REGIONAL COOPERATION
consistently putting effort on global alliances under the UN flag but was reluctant to partake in Iraq, Afghanistan under NATO or the US banner.
With debates and opinions flowing in all circles, the government decided that the Nepali Army would not participate in the BIMSTEC joint military exercise but would send observers. Thailand, owing to prior commitments, also sent observers instead of troops. The joint military exercise saw platoon level troops of five nations.
Budge Onward
The recently adjourned 4th BIMSTEC Summit is an opportunity for Nepal and other nation states to strive for better co-ordination, more efficient access and appropriate delivery mechanism to and fro the IO. Trading surplus resources, clean energy, fresh water, and natural gas within the region with appropriate trade and transit agreement come with optimistic possibilities.
Being a component of the Act East and Act West policies for utilising resources and trading energy would be advantageous as long as it helps with closing trade deficit. Implementing policies and prioritising BBIN MVA and SASEC for connectivity and cross-border energy trade agreement would improve natural gas and hydroelectric export / import for economic growth, contributing towards regional stability and prosperity. Nepal’ s goal of producing 15000 MW in the next 10 years would be equipped to sell abroad the excess through Bangladesh to Myanmar and Thailand. MOU with India on cross-border energy trade policy, if agreed, would facilitate the export of electricity to third countries via India. Bangladesh Power Development Board( BPDB) has signed an agreement with India’ s NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam( NVVN) which will allow it to import electricity generated by the Upper Karnali hydro project which is being developed by an Indian company through the Indian power grid.
Security co-operation for non-traditional threats through military conventions, physical connectivity, and energy security received precedence without political savor. In distinction to political and economic attainment, the consensus on security related co-operation to combat common threats and dangers, international terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters mandates armed forces to have clear records. It is also important to establish defense diplomacy by initiating Defense and Military conference— SAARC / BIMSTEC Defense Ministers Conferences( S / BDMC) and SAARC / BIMSTEC Chief’ s Conference( S / BCC) of defence, police and intelligence. The Nepali Army Chief should have been part of the Chief’ s conclave in the first ever BIMSTEC military exercise together held with other six member nations’ Army Chiefs.
BIMSTEC after addressing its vision statement, charter and capacity structure will not position itself as an alternative for bilateral, regional or multilateral co-operation arrangements like SAARC but rather be complementary. South Asian prosperity vis-a-vis connectivity and access to Central Asian resource rich nations is similarly imperative.
Bhutan, India, and Nepal should group with the 11 members Central Asia CAREC, which would be another bridge from South Asia to Central Asian Nations, enhancing political and economic relations.
The grouping, if agrees to several measures including a protocol for coastal shipping agreements and dedicated line of communication, would give sea access to three landlocked countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Nepal.
The possibilities of countries like Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Vietnam are likely to further board the cooperation spectrum, falling in lines with India’ s Act East and Thailand’ s Act West policies. Strengthening BIMSTEC would also supplement the Mekong Ganga Co-operation( MGC). So it is important that regional networking via bilateral, trilateral and multilateral regional associations of SAARC, BIMSTEC, SASEC and BBIN MVA galvanise keeping aside bilateral misunderstandings.
Creating an environment of diplomatic isolation may culminate in strategic fallacies; hence, India’ s Neighbourhood First Policy is important for strengthening the existing institutions in hand. The Indo-Nepal relationship resumed the Eminent Persons Group status and has been sub divided into specialised fields to keep a check on misapprehensions, difference of opinion, and disagreements.
Unless India presents a clear appealing proposition, it will remain without a strategic vision in the immediate neighbourhood. India ought to emphasise on the five point agenda with its immediate neighbours for strong regional relationship and people to people contact through( STRENGTH): S-pirituality; T-radition, Trade and Technology; R-elationship; E-ntairtainment; N-ature Conservation; G-ames; T-ourism; H-ealth and Healing.
The struggle of nations under the Himalayan arc, juxtaposed between two major and competing rising powers is a reality. It will be useful to identify areas in which the region can cooperate, instead of working on a win-lose or no-win basis. The traditional security theory will continue to negate all attempts to find a feasible way forward. India’ s tie with its immediate neighbours is special and time-tested because of deep geographical, historical, cultural, and familial links. The strategy should focus not just on changing policies but also on changing outlook.
Holding annual meeting of associations is essential for substantive results. The fundamentals of Central, South, South West, and South East Asia connectivity is vital and imperative for the New Asian Order.
* Binoj Basnyat is a retired Nepali Army Major General and Political & Security Analyst.
46 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 6 • Issue 9 • September 2018, Noida