Modi’s International Outreach: A Comparison with Pakistan’s Diplomacy
The recent diplomatic efforts of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have initiated a substantial debate in Pakistan, with Dr. Qamar Cheema, a noted analyst, criticizing the Pakistan leadership for its style of international relations. As seen by Dr. Cheema, there is a polar difference between Modi’s outreach to ordinary Indians overseas and the Pakistani elite’s interaction with the same.
A New India: Paradigm Shift in Strategic Culture
Dr. Qamar Cheema points out that India is transforming rapidly under Modi’s regime with a strong emphasis on:
Economic Growth: India aspires to become a developed nation in the coming 25 years through augmented per capita income and growth in GDP.
Cultural Revival: India is asserting its deep-rooted cultural heritage by incorporating history, language, and values in its foreign policy.
Strategic Patience: India’s foreign policy is informed by principles of strategic patience, as seen in the diplomacy of Lord Krishna in the Mahabharata.
Pakistan’s Diplomatic Dilemma
By comparison, Pakistan’s foreign efforts have been elite-driven, with Dr. Cheema deploring the absence of awareness in Pakistan regarding India’s strategic culture and paradigm shift. He points out that Pakistan should concentrate on its economic policy in order to become a powerful country and assertively address matters such as Kashmir.
Key Takeaways from Dr. Cheema’s Analysis
India’s Assertiveness: India’s rising economic and military strength has resulted in growing international acknowledgment, with Modi’s leadership contributing greatly to projecting India on the international stage.
Pakistan’s Challenges: Pakistan is beset by tremendous challenges, such as economic instability, terrorism, and internal political divisions, which impede its capacity to project itself internationally.
Diplomatic Lessons: Dr. Cheema emphasizes that Pakistan must redefine national interest, emphasize economic growth, and develop a more sophisticated form of diplomacy beyond elite-based relations.
Conclusion
The comparison of Modi’s world outreach and the diplomatic efforts of Pakistan is leading to some salient questions about the efficacy of Pakistan’s leadership in reaching out to the global community. Pakistan must rework its priorities, as Dr. Cheema underscores, and ensure a more integrated and economically influenced diplomacy to remain relevant in today’s fast-shifting global equation ¹.