In contrast to its tepid economic reform program, the 15-month-old Narendra Modi government has generally earned high marks for foreign policy. It has boosted ties with the United States, Japan, and Australia, brought India’s special relationship with Israel out of the closet, and actively courted neighbors such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
But there’s one glaring exception to this impressive record: a rudderless approach to Pakistan that lurches between unrelenting toughness and the promise of a thaw.
The most recent evidence of this flip-flopping came over the weekend. Pakistan called off talks between the two country’s national security advisers amidst acrimony fueled by both sides through a farcical exchange of media statements. India insisted that Pakistan National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz not meet with separatists from Indian Kashmir and abide by a previous agreement to confine initial talks to terrorism. Pakistan refused.
The cancellation of the talks allowed Mr. Modi to retain a measure of credibility among his hawkish supporters. But the confusion leading up to it highlights a contradiction at the heart of India’s Pakistan policy under the right-of-center Bharatiya Janata Party government. In order to appeal to his core voters, and differentiate his policies from the left-of-center Congress Party, Mr. Modi needs to look tough on Pakistan. But in order to his buff his credentials as an international statesman, the prime minister wants to appear conciliatory—or at least willing to talk to his nuclear-armed neighbor.
This article will be posted in full on Monday, August 31, 2015.
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