India-Myanmar Need for a Refugee Policy

Introduction

                India is not a signatory to the UN Convention on Refugees and thus it has not adopted an asylum policy for those seeking refuge. The recent inflow of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar has triggered the debate for the need of a concrete refugee policy given the tempestuous neighbourhood of India.

Why we need a Refugee Policy?

The clarity in Asylum Provision: A clearly laid down policy offers greater clarity to those seeking refuge and makes India’s stand clear on the question of asylum. It limits the discretion of the government and thwarts arbitrary disapproval on the basis of ethnic, linguistic or regional identities. Currently, there exists a vacuum of legislation to deal with refugees. The Foreigners Act, 1946 is ill-equipped in this regard

Upholding Civil Rights: As the largest democracy in the world, India has a duty to protect all individuals fleeing their home from persecution, natural disaster and violence

Increased Goodwill: The drafting of a refugee policy concurrent to UN standards would considerably enhance India’s image in the geopolitical arena

Stable Neighbourhood: India’s rejection of refugees may further intensify violence surrounding it in neighbouring nations. The current climate of political instability in several countries including Afghanistan, Myanmar and Pakistan evokes the need for a concrete refugee policy

Prevent Alienation of States: The adoption of a favourable refugee policy would reduce the big brother attitude of India with regard to its relations with neighbours.

Eg: Bangladesh had to bear the burden of Rohingya Refugees

Challenges in adopting a Refugee Policy

Pressure on Resources: India herself is strained by the lack of resources for its growing population. In such a situation, providing those inward with natural resources and social infrastructure can be a tough task

Security Concerns: The influx of refugees raises concerns for India’s security due to the concern of infiltration of terrorists as well as the ethnic conflicts. Such conflicts have a higher likelihood of occurrence in North-East states which shares borders with many nations.

Demographic Change: Refugees can substantially alter the demography of a region. This can upset the balance of the economy given the demand-supply disruptions in production and labour markets

Loss of Strategic Autonomy: Drafting a clear cut policy would entail the parting of India’s strategic autonomy of making situation-based decisions on refugees. India would be forced to concur with the made policy even if national interests are perverse.

Conclusion

                India needs to extend a healing touch and helping hand to those fleeing their homes with the quantum of resources at its disposal. It would redeem the glowing ideal of Vasudeiva Kudumbakam that shaped this nation.

Issues of Refugees in India

Refoulement: The UN Convention on Refugees illustrate the principle of non-refoulement that is no contracting state shall expel a refugee to frontiers where her life or freedom is threatened on account of race, religion, nationality or political affiliation. The Indian state has violated the convention on occasion where it has pushed back Rohingya and other refugees

Limited Access to Services: The unclear legal status of refugees has raised concerns of their access to services- education, healthcare and social services

Limited Livelihood Avenues: Many of the incoming refugees find it hard to earn a living due to changes in demography and social stigma associated with them.

Xenophobia: The growing intolerance towards refugees compounded by polarised mobilizations have caused social tensions. This manifests in the worst form in discrimination for access to services, resources, employment and violence

Victimization: Refugees have been targeted by anti-social elements for exploitation, oppression and trafficking activities.

Limited Political Participation: Due to their smaller number, refugees do not possess any political mileage to channelize the government to act for them. This reduces their bargaining power on the state to provide them with rights on par with citizens.

Loss of Culture: Refugees may end up assimilating the culture of the country in which they end up wither voluntarily or by compulsion or imposition. This cultural homogenization entails the loss of values of the unique culture of refugees.

Way Forward

Skill Development: In order to adapt to the demand-supply needs of the labour market, the refugees need to be skilled in compliance with industry demands. This can enable them to better their incomes and improve their standard of living

Awareness Campaigns: Programs which bring together refugees and normal citizens can endeavour to break the ice of Xenophobia towards them. This can kindle the spirit of humanism and compassion inherent in all human beings

Security Measures: Considering the vulnerability of refugees, the law and order machinery needs to take extra care in ensuring they are not trafficked or are not victims of violence

Pressure Groups: Formal associations of refugees and civil society organizations can push the cause of refugees. They can make the state stand up and take notice of the deficiencies that plague the refugees

Conclusion

                India’s commitment to the Global Compact on Refugees in the New York Declaration for Refugees underlines its commitment to socio-economic empowerment of refugees. India’s continued commitment for welfare of the world continues to increase.

India Myanmar

Introduction

                India and Myanmar’s long history of relationship has elevated with the instilling of a civilian government in Myanmar. China’s peaceful rise in South Asia and India’s aspirations to look east through north east entail Myanmar as key partner in shaping India’s Act East and ASEAN relations.

