Indo-China like model of dialogue can resolve dispute with Pakistan

Mr. Yogendra Kumar, former ambassador to Tajikistan and the Philippines, suggested on Wednesday the India-China model of dialogue should be followed to resolve outstanding issues with Pakistan.

Delivering the keynote address as part of the Ministry of External Affairs’ Distinguished Lecture Series at Maulana Azad National Urdu University Mr. Kumar, an accomplished diplomat and an expert on South and Central Asia, said that while India and China have a serious border dispute, they have agreed to improve relations in other areas such as in the fields of trade, commerce and culture while continuing talks on the border problem. The improvement in relation is such now that China has become one of the biggest trade partner of India. On the other hand the relations with Pakistan have got stuck in the rut over Islamabad’s insistence on giving priority to resolving the Kashmir dispute before venturing out to improving relations with India in other areas.

This was the second lecture organized by the MEA in collaboration with the MANUU. The first one was held late last month where former diplomat Aftab Seth spoke on Indian foreign policy challenges and opportunities in relation to Japan.

Mr. Kumar who studied Russian as a mandatory language as he entered the Foreign Service in 1977 has served in Soviet Union and Central Asia in various capacities and gained on-hand experience about the region and it’s potential.

He emphasized that the days of military confrontations are over. The relations between India and Pakistan could be resolved only by looking for opportunities of cooperation and tapping them for the benefit of two nations.

On Central Asia, he spoke about the challenges being faced by India. Because of the difficult accessibility to the region through land and sea routes, India has not been able to exploit the opportunities available there as much as China that has contiguous border. Though the potential of availability of gas and minerals is abundant in Central Asia as well as in Afghanistan but some of the figures given by the respective governments are exaggerated. Also, the gas pipeline project that was mooted from the region to India via Afghanistan and Pakistan is in jeopardy owing to unstable conditions in Kabul and Islamabad. However, India has been trying to help develop a port in Iran to facilitate the transportation of goods and material from that region to India.

He said that relations with the Central Asia have been age old the people there have tremendous goodwill for Indians.

His lecture that mapped the entire gamut of Indian foreign policy was followed by a lively question-answer session with the students.

Prof. Khwaja M.Shahid, Pro Vice-Chancellor of MANUU, in his presidential remarks appreciated the suggestion made by Mr. Kumar that non-military options should be explored to develop good relations with the neighbouring and other countries.

Prof. S.M. Rahmatullah, In-charge Registrar and Dean Schools of Arts and Social Sciences, welcomed the guest and said more such eminent diplomats would be visiting MANUU in the future to create awareness about the Indian foreign policy among the students and faculty.

The lecture was convened by Dr Kaneez Zehra, Head of the Departments of Public Administration and Political Science who also proposed a vote of thanks.