Blocking regional initiatives cannot go on: FS on Pak actions

Sending out a clear message to Pakistan India today asked it to desist from "blocking every possible initiative" under SAARC, cautioning such a hugely damaging approach will force countries of the region to look for other options like BIMSTEC to boost regional cooperation.
Without naming Pakistan, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said some basic standards of regional cooperation have to apply as he noted its opposition to major initiatives like those aimed at improving regional connectivity have frustrated a majority of the member countries.
In an address at a leading think tank, Jaishankar, dwelling on China-Pakistan ties, said some issues arising out of the relationship were causing concern to India, including the economic corridor Beijing was building through Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.

When asked about Pakistan's oft repeated threat of use of tactical nuclear weapons, the top diplomat said, "We do not speak of tactical nuclear weapons, somebody else does."
At the interactive session, he said there was no need for major powers to get involved in resolution of issues between India and Pakistan, saying it gives rise to "expectations and illusions" that are not sustained by objective facts on the ground.
Referring to the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan and some other instances, he said there was some sort of involvement of great powers in the past. He, however, insisted that "a constantly interfering umpire" does not allow the game to take its natural course. He said India's "allergy" to involvement of any great power in Indo-Pak ties is well known.

Talking about "fluidity" of geo-politics and fast changing foreign policy space, Jaishankar, who has just returned from the US, said there will be change in the terms of engagement between the US and the world under Donald Trump's presidency.

On SAARC, he said India has immense interest in the grouping while calling "hugely damaging" to the region as well as Asia Pakistan's approach in blocking major regional initiatives under the grouping.
The annual summit of the grouping was to be held in Islamabad but it was cancelled after India and many other member countries decided not to participate.
There has been an indication that India and some other countries may look for BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) for regional cooperation if Pakistan continues to create hurdles for SAARC. Islamabad played spoilsport in firming up a key connectivity pact during SAARC's last summit in Kathmandu.

"Problem with SAARC is that some basic sort of standards of regional cooperation have to apply. If you say that I will be regional member but I will not allow regional trade, I will not allow regional connectivity, will not allow regional motor ways, I will not allow regional railways, then what is it about.
On involvement of "great powers" to resolve issues
between India and Pakistan, he said "If you have to play and if you have an umpire who is constantly interfering, the game does not take its natural course.
"And when a game does not take its natural course, I think you end up with problems which then fester and increasingly become hard to resolve."

On Trump's victory, he said there will be change in the terms of engagement between the US and the world which has been characterised in different ways including during his campaigning.
Jaishankar said it would be interesting to see whether the US under Trump will enhance its regional military capacities and address many challenges with stronger resolve. How he approaches regional economic mechanisms including issues relating to TTP (Trans-Pacific Partnership), will also be watched with keen interest, Jaishankar said.
He said Trump administration could have different priorities and different terms of engagement in dealing with major issues.
The top diplomat also talked about interplay between Russia and China and how it can impact Asia. He also spoke about concerns about Islamic radicalisation and rise of ISIS. "We have a situation where every variable is in a flux."

The Foreign Secretary talked about a range of global issues including China's growing power pulls and pressures on Russia, the "less tight" Western unity than before and challenges facing the Middle East including from ISIS and radicalisation.
Dwelling on maritime security, he said India's power in this sphere has grown, observing India will have greater activity in maritime space in the future.
Holding that India's maritime capabilities have grown significantly, Jaishankar said there is willingness on part of New Delhi not only to deploy these capabilities but to work with other countries to create a larger pan Oceanic maritime security space.

The Foreign Secretary said India was ready to cooperate in regional connectivity projects including those backed by China and referred to Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) project. India was following Chinese connectivity initiatives, he said, adding New Delhi would like such initiatives to be consultative.
He said recent visits by the leaders of "great powers" represent a change in India's engagement with them.
Asked whether India has a policy towards Tibet, he said, "A fair reading of our history will tell you that we do".
The Foreign Secretary said India was ready to engage great powers more robustly and that it has to engage a multiplicity of actors on a range of areas.