capture areas over the Indian side. But Indian army failed all its efforts under the dynamic leadership of Narendra Modi. Modi has been handling the diplomatic relations with superpowers USA and Russia with the same dexterity which he had shown while tackling challenges with neighbouring countries. While he cemented the old ties with Russia, he wrote a new chapter of friendship with US. Modi went for the first time to US on an official trip in September 2014. US President Barack Obama hosted a grand reception for him at the historical White House.

It is a case study for foreign policy experts and strategists as to how Modi manages to maintain a delicate balance between two opposite camps - US and Russia simultaneously. “First of all, he doesn’t have double standards. He speaks the same at all the places. So, it’s easy to manage any contradiction. Whatever he talks, he speaks in national interest and people understand him. He believes in straight talk,” said S Jaishankar, minister of external affairs. Modi has also been successful in protecting India’s interest with western countries. He explores new friendship opportunities with Israel and takes relationship with Arab countries to a new height in the same breath.

Critics of Modi are astonished with the fact the Modi has received the highest civilian awards of several Muslim countries. Apart from that, he has been successful in strengthening the strategic business ties with them, “Entering into a strategic partnership with a country where no Prime Minister has visited in the last 30-40 years is a grand achievement.

There have not only been talks of security, energy and investment with that country but also results have been shown on ground. Then, giving away such awards is just an extension to the impression which you have created on these countries,” said S Jaishankar. Modi has not only been successful in getting into bipartite partnership with countries for strong military and business ties but has also taken lead in raising important issues like climate change, international global alliance and reducing carbon footprints at international forums. Modi has led from the front at several platforms towards global resolution of these issues. This is the dawn of new India, which is on its path of progress and prosperity unchallenged. To be continued...