-------------------------------------------------------------------------Shybu Khan for USINPAC
Even before the XVIth
Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement commenced in Tehran, there were fervent
discussions and passionate discourses about the role, potency, and relevance of
a movement crafted in a furnace so vehemently fueled by the Cold War. After the
end of the Cold War and the collapse of the USSR, the naysayers’ upped their
ante on the prediction of doom of gloom for this still nascent movement. The
experts speculated and suggested that the Movement has outlived its usefulness;
it lacked clear vision; ailed from tentative and confused leadership; has
achieved very little by way of tangible and palpable results, and ran parallel
to the ground realities of the present world.
In keeping with these stark notional judgments of
the past and present, the build-up to the Summit in Tehran was also marred by
claims that the Non-Aligned Movement could be hijacked by the Syrian crisis or
the nuclear standoff between Iran and the UN et cetera. There were also
apprehensions that the Summit would be used as a propaganda tool for the Iran
regime to cement its position domestically while it presents the successful
staging of the Summit as a show of defiance and strength to all its perceived
adversaries.
Accusations also floated around that Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad wanted to use the Summit as a plank for showcasing to the world
that Iran’s allies stood shoulder to shoulder with them–although reluctantly so
–even as the world was on an apparent crusade to marginalize them. Supposedly,
Iran also wanted to make it evident that its diplomatic machinery is in the
pink of health, and that all those sanctions, bans and restriction haven’t
broken Iran’s morale and spirit to achieve whatever goals it had set out for
itself. Owing to these factors, the Non-Aligned Movement Summit was paraded as
an exercise in futility and supporting rogue intents even before it started –
and though it is too early to comment on how the Summit went – things were
certainly stacked against it.
These notwithstanding, many contentions still
pesters regarding whether a group constituting 120 nations that represents a
major chunk of the human population should be brushed aside so nonchalantly and
treated so indifferently. Should its raison d'etre be put in doubt because some
nations in its midst are considered, “unstable or fragile” – and whether in a
multi-aligned world, does one need to write-off one of the oldest and most
peaceful gatherings of nations at a time when member nations within the
Movement – supported by "the powers that be" – need to work together
and sort out issues that it was confronted with? The question also
remained whether the Group’s past leanings and performance should be considered
as a precursor to what it could achieve going forward? Wouldn’t it have been
worthwhile to work with the Group to explore probable solutions by creating a
sense of acceptance and camaraderie? No matter what the answer may be, it is
certain that the Non-Aligned Movement is capable of and is poised to play a
pivotal role within the political and economic sphere of the developing world.
It holds great promise in encouraging world equality in every meaning of the
word and the only question is when the dystopian theorists and pessimistic
leaders realize it and make amends.
As a result of the
tirade against the Summit, the early casualty of all the negative publicity was
a certain nullification of the positives that the Movement had committed itself
to and what formed the crux of its founding principles, which meant that the Summit
made news for all the wrong reasons. The good intention of the Summit was in
sharp contrast highlighted by the speech
that India’ s Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh gave to the gathering of NAM
leaders that spoke of global peace, all-round development, promoting democracy,
pluralism; combatting terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction; tackling the menace of maritime piracy, the threat of cyber
security; pursuing ecologically sustainable development while ensuring energy,
water and food security – which were in essence stymied by all the hype and
hoopla surrounding the rampant negatives rants.
Throughout the history
of NAM, many critics have pointed out that the Movement still has to overcome
its colonial and polarized mentality – which analysts see as primarily
anti-West and mainly targeted against the US – and is one of the reasons the
Group is seen as regressive and ineffective. This is where India comes into the
picture. India has established strong relationships with some of the oldest and
strongest groups/entities in the world as part of its, ‘multi-aligned,’
approach as stated by Shashi Tharoor in his book, Pax Indica: India and the
World of the 21st Century. Today India is part of the G-77, G-20, G4, IBSA,
BRICS, RIC, BASIC, WTO, NAM et cetera as part of India’s flourishing, “Look
East” and “Look West” policy, which puts it in an ideal position to make the
NAM work – maybe not in a leadership role but from more of a coercive
facilitator perspective.
With the growth of India’s economy and its
growing stature around the world, the world has become more welcoming and
receptive to India’s active engagement, and has since encouraged India’s
participation in resolving issues that are crucial to maintaining a peaceful
and stable climate for every country to grow and flourish in. Thus far, India
has been a reluctant leader, choosing not to meddle in external matters as long
as it doesn’t affect it, but the fact remains that the world would much rather
prefer India – which takes great pride in calling itself the largest democracy
in the world and a pacifist nation– to an aggressive imposer with possible
clandestine motives. India could be the link that brings NAM into the new age
and break the clichés that has tarnished its image over the years.
Now, the partnership
between India and the United States is also very crucial to bring the rest of
the world together with NAM and make them work for the greater good of all. The
flourishing Indo-US relationship and India’s current working relationship with
Iran, its understanding with members states of NAM, along with its rapport with
other countries around the world, could well prove to be the elixir that the,
“all but doomed negotiation,” with Iran and the UN Security Council lead
agencies – made worse by Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei slamming
the 'overt dictatorship' of the UN Security Council – needs in order to get
things back on track. Eminent states of the NAM, along with India, US, and the
UN, can also play a constructive role in the deteriorating situation in Syria,
and help in taking the stalled negotiation for a Palestine homeland forward in
urgency among many other prospective area of collaboration.
India also attaches great strategic importance to
a safe and flourishing Iran vis-à-vis India’s growing energy needs. India is
safeguarding its interest in the region through the development of the Chabahar
port in Iran to help facilitate Indian logistics through to Afghanistan and
Central Asia -- and in apropos – developing the infrastructure needed therein.
All these unravel into nothing if any conflict arises that might destabilize
things so close to India’s borders, which is a very real possibility as things
stand now. India, along with key NAM nation, could play the role of an
impartial friend who acts as a go-between in the negotiations concerning the
Iranians and the Security Council; the Syrian government and its people; and be
a voice of support for the Palestine people et cetera, which will turn out to
be a win-win situation for all concerned parties. It will allow space for a
foolproof plan to be implemented in due course as per the will of the masses.
This will therefore bring long-term closure to disputes in an amicable and
acceptable manner.
In closing and before
making any calls on NAM’s future, we would perhaps do well to remember that
nations within the Movement have a great stake in what transpires in the world
and should be looked at as a facilitator rather than a hindrance. NAM can be
the umbrella under which all the parties -- in its area of influence -- that
currently don’t look eye to eye can work together. India’s political diversity
and growing stature means that it has to take the most just and equitable
stance – and with NAM, India, the US, UN and other eminent nations putting
peaceful resolution first – the threat of a Israel versus Iran, Islamic versus
non-Islamic, Sunnis versus Shias, republicans versus monarchy conflicts can be
averted – which I think is ultimately the whole point of today’s diplomacy and
defines world politics in its simplest form.
So, for those who are keen on downplaying the
importance of NAM - there could still be some use for the Non-Aligned Movement
yet.
No comments:
Post a Comment