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TOPIC: General Studies 2
- India’s Diplomacy
- International Relations
In News: Prime Minister Modi reached out to the eight-member regional grouping and pitched for a video conference among the leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation to chalk out a strong strategy to combat coronavirus outbreak. PM Modi's suggestion was backed by all member states of SAARC.
“We can respond best by coming together, not growing apart--collaboration not confusion, preparation not panic.”
Steps taken by India
Covid-19 emergency fund proposed by India: India has pledged $10 million toward a Covid-19 emergency fund
Medical Emergency Help:
Other Suggestions:
The Corona Diplomacy
Pakistan:
Afghanistan: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani referred to challenges stemming from Afghanistan’s open border with Iran, where the outbreak has been severe, and suggested that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) mechanism be used to help deal with the matter. He also proposed modelling diffusion patterns, creation of a common framework for telemedicine and greater cooperation.
Maldives: Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih cited the economic downturn in Maldives owing to the drop in tourists and sought a South Asian response to the crisis. Solih thanked the Indian government for medical assistance and for evacuating nine Maldivians from Wuhan.
Sri Lanka: The Sri Lankan President also referred to economic losses and mentioned steps taken by his government.
Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina thanked Prime Minister Modi for bringing 23 Bangladeshi students back from Wuhan. She proposed continuance of the dialogue at technical level through video conference by health ministers and secretaries.
Bhutan: Prime Minister Lotay Tshering stated that the pandemic will affect the smaller and vulnerable economies disproportionately. The pandemic does-not follow geographical boundaries, hence it is all the more important for the nations to work together.
India and SAARC
The video summit is significant because, since 2016, SAARC has been mostly inactive. India had refused to attend the 2016 SAARC summit, which was to be held in Islamabad, following the Uri terror attack, which it said was perpetrated by terrorists based in Pakistan. After Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Bhutan also withdrew from the meet, the summit was called off.
India - natural Leader: India has assumed leadership of the South Asian charge against COVID-19. This is appropriate given the reported infection levels is still surprisingly low and the commensurate mass mobilisation, precautionary measures and mass evacuations that India carried out. This posited India as a natural leader. Given how irrelevant the South Asia block has become of late, the video conference served more as a diplomatic bolster rather than an actual organisational meeting.
There is more expected out of India…
Given the open borders between Nepal, Bhutan and India – borders that were never really policed and consequently, not equipped for such policing – or the highly porous Bangladesh border, it was a tactical mistake for India to not offer more aid.
Connecting the Dots: