RAJ DALUJA
JAMMU: Fall of Afghanistan to the radical and brutal Taliban is all set to pose yet another challenge to fragile Indian security, especially on the domestic front. A ‘friend’ for nearly two decades, Kabul will turn yet another capital in the immediate neighbourhood to conspire, penetrate and precipitate terror on Indian soil, to destabilize this nation like Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.
The re-emergence of the dark-era regime in terror infested Afghanistan is a pointer for the Indian policy planners to ponder whether it is worth investing in rebuilding the countries in the backyard, keeping in view the countries strategic concerns. A poor nation of 1.30 billion cannot afford anymore to be benevolent to others, like it did in Afghanistan by investing hugely in infrastructural development. Such magnanimity would have been desirable in the interest of earning allies but times have proven that despite funding in terms of resources and manpower, India has got only hostile neighbours at end of the day, which can neither be trusted nor relied upon.
India lost several valiant soldiers to break Pakistan in 1971, not just to end the slavery of Bengalis but to have a friendly border with the newly carved out country of Bangladesh. Times, however, proved the move as counterproductive, despite New Delhi investing hugely in rebuilding the nation bordering West Bengal. Now Bangladesh is the biggest threat for India, having the potential of changing the demography of North East and even West Bengal. The High Court of Gauhati had observed on 23rd July 2008 that Bangladeshi migrants had become kingmakers. The observations were not off the mark as 11 out of 27 districts of Assam have migrant majority. They have virtually become citizens of India. The number of Bangladeshi illegal migrants is increasing. In 1996, the then Home Minister of India Indrajit Gupta told Parliament that there were 10 million illegal Bangladeshi migrants in India, of which three million were reported in Assam. The gravity of the situation had been summed up by the then Governor of Assam Lt Gen (Retd) S. K Sinha, in his report to the President of India, stating, ” Large scale illegal migration from East Pakistan/ Bangladesh over several decades has been altering the demographic complexion of this State. It poses a grave threat both to the identity of the Assamese people and to our national security. Successive governments at the Center and in the State have not adequately met this challenge. I felt it is my bounden duty to the nation and the state I have sworn to serve, to place before you this report on the dangers arising from the continuing silent demographic invasion…”
Same is true about Nepal. New Delhi helped the only Hindu nation across the world, considering it as a natural ally. But the perception fell flat when Nepal turned full circle and launched an anti-India tirade in the backdrop of China upping the ante in Ladakh last year. In fact, Nepal has hardly been friendly towards India even before geo-political combinations and permutations in the Asian region. From being drugs cum criminals capital in the south Asian region to terrorist haven post nineties in the wake of Pakistan sponsored terrorism in Kashmir, every minor and major conspiracy against the sovereignty and integrity against India are being hatched in and around Kathmandu.
The scenario with Bhutan and Sri-Lanka is no different. India’s massive support-financial and physical-to Bhutan has not made the impact to keep the neighbouring country in its fold. During the past three years, Bhutan’s subtle efforts in establishing diplomatic relations with China remain a concern in New Delhi. Can Bhutan hold Chinese advances for a long time because of border disputes as the Himalayan kingdom is sharing 470 kilometers with China?
India antagonized Tamils and went whole-hog to support Sri-Lanka during the violent escalation with LTTE. Indian forces remained in the Island for quite a long and when it came hobnobbing with China-the known enemy of India- which was able to make major inroads into the country as part of its Belt and Road Initiative and gained a firm foothold. Beijing developed the Hambantota port which it got on lease for 99 years as a debt swap for the Chinese loan. This is how China helps its neighbours-be it Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan or Sri-Linka. The Dragon does not help just for the sake of help but it always has a price-to strengthen Chinese strategic interests. That is how nations deal with regional partners. On the contrary, what did India achieve while investing hugely in the neighbouring countries? Did the nation secure poor Indian tax-payers hard earned money by having any claim over the assets generated in these countries? The answer will be in negative. India goes out of way to extend benevolence only to earn enemies rather than friends.