Conclusion

                India must strive to change its outlook of viewing Myanmar through the prism of the Act East Policy and instead must look towards it as a partner in the SAARC neighbourhood ensuring peace and development in the South Asian Region.

INDIA – AFGHANISTAN

                The recent U.S South Asia Policy puts India into the limelight of the Afghan Peace Process. As a tempestuous neighbour and the gateway to Central and West Asia, Afghanistan resembles the Heart of Asia for India that bleeds but provides an artery of trade to the Centre and West.

Connectivity

AIR Corridor

  • It is a part of India’s Look West policy as well as the ‘Connect Central Asia’ policy which seeks to reduce connectivity barriers to Afghan and other central Asian countries which have been a major roadblock in having fruitful economic and foreign relations with the Central Asia countries
  • Helps India to circumvent Pakistan and establish a trade route with Central Asia

Trilateral agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan to ensure multimodal connectivity

Infrastructure projects of India in Afghanistan

  • India provides $2 billion in aid to Afghanistan
  • India has developed the Zaranj-Delaram highway, Herat Dam, Doshi-Charikar Power project and Afghanistan’s Parliament Complex

WAY FORWARD

India should look beyond the mere prism of circumventing Pakistan in advancing connectivity projects. It should look to extend its geographical reach where commerce avenues are brought up in Central Asia, Russia and then Europe.

Peace Process in Afghanistan

Current Scenario

The new administration in the U.S has put immense pressure on Pakistan to ramp up its efforts to mitigate terrorism and has committed to placement of troops with non-bound timelines. It has asked India to increase its economic engagements with Afghanistan to play a key role in its socio-economic revival through providing the requisite line of credit

India’s role in Afghanistan

  • Supplier of Credit for Economic Development: India has many infrastructure projects in Afghanistan and is focused on socio-economic emancipation of the Afghan society through Human Development activities with special focus on women and children
    • Air Corridor to boost trade
    • Zaranj- Delaram Highway for improved connectivity and impetus to trade
    • Selma Dam / India- Afghan friendship dam
  • Building Political Institutions: As the largest democracy in the world and due to its location, India has a commitment to build institutions of democracy in Afghanistan which has been hitherto subjected to autocracy and rule of terror
    • Parliament of Afghanistan
  • Leveraging Civilizational Values: India and Afghanistan share close cultural relationships reflected in shared historical culture of Buddhism, Bollywood and business. India can fruitfully use these cultural relations to improve its trade and economic engagements
  • Cooperation in Space: India has launched the GSAT-9 or the South Asian satellite which can provide valuable information to SAARC countries including Afghanistan for humanitarian assistance, disaster management, weather prediction and multiple other uses

Geo-Political Scenario in Afghanistan

  • S has decided to indefinitely continue its deployment of troops in Afghanistan. It has identified India as its key partner in securing peace and stability in Afghanistan while Pakistan has been identified as incapable to bring peace to Afghanistan
  • S has not put its tough stance on Pakistan into action evidenced by provision of 700 million $ in fund to Pakistan for counter-terrorism
  • India is intent on institution building and bringing economic development to war ravaged region of Afghanistan. A stable Afghanistan is in India’s best interest as it would
    • Prevent the export of fundamentalism
    • Reduce drug trafficking as it is part of the golden quadrilateral
    • Deny Pakistan strategic space
    • Provide impetus to India’s connectivity projects to Central Asia
    • Ensure the safety of India’s investments in Afghanistan: Selma Dam, TAPI, Zaranj-Delaram Highway, Hajigat Mines
  • Russia is concerned about the infiltration of IS into Afghanistan and its confrontations with the Taliban. IS-K’s strategic location provides it access points to Central issue which raises concern for Russia’s security.
  • China is also wary of IS-K’s location in eastern and northern parts of Afghanistan and fear that the Xianjiang province could be further destabilized. Stability is also a key concern for its BRI projects mainly the CPEC and hence China desires a stable Pakistan
  • Pakistan views India’s economic integration with Afghanistan as the loss of its own economic leverage over the region

Way Forward

  • A growing tripartite alliance between Russia, China and Pakistan was on display when they attempted to negotiate and strike a deal with the Taliban. However, U.S, Afghanistan and India opposed the negotiation as their participation was not involved.
  • The growing indifference between stakeholder states and fractionalization of interest provides fuel to the unending war and instability in Afghanistan. A coordinated approach involving all states culminating in a win-win approach is hence necessary to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan

Conclusion

India needs to support an Afghan-led Afghan-owned and Afghan controlled reconciliation process within the framework of Afghan constitution and the internationally accepted red lines. It shall focus on economic development and political institution building refraining from direct military engagements to safeguard its strategic autonomy and conserve manpower

India-Bangladesh

Introduction

                The Indo-Bangladesh relation that birthed in the womb of history in a tempestuous South Asia now has transcended into a new phase with the rise of the Dragon in Asia. In the evolving geopolitical scenario, India’s relationship with Bangladesh holds a mirror to India’s Neighbourhood First Policy.

