Potential for positive engagement with India

At long last, India feels reassured and confident of its pre-eminence in South Asia and the adjoining region. Clear indications of support from major powers, including the USA, and a resurgent economy have been crucial factors. The fact that they are now being compared in the same breath with Japan and Germany have also created an awareness that they have a clear responsibility to be seen as more accommodating in their bilateral relationships with their neighbours. It is being understood by the New Delhi leadership that flexibility is called for.

This is good. It is important for removing tension and constructing bridges. This is a sign of maturity.

A positive example of this has been the recent agreements over the past weekend with Pakistan. Both countries undertook significant measures towards reducing the risk of an accidental nuclear war. This will assist the peace process between India and Pakistan and also reduce concern among their neighbours.

The three-day visit of the Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh to Bangladesh was a similar good step. As expected, a large number of issues were placed on the table. Our Foreign Minister indicated that discussions were held in 'a very frank and candid atmosphere'. One would not have expected anything else.

The vital aspect that we need to understand is that, this was the beginning of a process. In a way, it was a resumption that was long overdue.

Milton wrote long ago that 'dialogue is knowledge in the making'. What happened in Dhaka was essential. It might not have solved all the existing problems. It cleared the atmosphere. The fact that the Indian External Affairs Minister's visit was accompanied by Track-2 discussions between civil society representatives of both countries added to the comprehensive approach. The CPD deserves special commendation for this arrangement.

The visit of Natwar Singh was like the servicing of a re-conditioned car -- the battery was recharged, spark plugs changed, engine oil replaced alongwith the oil and air filters. The combustion mechanism was also more efficiently calibrated. One hopes that the engine of understanding and bilateral cooperation will now function more smoothly.

Several high level visits are expected over the coming months. They are, in all likelihood, going to add further impetus and might even usher in greater political will to resolve differences. We have to wait and see.

In the meantime, this time in Dhaka, the two sides appear to have had a wide-ranging analysis of how things stand.

Consistent with diplomatic courtesies, both sides agreed to remove irritants that have often strained relations between the two neighbours. Need for peaceful solutions were particularly stressed with regard to security issues and border problems. This was given priority given the direct impact of trans-border arms smuggling, alleged illegal migration and criminalisation of the border areas. I believe that coming to a final agreement with regard to the remaining few miles of the border and the guidelines and sharing information pertaining to criminals and terrorists will facilitate a joint approach towards tackling common threats of insecurity and fundamentalism. What is probably needed is greater political will and trust in each other. That is the only way out.

I take this opportunity to also welcome the realisation of both sides that there needs to be further integration of regional cooperation. There is no other alternative. We are all looking forward towards the forthcoming SAARC Summit later on this year in Dhaka. South Asia has had more than its share of disquiet. We have witnessed difficulties and failures in governance, acts of terror, natural disasters and economic shifts due to post-MFA re-organisation. The postponement of the Summit also created its own ramifications and misunderstandings. Consequently, the consensus, that all South Asian countries need to work together to improve the sub-continental situation assumes special connotation. If this view persists, it will help to make the Summit a success.

The visit of the Indian External Affairs Minister was also unique because of it having been welcomed in a bi-partisan manner. Sheikh Hasina, Awami League President and Leader of the Opposition also underlined on the need for a strong constructive engagement and political commitment of both governments to resolve outstanding differences, particularly the huge trade gap. Quite correctly, she outlined that economic and political relations have to be improved further by removing the irritants. This view was consistent with that of the government.

In this era of globalisation, both Bangladesh and India need to understand that they might have individual strategic interests, but both must work together to create a stable, functional infrastructure. Connectivity is important. This should also include up-gradation of land ports, sea ports, telecommunication links and financial linkages. We can make phone calls to any place in the USA, Canada and many countries in Europe for Taka 7.50 per minute, but it costs many times more to make a call to India. This is affecting those who are involved in bilateral trade between the two countries. The volume of such trade has now grown to over $1.6 billion, and this does not include informal trade -- euphemism for smuggling.

This aspiration for a closer, pro-active relationship cannot however be achieved without active support from India. As the dominant partner and the regional power, they have to exercise self control. It was disconcerting to read a report in the 'New Age' (8 August) that Indian intelligence agencies offer handsome money to journalists to write articles against Bangladesh and two other neighbouring countries (Pakistan and Nepal). This was been claimed by Arun Rajnath, New Delhi correspondent of the Washington based online newspaper 'South Asian Tribune'. The same person has also alleged that harassment is meted 'towards journalists who refuse to comply with official directives'. One hopes that this report is wrong. If true, one can only characterise such attempts as being short-sighted and negative. We must not destroy hard earned confidence building measures and waste scarce opportunities for the evolution of a South Asian spirit.

I am an optimist by nature. I believe that India is beginning to understand that Bangladesh is not a threat to India's security. We believe in peaceful co-existence. We also want to take advantage of India's look-east policy and the numerous complementarities and synergies in the fields of economy, education, information technology and energy. These are important elements for bolstering and expanding areas of trade and investment for our large populations.

Both sides need to move forward. It would be useful to avoid embittering bilateral relations with provocative statements or controversial plans (river-linkages). People of both countries, because of past history and cultural linkages, share ties of friendship that need to be further nurtured.

We have several opportunities coming our way and they need to be utilised. This includes meetings of the India-Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission, the Joint Working Group on boundary demarcation, adverse possession and enclaves and also of the Home Secretaries of the two governments. There will also hopefully be visits to Bangladesh in the coming months of senior Indian Cabinet Ministers (including Minister for Water Resources, Minister for Commerce and the Minister for Energy) and also of Mr Manmohan Singh, the Indian Prime Minister. The near-future is filled with potential for progress. The scope for a new beginning has surfaced. Cordiality and political good-will must prevail over mistrust.

Muhammad Zamir is a former Secretary and Ambassador.