With the 60-hour visit of the Director of the US intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, to New Delhi appears to have reawakened the dynamics of India’s legitimate role in the region, and perhaps, rekindled hope for the democracy-loving people of the undivided India. The people of the border provinces are on a warpath.

It appears that the issue continues to be on a back burner, perhaps, due to the growing influence of Mukesh Ambani in the key areas of the country’s foreign policy. Therefore, during Tulsi’s visit, the Indian side didn’t discuss the gloomy security environment in the Indian subcontinent.

Her presence, however, in the Indian capital could not have been better timed. She was in India during the two -day meeting of the security and strategic experts on March 17-18,  of 20 countries. It was held under the Rasina Security dialogue, a joint venture of Ambani’s think tank,  Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

The Spinoffs

The impact of the two-day session of the 10th. edition of the Raisina Dialogue for security is to be ascertained yet. The conference was focused on the theme of the kalachakra i.e. focusing on people, peace and planet. The security issues related to India’s neighbourhood did not receive the attention in the high-profile conference. It, however, could not be denied that Tulsi’s brief presence might have boosted the confidence of the participants, especially in the context of India’s role in the region.

It is expected that later, her presence may set in motion the resumption of India’s more substantial contribution to the region’s political stability.

Both the US and  India are quite aware of the deep penetration of China in this strategic part of the South Asian region. The Chinese grip on the economies of Sri Lanka and Maldives appears to be absolute. In Sri Lanka even the toll barriers on the highways are being run by the Chinese. Their hospitality industry is under the control of Beijing. The penetration of China is continuing in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Their connivance with the Pakistani army in conducting excessive mining, fishing and fortifying their port, Gwador, has triggered rebellion in the mineral-rich province of Baluchistan. The situation in  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) has also worsened with the passing of each day.

The unspoken agenda of the visit of Tulsi Gabbard could be a part of the exchange of information between India and the US much more exhaustive than being shared during the erstwhile regime of President Joe Biden. For this, it is hoped that the Modi government would work to regain the confidence of the Trump Administration. It may finally rescue India’s current seize regarding her foreign and strategic initiatives, if not policy paralysis.

It is not known whether India would be able to use the presence of top leadership of as many as 20 countries in the two -day conference to expose the warmongering of Pakistan, against its own citizens.

China’s Capitalism

It appears that under the umbrella of Ambani’s Raisina Dialogue New Delhi didn’t present the growing threat of the Chinese and Pakistan and their dangerous games in the region from Myanmar, Bangladesh to Baluchistan and Maldives. It is for the mandarins in the South Block to assess the implications of partnering with an industrial house.

During the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war, the then US President Richard Nixon and China under Mao Zedong had partnered to gang up against India.

The history could have been repeated in Pakistan and Bangladesh, but with the decisive defeat of Kamala Harris in the American presidential election, India could sigh a brief relief. In spite of Trump’s bold initiatives, the mindset of the American deep state continues, which continues to worry India.

Modi has to reinvent a strategy especially after the decline in the strength of the ruling BJP. The ruling BJP has got only 241 seats. It requires 272 seats in the 543-strong House. Thus, Modi’s third inning has begun under the banner of the NDA.

He has to augment his efforts for winning a much larger constituency, especially after the threat of the Pakistani army, which has recently announced a revised ‘war game’. In this strategy, Pakistan will be blaming India for the freedom struggle of the estranged people of the two border provinces. The Pakistani media has already started a blame game against India on an unprecedented scale.In India, except the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, nobody has cautioned us about the war clouds in the horizon of the country’s neighbourhood.

In this backdrop, it is not surprising that there is little preparation in the present bureaucratic-driven approach.

If the government fails to rope in political leadership across the party lines, the situation may worsen for India. For this, Modi has to reduce his total dependence on his bureaucrats for formulating the state policies. He has to learn to win the trust of his political colleagues in the party and the men engaged in the studies of defence and strategic affairs in different institutions. His loyal bureaucrats now elevated in the cabinet have already caused national shame, when the handcuffed enchained Indians were recently brought to India. It is being repeatedly justified by the Indian foreign office and a section of Indian media known to be close to the Modi regime.

During her short visit, Tulsi Gabbard had met the Indian defence minister, Rajnath Singh, and Modi, but the media has been kept in the dark regarding any substantial discussion, if it really took place between them. According to media reports, during his meeting with Tulsi, Singh raised the issue of the Sikh secessionists in the USA.

For many, it appeared that the meeting was just a photo opportunity for Singh. The issue need not to have been discussed at the defence minister level.

Similarly, the encounter between Modi and Tulsi Gabbard was more focused on spiritual dialogue than any substantial security issue. According to the government’s media outlets, Modi was telling her how the ‘sangam water’ at Prayag can ensure her safe passage to heaven!.

 It is not known whether Modi cared to tell his American guest that the Saraswati river, which also symbolized knowledge, has already disappeared in Allahabad. It could also be symbolic for his government.

Gopal Misra has been associated with national and international media. His books on journalism and geo-politics have been well-appreciated. Views are personal.