Economic Relations

  • Cabinet approves Joint Interpretive Notes to boost India-Bangladesh relations
  • JIN aims to promote and protect investments – MFN, Definition of investment and investor, Exclusion of tax measures and expeditious settlement of disputes between investor and contractor
  • Bangladesh has inked a 5 billion $ worth line of credit with India for development in health, education and infrastructure
  • India is providing Bangladesh with ICT assistance

Defence Cooperation

Naval Cooperation:

  • India and Bangladesh have instituted CORPAT (Coordinated Patrol) featuring the two navies. This can enhance material support, training, EEZ surveillance and hydrographic assistance between the two nations
  • IMMSAREX: Bangladesh hosted the multilateral naval exercise between nations of the Indian Ocean Rim in which India was a key participant as a founding member of IONS

Army Cooperation: India and Bangladesh together conduct the SAMPRITI exercise to boost joint cooperation in army related matters.

Issues

Assam Citizenship Registry: Bangladesh is concerned that the formulation of Assam registry of individuals to determine their citizenship status would trigger a mass exodus of refugees to Bangladesh straining their resources and threatening the stability of democratic rule

Conclusion

                India needs to transform its party-centric relation with Bangladesh to one founded on values of cooperation, co-existence and mutual respect drawing on the ideals of Panchasheel and the spirit of the Land Boundary Agreement. 

India-Nepal

Introduction

                The strategic location, civilizational linkages and ethnic familiarities have laid base to conducive relations between India and Nepal. In the era of the Asian Century, the power balance between New Delhi and Kathmandu is critical to cooperation and harmony in the South Asian region.

Issues

  • Party Centric Relationship: The new incumbent government in Nepal is headed by a political party that has an unfavourable stand towards India. Hence India needs to be careful in its engagements with Nepal so that its relationship does not become a party centric one like that of Indo- Bangladesh relation

Conclusion

India needs to leverage its historical, geographical and cultural familiarity in its relations with Nepal and follow subtle diplomacy rather than a coercive one in the spirit of an elder brother rather than a big brother.

India – Maldives

                The recent political scenario in the Maldives with the breakdown of democracy and the suspension of law and order institutions through an emergency raises great concerns for India. The rise of a dictatorial regime in its neighbourhood coupled by China’s ‘peaceful rise’ and strategic embrace provides India with a conundrum of problems.

Should India intervene?

Yes

  • Restoration of Democracy: As the world’s largest democracy, India has a moral objective of ensuring that democratic structures all over the world thrive. It can use its diplomatic engagements in multilateral forums to revive the Maldivian democracy
  • Strategic Location: the Maldives is pivotal to ensuring India’s maritime security in the backdrop of rising Chinese extra-regional presence in the Indian ocean and the shifting of piracy line. Guarding against these traditional and non-traditional threats, India and Maldives have already signed a trilateral agreement on maritime security with Srilanka
  • Peaceful South Asia: A peaceful and stable South Asia is in India’s best interests for economic engagements and to limit the export of fundamentalism. SAARC can be leveraged to achieve the same in the Maldives
  • China’s Strategic Embrace: A non-democratic regime is more susceptible to China’s cheque book diplomacy and strategic embrace while democracies in India’s neighbourhood seek to balance China’s power with Indian autonomy.
    • Usage of the port at Gadhoo in South Maldives – a threat to India’s maritime security
  • Import of Radicalization: Under the current administration, Maldives has witnessed growing radicalization tendencies that could in the future find its way to India through the West coast

No

Introduction: Disastrous interventions: IPKF in Sri Lanka alienating the Tamil population of Jaffna

Economic Blockade imposed on Nepal, Change of constitution of Nepal – alienated Nepal from India and pushed it to strategic embrace of China

Successful Interventions: Liberation of East Pakistan – 1971war successfully set up democratic institutions in Bangladesh against authoritarian repressions from West Pakistan

