Working With India Brings Benefits, Not Doing So Comes With Costs: Jaishankar On Neighourhood Diplomacy

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has cautioned that India must not expect “smooth sailing” in its neighbourhood diplomacy at all times, reported The Times Of India.

In an interview with DD India, Jaishankar said India has sought to build a sense of “collective interest” with neighbouring countries to ensure stability in ties, even when regimes change.

“At the end of the day, the logic every one of our neighbours must realise is that working with India will give you benefits, and not working with India has a cost,” Jaishankar said.

He noted that although many neighbours grasp this idea, “some take longer to realise, some understand it better.”

Jaishankar called Pakistan an exception, citing its military’s control over the country and its entrenched “in-built hostility” towards India.

Turning to global players, Jaishankar said the US can be unpredictable, so India has built strong ties with it through many connections.

On China, he said India must remain prepared to “stand up,” especially after ties worsened post the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.

He pointed out that one of the big mistakes in the past was ignoring India’s border infrastructure.

“To have a China policy and neglect your border infrastructure was absurd,” he said.

He added that today, India is able to defend its interests along the LAC because “we have built the border infrastructure to make that possible".

On political instability in the region, Jaishankar said changes are natural, but India has tried to create a culture and system where “the collective interest is stronger than those who are advocating distancing.”

He cited Sri Lanka and Maldives as examples where bilateral ties remained steady despite leadership changes.

Referring to Nepal, he admitted, “We are often in their internal politics... We should not expect smooth sailing all the time.”

“But you should also not throw up your hands when things get difficult. That’s poor planning,” he said.

On terrorism and Pakistan, Jaishankar called the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks a "turning point."

He stated that India's policy towards Pakistan changed under the Modi government, pointing to the 2016 Uri surgical strike and 2019 Balakot air strike as examples of a "new normal."

“You can do horrible things and think there is impunity because you are on that side,” he said, but now “the initiative will not always be with you.”

Jaishankar asserted that the Article 370 move and India’s counter-terror operations must be viewed as components of a broader strategy.

Describing PM Modi as a “leader of his times,” Jaishankar said the public mood has changed, and Prime Minister Modi reflects the country’s “self-confidence."