Befriending India’s Smaller Neighbours

re: Ajay

You have hit the nail on the head. To position India as a regional leader in South Asia and a global leader, the Indian government must carefully follow a paternalistic attitude towards its neighbors. Some version of the Gujral Doctrine may be helpful. However, this is a fine balancing act. Paternalism can sometimes also be seen by neighbors as interference in their internal affairs. To avoid this pitfall, India should focus on trade, economic and visa concessions to its neighbors... but not lecture them on their domestic politics. Those neighbors that still adopt a hostile attitude toward India should be boycotted.

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I don`t see why India needs to be so apologetic about its size and power. We should treat our neighbors with respect. However, that does not mean that we have to bend over backwards to accommodate their sensitive feelings. Is it our responsibility to make Nepal or Bangladesh prosperous? Is it our responsibility to provide livelihood to Bangladeshi workers at the cost of our own people? These countries need to manage their own affairs, keep their people within their borders and have a normal, mutually beneficial relationship with India based on trade, commerce and mutual security. Beyond that, we don`t need to genuflect at their feet.