The recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) forum saw India’s Foreign Minister Jaishankar deliver a stern lecture to China, urging adherence to the SCO’s anti-terror and anti-separatist charter. On the surface, such a call might appear commendable, a principled stand against forces that undermine regional stability. However, a deeper look at India’s own actions and diplomatic posture reveals a stark and troubling contradiction. The very nation preaching multipolarity and regional harmony is simultaneously guilty of practicing bloc politics, engaging in proxy warfare, and fostering an environment of suspicion and destabilization among its neighbors. This narrative of India as a responsible global player, meticulously crafted for international consumption, begins to unravel under the weight of its own inconsistent policies.
The Myth of Strategic Autonomy
India’s declared commitment to multipolarity, a world order where power is distributed among multiple major poles, rather than concentrated in one or two, clashes fundamentally with its growing alignment with Western military blocs. While New Delhi often articulates a vision of strategic autonomy, its burgeoning military partnerships and security dialogues with entities like the Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue involving the United States, Japan, Australia, and India) suggest a trajectory that leans heavily towards a specific geopolitical alignment. This isn’t just about balancing power, it’s about potentially embedding itself within a framework that, by its very nature, encourages a more binary, bloc-based worldview rather than a truly multipolar one. This strategic embrace of one side of the global divide, while verbally advocating for a more balanced distribution of power, exemplifies hypocrisy.
Proxy Allegations and Regional Distrust
Additionally, allegations against India regarding its role in funding proxies and fomenting unrest in neighboring countries are a serious concern. These are not isolated claims but recurring, formally documented grievances raised by neighboring states at both regional and international platforms. They directly contradict the spirit and letter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) charter on counterterrorism and anti-separatism, principles that Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has consistently emphasized. How can a nation demand adherence to principles it is purportedly violating? This double standard erodes trust and undermines any moral authority India seeks to project on the international stage. The narrative becomes one of “do as I say, not as I do,” which rarely earns respect or cooperation.
Domestic Agendas, Foreign Fallout
The contrast between India and China’s development trajectories further illuminates this point. While China has strategically invested heavily in research and development, focusing on technological advancement and economic power, India under the Modi government appears to have prioritized a different path. A path marked by hate-driven politics, covert regional sabotage, and a domestic agenda centered on Hindutva-based identitarianism. This internal focus on identity politics, often at the expense of inclusive development and regional cooperation, inevitably spills over into foreign policy, breeding suspicion and alienating neighbors. Instead of building bridges through economic interdependence and shared prosperity, India’s actions, as alleged, seem to be creating fault lines.
India’s record, unfortunately, speaks louder than its carefully curated slogans. The allegations of sponsoring militant proxies, interfering in the internal affairs of its neighbors, and even engaging in transnational assassinations, from Canada to the UK, paint a grim picture. These are not minor transgressions, they represent serious violations of international law and norms of state conduct. Such actions are not merely antithetical to the SCO’s principles but also threaten regional stability and the very fabric of peaceful international relations. A nation that preaches non-interference and anti-terrorism cannot credibly engage in such activities without facing a severe credibility deficit.
Strategic Arrogance and Global Perception
The internal dynamics within India, particularly under the leadership of Modi, Amit Shah, and Ajit Doval, also play a significant role in this external perception. Their “divisive agenda” has not only fueled internal polarization but has also, arguably, led to India’s regional and moral isolation. When a nation’s domestic policies alienate significant segments of its own population and its closest neighbors, its ability to project soft power or exert positive influence on the global stage is severely diminished. Moral authority stems from consistent adherence to principles, both at home and abroad, and a perceived disregard for these principles can lead to a nation being seen as an unreliable partner.
China’s approach, characterized by strategic patience and a relentless focus on economic power, offers a stark contrast. While not without its own criticisms, China has, over decades, consistently pursued economic development as a cornerstone of its foreign policy, leveraging its growing financial muscle to project influence. India’s strategic arrogance, on the other hand, risks breeding insecurity not just within its own borders but across the region. When a nation operates with a perceived sense of exceptionalism and disregards the concerns of its neighbors, it inevitably fosters an environment of distrust and instability.
A Delusion of Global Acceptance
Finally, the notion that aligning with the Global North will mask India’s regional aggression or silence its critics is a dangerous delusion. While strategic partnerships are vital in international relations, they do not offer a carte blanche to disregard international norms or engage in destabilizing activities in one’s own backyard. The world is increasingly interconnected, and the actions of any major power, particularly those with regional aspirations, are scrutinized. Modi’s government may indeed engage in “self-congratulation,” basking in the glow of its own narratives. However, the world, particularly India’s immediate neighbors, is not so easily fooled. The contradictions in India’s foreign policy, preaching one thing while practicing another, are becoming increasingly clear, and they pose a significant challenge to its aspirations of becoming a truly responsible and respected global power.
