Shiban Khaibri
It may be recalled that on many occasions immediately after assuming the office, Prime Minister Modi stressed upon the fact that India should be recognized by the world as an important country to play its expected role as the largest democracy and hence its right to sit in the UN security Council as a permanent member.USA which used to be covertly not showing any inclination towards India getting its due place in the world body changed its stance , now unambiguously, and during President Obama’s visit to India early this year, made it fairly known that it fully backed India’s claim. Call it Modi effect or his way of pleading the case most vigorously and mustering support for it from other groups like G-4, unlike in the preceding years, today India’s claim not only seems gaining legitimacy but in addition to US, other permanent members like UK, France and Russia too are in chorus to back India’s stand. Modi has made it increasingly known that India being unique in that it is the largest democracy as also a fast growing economy unscathed by the effects of the signs of sluggishness and even dormancy in many economies of the world, with a vision to attain newer heights of development, growth, alleviation of poverty and allied resolution of other economic issues. It , therefore, rightly deserves a seat and for that, there should take place security council reforms.
The way the issue of the permanent seat is articulated by Shri Modi has created an environment in the world body that the reforms in it were in fact overdue and hence the need to adopt a negotiating text for it vindicates India’s stand. The only country in the world which is desperately lobbying against India for Council’s permanent member is Pakistan which has the backing of China, the country which may oppose the move to induct India as a permanent member. Pakistan feeling isolated on its well parroted rant of Kashmir in the UN is looking towards China to put the necessary hump in the way of India’s permanent membership as that country having veto power can block India’s entry . Pakistan fears that if India becomes a permanent member, she will alter the UN resolution dated Aug 13, 1948 on Kashmir attack by Pakistan overtly and covertly in 1947. Pakistan thinks the resolutions under reference, as sacrosanct and prized for it and always keeps on referring to that but which has become outdated and redundant as already made known by Kofi Anan, the former Secretary General of the UN, to Pakistan. Raising Kashmir issue and level charges against India as a routine by Pakistan in almost all forums is continuously drawing flak and this time too, none obliged Pakistan the way it wanted. It chose a novel story to tell the countries that India was raising a concrete wall on the LoC to turn it into a permanent border. Not only did this illusionary wall made a mockery of Pakistan but the adage of there being a rapport of the Pakistani Government machinery with the established institution of terror there, became crystal clear as the same charge was made by one of the most wanted Pakistani terrorists not long back against India. Regarding the wall story which clicked not even in the least, we remember Poet Robert Frost when he says (as if India says)…” There where it is , we do not need the wall”………”He moves in darkness as it seems to me …”
Pakistan has one more grudge so far as India’s permanent membership is concerned that India will emerge most important in whole of the Asia and “its hegemony will increase” . While that country has no qualms with China in asserting unwarranted hegemony, it is astonishing to see why India’s hegemony (read India assertive say) should rattle Pakistan. It is interesting to note that a leading English Daily of Pakistan has opined very recently that if any country needed the permanent membership of the UNSC most, it was India. Modi’s success in pitching India’s case forcibly lay in mobilizing effectively a united front of G-4 consisting of countries like Germany, Japan, Brazil and India in New York two days back and in a significant joint statement issued, called for a “more representative and effective” Security Council. The statement said that a legitimately effective Security Council was needed more than ever to address the global conflict and crises which had spiralled in recent years. Indian Prime Minister was forthright in saying well in his opening remarks that “a well defined fixed time frame” was needed to go in for the required reforms in the UN Security Council. The meet was hosted by Modi and the group assembled to deliberate for the first time in 10 years after it was formed in the year 2004. Modi very strongly pleaded for inclusion in the world Body world’s largest democracies, major locomotives of the global economy and voices from all the major continents, only then could it address the challenges of the 21st century. He took a jibe on the World Body by saying that it reflected the mindset of a century that we left behind and was not in tune with new concerns like Terrorism and Global Warming.
Now, a word more on India’s eligibility, stake and right to become the permanent member of the Security Council. We have been the major and largest contributors to the UN peace keeping force as Indian soldiers are known for their discipline, valour and intelligence. Wherever our forces went, they established peace and end of conflicts. It looks ludicrous that we should be fighting for our right which as a matter of fact, was our legitimate due. In a significant statement Modi ji while addressing Indian Diaspora in the French territories even just a couple of months back, said, “the time is over when India would ask for a favour , today India is asking for its rights.” He further said then in the meeting, “I want to give the message to the world that they should view India differently, that this is a country that gives sacrifices not just for itself but for others.”
It is worth noting that nearly after more than two decades of negotiations between Governments that the World Body principally agreed to adopt an official document in regard to Security Council reforms. Indian matured and professional diplomacy of late has definitely played its part and ensured a game changing moment. India looks forward about the quality of developments that are seen in this regard in the 70th session of the General Assembly. Post 2nd World War order and thinking on those lines shall no longer make the World Body vibrant and active to emerging menacing proportions of terror and the yawning gap in the wealth and development between the countries. The conservative number of the five permanent members cannot be allowed to remain unaltered in case the World Body was to emerge more relevant rather than just a formality and not take the risk of meeting the fate of the League of the Nations.
Despite many hiccups, Indian economy is continuously surging ahead and offers to the world grand opportunities to invest and do business with India with a potential big market. Our economy is on firm footing and offers transparent tax regime to foreign investors, we have a dream of an India with a $20 Trillion economy. So we matter in economic area, our political and diplomatic policies have shown our role in strengthening “Non Aligned Movement” though now it has lost its edge . We have supported causes on parity, justice and factual basis like fighting Apartheid in South Africa; like our role in Congo, like in Palestine and Isreal conflict and even in other volatile conflict zones and our stand has emerged as most relevant and effective. We have shown our matured and most responsible stand on nuclear issues. That speaks why the US has reaffirmed its support to India’s bid under Modi’s leadership for UNSC membership as also our entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
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