'India has a failed neighbourhood policy'

Syed Ali Safvi

JAMMU, Feb 19: Terming China a "bigger threat" to India, Vice Chancellor University of Jammu (JU) Prof Varun Kumar Sahni today said India has defined its military thinking in terms of Pakistan, but not to the bigger threat China.

Stating that India has been adopting failed regional policies for last 60 years, Sahni said, "No doubt undivided J&K is important, but the much bigger game is the game vis-a-vis China. I feel that India is on losing wicket."

"India has a failed neighbourhood policy. It cannot deal with China at South Asian level now, because China has left us far behind," he said at a function organised by General Zorawar Singh Chair of Excellence and Centre for Strategic and Regional Studies JU at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium Complex here.

He was speaking on relevance of undivided Jammu and Kashmir to security and peace in the region.

Stressing upon the need for softer border and greater interaction to improve bilateral relations between India and Pakistan, Sahni said that India needs to think over cultural power vis-…-vis Pakistan.

"Don't underestimate cultural power. Softer power and greater interaction is the key to improve bilateral ties," Sahni told a gathering comprising retired army men, soldiers, academics, NCC cadets, and students.

Sahni, however, maintained that India has started to take good steps.

"As a liberal democracy India must protect itself. India's reaction to Mumbai attacks has shown that India has developed as a nation," he said. "India has forced Pakistan to change its foreign policy."

Earlier, delivering a presentation, Brig (retd) K Kuldip Singh gave historical account of India's regional strategies vis-…-vis its neighbouring countries and strategic significance of J&K.
Stressing the need for federation of South Asian states, Sharma said that US president Obama's vision to create federal world order: one Israel, Palestine, Jordan; two, South Asian states was a very sensible development.

Stating that Jammu and Kashmir was the most misunderstood subject, Singh said that Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions had always been integral parts of the J&K state.
"J&K has been India's politico-cultural domain. Khirbhawani temple, Ganpatyar temple, Shankaracharya temple, Buddha's statues were testimony to the fact that the state had always been a part of rich Indian culture," he said.

Speaking about the strategic significance of J&K, Singh said that the state was a convergent point of three civilizations: Russian, Chinese, Indian and Afghan.
"J&K has had strategic importance throughout history. 90 per cent of invasions on India have been done from North West frontier," he said.

Singh said that British not only abetted Gilgit coup, but it also abetted Pakistan's strategy to grab J&K.

"Two days after J&K's accession to India, Gilgit scouts staged a coup with the help of British on Oct 28, 1947," Singh said. "British also supported Pakistan's plan to grab J&K through invasion to capture the valley, on regional grounds, through stand still black mail and through intervention by the UN."

Ruling out the possibility of holding plebiscite, Singh said that according to UN resolution August 13, 1948 plebiscite is possible only when there is complete ceasefire and withdrawal of Pakistan troops and tribal invaders.

Giving cursory details of economic growth in Jammu and Kashmir.

Singh said that the state was far ahead as compared to Pakistan and Northern Alliance (NA).

"Literacy rate in J&K is 59 per cent as compared to 44 per cent in Pakistan and 7 per cent in Northern Alliance," he said.

Quoting his own study, he said that 15 per cent non-Kashmiri Muslims, 13 per cent Shia Muslims and 14 per cent Gujjars and Paharis are in favour of staying with India.

"Only 22 per cent of Sunni Muslims are in favour of Azadi," he said.

Sharma said that it was high time for both India and Pakistan to solve all bilateral problems.

"Indo-Pak dispute is bilateral and there must not be any outside intervention," he said. "It is for the first time that moderate section of Pakistan is looking for Indian cooperation to fight terrorism in their country, instead of looking for the US," he said.

The presentation was followed by an interactive session.