Context

States play an important role in foreign policymaking. A consensus based approach is required for benefit of subcontinent,

Background

• One of the interesting foreign policy ideas that this government unveiled early in his tenure, was to enhance the role of states in India’s engagement with the world.

• The NDA government created a “states division” in the Ministry of External Affairs to facilitate the international interactions of the state governments on a range of issues

1. from promoting trade and tourism to attracting foreign investments.

2. It has also hosted visiting dignitaries in state capitals.

Effects of Challenges  in integrating states with foreign policy in past

• The problem of finding common ground with state chief ministers on developing effective neighbourhood policies has not disappeared.

• In West Bengal, then CM wrecked carefully prepared visit by Prime Minister  to Bangladesh in 2011.

• Although the state government officials had participated in the negotiation of an agreement on sharing the Teesta river’s waters, CM vetoed the agreement hours before the PM’s meeting with Sheikh Hasina.

• It brought into stark relief Delhi’s inability to deliver on initiated agreements.

• In Tamil Nadu, the imperative of keeping the Dravidian parties happy made it hard for Delhi to pursue a sensible policy towards Sri Lanka.

• Under pressure from Congress leaders in Tamil Nadu, including senior figures like P Chidambaram, PM Singh cancelled plans to attend the Commonwealth Summit in Colombo.

Changes in policy discourse due to the majority in parliament

• As part of his early tours in the neighbourhood, Modi travelled to Sri Lanka and launched intensive dialogue with both the Sinhalese and Tamil communities.

• A majority in the Lok Sabha helped Modi to prevent the Sri Lanka policy becoming a hostage to Chennai politics.

Questions regarding the future of foreign policy if a coalition government is formed in 2019

• Can the next government pursue productive engagement with Colombo if its survival depends on support from the Dravidian parties?

• Can a weak coalition in Delhi balance the explosive political dynamic in Assam on the citizenship issue with the need to strengthen the partnership with Dhaka?

• Can the next government consult the chief ministers of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to improve strained ties with Nepal?

Conclusion

• Prospects for a sensible neighbourhood policy can’t rest solely on having single-party governments at the Centre and “responsible” CMs in the border states.

• India needs a measure of political consensus on regional policies.

• If the political classes choose to turn every problem in the neighbourhood into a domestic contestation, Delhi’s adversaries will continue to gain ground in India’s neighbourhood.

• The current intense politicisation of ties with Pakistan might seem like an exception. But similar dangers lurk on all of India’s frontiers.