New Delhi, April 1 (IANS) The fundamentals of India’s relations with its neighbours are strong and any turbulence is a passing fancy, said External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid here Monday.
Speaking at a function on the launch of the website of Indian Review of Global Affairs (IRGAmag) here, Khurshid said: “The fundamentals of ties with neighbours are strong, the turbulence is in passing.”
He said tensions were “passing fancies” and “we know how to handle them” and, added, “We need to live together and happily.”
He remarks could be seen in context of recent tensions with Pakistan over violation of the Line of Control ceasefire, and more recently with Sri Lanka over India voting for a UN Human Rights Council resolution critical of the island nation’s handling of the Tamil issue.
Addressing a panel discussion on “Securing India’s Neighbourhood” at the launch, he said that India is in the process of “evolving” its security doctrine and it would become apparent in due course of time.
“Sometimes not having a security doctrine is also a doctrine,” he joked, adding that “frankly we are still evolving one”.
“The concept of a well articulated security doctrine is evolving and in due course it will become apparent.”
He said India’s foreign policy was different, “We add quality, and substance and flavor to it”.
On Maldives he said, India had sorted out the problem concerning former president Mohamed Nasheed seeking refuge in the Indian mission for a number of days following a court case against him, “nicely”. “Maldives we sorted it out nicely.. we don’t do it with fanfare or shooting from the hip.”
He praised the initiative of the IRGAmag, saying such information was needed as it would help people understand India’s foreign policy and encourage them to participate.
The event was participated by Nilova Roy Chaudhury, editor IRGAmag. The other speakers at the event were Leela Ponappa, former Deputy National Security Advisor, former Indian diplomat Arundhati Ghose, columnist Jyoti Malhotra, and Indrani Bagchi, senior diplomatic editor with The Times of India.
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