Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, is known for his muscular and pragmatic foreign policy. Since taking office in 2014, he has emphasized on improving India’s relationship with its neighbors, enhancing its global influence, and protecting its national interests. One of the critical aspects of Modi’s foreign policy has been his tough stance on terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan. Modi’s assertive and pragmatist foreign policy, his tough stance on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, and border excursions by China were all on plain display during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers conference held in Goa last week.
The SCO Foreign Ministers conference in Goa, was notable for the efforts to resolve bilateral disputes between the organization’s key members as well as the multilateral organization’s ambitions to enhance economic cooperation.
The gathering, which served as a warm-up for the SCO summit scheduled for New Delhi in July, occurred in the midst of rising hostilities between Russia and the West over the former’s invasion of Ukraine and the disruption of international payment systems brought on by Western sanctions against Moscow. The gathering of foreign ministers decided to intensify cooperation in a variety of fields, including economic and technological ones.
But the meeting was significant on how India vigorously defended its interests pertaining to disputes over the border with China and the issue of state-sponsored terrorism involving Pakistan.
Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, criticized Islamabad for continuing to assist terrorist organizations, branding Pakistan’s foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, as a “promoter, justifier, and spokesperson” for terrorism. While the SCO Conference was still going on, five Indian soldiers were killed and another was injured in a gunfight with militants in the thick jungles of the Rajouri-Poonch sector of the Jammu division.
Speaking at the end of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Council For Foreign Ministers (SCO-CFM), Mr. Jaishankar said Indians felt “outrage” at the loss of lives and the terror incident. Pakistan should “wake up and smell the coffee,” Jaishankar said. “The only issue over Kashmir up for discussion with Pakistan is over when they will give up their occupation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).”
At a press conference, Mr. Jaishankar stated that he felt compelled to draw a distinction between welcoming the Foreign Minister of Pakistan as a member of the SCO and “treating him differently” because of Mr. Bhutto’s remarks on terrorism. “As a Foreign Minister of an SCO member state, Mr. Bhutto Zardari was treated accordingly. As a promoter, justified, and spokesperson of a terrorism industry which is the mainstay of Pakistan, his positions were called out and countered including at the SCO meeting itself,” Mr. Jaishankar said.
In addition, Mr. Jaishankar gave a stern reaction to the official statement made by China that the situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was “stable” following his meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Qin Gang. “That’s not the issue,” Mr. Jaishankar said, adding that China and India must move the disengagement process along. If peace and tranquility are disturbed, “India-China relations are not normal and cannot be normal,” he declared.
Jaishankar’s tough language symbolizes Modi’s unyielding and unshakeable foreign policy. One of the critical elements of Modi’s foreign policy has been his approach to counter-terrorism. This element has been a consistent thread of the nation’s all bilateral and multilateral engagements. Under Modi India has taken a firm stance on terrorism, asserting that it poses a significant threat to global security and stability. Modi has called for a comprehensive and coordinated international response to terrorism, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between nations to combat the scourge of terrorism.
Modi has also been a vocal critic of Pakistan’s support for terrorist groups. He has accused Pakistan of using terrorism as a state policy, and of harboring and supporting terrorist groups that operate against India. Modi has been unwavering in his stance on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, insisting that Pakistan must take concrete steps to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and stop supporting terrorist groups.
Modi’s muscular and pragmatic foreign policy has been reflected in his government’s response to terrorist attacks on Indian soil. In 2016, following a deadly attack on an Indian army base in Uri, Modi’s government launched a surgical strike against terrorist launchpads across the Line of Control in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The operation was widely regarded as a demonstration of India’s military strength and determination to protect its national interests.
Modi’s government has also taken steps to isolate Pakistan diplomatically, particularly in the aftermath of terrorist attacks. Following the Pulwama attack in 2019, in which 40 Indian soldiers were killed, Modi’s government launched a diplomatic offensive against Pakistan, calling for the international community to isolate Pakistan for its support of terrorism. India also withdrew the Most Favored Nation status that it had granted to Pakistan, and Modi’s government launched a campaign to delegitimize Pakistan’s claim to be a victim of terrorism.
Modi has also taken a tough stand on border disputes with China. The two nations have had a long-standing territorial dispute along their shared border, known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which led to several border skirmishes and even a full-blown war in 1962. In recent years, tensions between the two countries have escalated, with both sides accusing the other of violating the LAC.
Modi’s government has been clear in its assertion that India will not back down from defending its territorial integrity. In 2014, Modi took office with a mandate to strengthen India’s national security, and his government has been focused on modernizing India’s military capabilities and improving its infrastructure along the border with China. Modi has also emphasized the importance of India’s strategic partnerships with other countries in the region, such as Japan, Australia, and the United States, in countering Chinese aggression.
In 2020, the long-simmering border dispute between India and China boiled over into a violent clash in the Galwan Valley, resulting in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese troops. Modi’s government responded by taking a hardline stance against China, with the Indian army occupying strategic heights along the LAC and bolstering its military presence in the region.
Modi’s government has also taken steps to curb Chinese influence in India, including banning Chinese apps and restricting Chinese investment in Indian companies. In addition, India has sought to strengthen its ties with other countries in the region, such as Japan and Australia, to counter China’s growing assertiveness in the region.
The SCO conference thus marked a significant victory for India’s foreign policy. India was able to assert its position on key regional issues, demonstrate its growing influence in the region, and promote its interests. The conference had significant implications for regional and global security, and India’s leadership role in the organization provides it with an opportunity to shape the region’s agenda and promote its interests.