  • Big Brother Attitude: In the past, India’s interventions in sovereign affairs of neighbouring nations have had counter-productive results most recently witnessed in India’s pressure on Nepal to change the constitution.
  • Violation of Panchasheel: India’s neighbourhood policy is guided by the Panchasheel that emphasised on the principle of non-interference with neighbouring nations
  • Strategic Embrace of China: Excessive interference may alienate Maldives from Indian engagements and lead them to an embrace with China which can be detrimental to India’s maritime security
  • Loss of Manpower

Issues in India-Maldives Relation

  • Cooperation with Pakistan: Maldives has for the first time invited the Pakistan Navy for joint patrols in the Indian ocean till now the exclusive domain of the Indian Navy
  • Emergency in Maldives: India refused support for the Maldivian Government when emergency was imposed by rejecting its special envoy to India. India had criticized the Maldivian Government for the imposition of the emergency and had asked to restore normal democracy in the island Nation
  • Proximity with China: Maldives and China have gotten closer with each other as evidenced by the Free Trade Agreement as well as the Gadoo port taken over by China in Maldives
  • Big Brother Attitude of India: India has ardently pitched for restoration of democracy in Maldives even questioning the credibility of the election and treatment of judiciary by the Maldivian Government.

Conclusion

                The Island Nation has been India’s all-weather friend since long and recent strains in India- Maldives relationship coupled with India’s assertive nature has caused Male to move away from an India First Policy. New Delhi must engage peacefully and restore its good relationship with Male wary of China’s strategic embrace. Lessons from Nepal and Myanmar would serve India best to limit its Big Brother Attitude towards vital neighbours.

Why Maldives?

  • Strategic Location of the Island Nation
  • Blue Diplomacy to drive economic growth using maritime resources
  • Medical Tourism opportunities for Maldivian population in India
  • Growing Influence of China in the Indian Ocean Region
  • Multilateral Diplomacy: UN, SAARC, SAARTAC, SASEC, UNSC: India had recently voted in favour of Maldives for its membership to the UNSC

Cooperation

  • Naval Cooperation: The strategic location of Maldives is pivotal to securing maritime security of the Indo-Pacific. India and Maldives are part of the IONS and have exhibited continued cooperation in maritime security
  • Defence Cooperation: India had transferred Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (DALHs)

Read All notes by Ravisankar Sarma

INDIA – PAKISTAN

Issues

  • Terrorism: The threat of export of terror from Pakistan continues unabated. Pakistan has done little to gain India’s and the world’s trust in the fight against terror. FATF recently grey listed Pakistan asking it to step up action against terror financing
    • The politicization of terror outfit LeT and allowing it to stand for elections is testimony to this
  • Separatism: Pakistan continues to be an irritant extra state actor in fuelling separatism in parts of Kashmir. The increased weaponry in the valley is a testament to the extra-state influence

 Current Scenario on Dialogue

Pakistan rejects any dialogue without resolution of Kashmir issue – it has been referring to Human right violations in Kashmir. India has rejected dialogue without Pakistan acting on terror.

India is leveraging multilateral platforms to voice its concern over Pakistan being a safe haven for terrorists (in both U.N and the BRICS). It opines that no dialogue is possible without Pakistan taking strict counter terrorism measures and end its tolerance and support for domestic terror outfits

KARTARPUR SAHIB PILGRIM CORRIDOR:

Pakistan has offered to provide infrastructure and connectivity to the Kartarpur Shrine that hosts holy place of the Sikhs, the resting place of Guru Nanak. The commissioning of the corridor can provide people-to-people exchange and can help build confidence in a very hostile relation between the 2 nations.

On the other side, the corridor also raises security concerns with Pakistans border infrastructure reaching to the Indian border. Sikh Gurudwaras have also functioned as centres of Sikh Militancy and sceptics fear the Gurudwara on the other side of the boundary could become breeding ground for Khalistan Demand and Militancy

Way Forward

                The J&K government has asked the Centre to restart dialogue and reconciliation with Pakistan targeting peace in the valley. The Atal Doctrine is said to be an ideal resolution for the Kashmir issue.

CROSS LOC TRADE

  • Major confidence-building measure between India and Pakistan
  • Reinitiated after cases of drug smuggling in the aftermath of Uri attack
  • Goods are exchanged in a barter system

China-Pakistan Nexus

Conclusion: India must not view its relation with China through the prism of China-Pakistan relationship that is getting more intense and proximate as evidenced by trade of defence equipment, ammunition and the CPEC

Conclusion for India-Pakistan

                The dawn of a new civilian government provides India yet another opportunity to start another chapter of friendship that has oft been cut short by the other. India must look to strengthen the civilian government’s arm and increase confidence-building measures of increased trade and people to people exchange.

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