It is important that while implementing India’s Indo-Pacific strategy, voices from the northeastern and eastern parts of the country should be heard.
If we talk about the needs of the eastern part of India, then there is a problem of both development and extremism. The security situation in Manipur has improved but the key issues behind the insurgency remain unresolved and need to be addressed.
There is also a big difference in the security assessment of this area. The official perspective prioritizes insurgent activity, influx of refugees, etc., while local communities are concerned over the insensitive treatment of people engaged in legitimate exchanges with neighboring countries.
It is going to be important to see the Indo-Pacific as the outer ring of the Bay of Bengal. Therefore the member-states need to invest more in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
Stability here normalizes conditions in other regions of India as well. India’s north-eastern states located between Delhi and Southeast Asia over the Bay of Bengal, Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision and India’s The Act supports the convergence of the former policy.
Its security is also important from the point of view of India’s strategic geographical location. Northeast is an important frontier in India’s Indo-Pacific connectivity as it facilitates connectivity to China and Bhutan in the north and Bangladesh and Myanmar in the west and east.
Talking about India’s Act East policy, it focuses on the extended neighborhood in the Asia-Pacific region. India has upgraded its relations to strategic partnership with Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, Republic of Korea (ROK), Australia, Singapore and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and with all countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Have built close relationships.
In addition, apart from ASEAN, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and East Asia Summit (EAS), India is also actively involved in regional fora such as Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Asia Cooperation Dialogue, Has been involved with organizations such as the Mekong Ganga Cooperation and the Indian Ocean Rim Association.
The North-Eastern states are also joining hands with the Indo-Pacific. The Northeast, comprising seven states, is witnessing a transformation as it moves towards better security conditions and development. Since 2018, India’s ‘Look ‘East’ and ‘Act East’ policies have moved into the phase of Indo-Pacific policy and strategy.
Recently, both the Indo-Pacific conclaves were hosted by Asian Confluence, a leading think tank in the study of India’s Northeast. The first was in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs and Manipur University and the second with the United States in Kolkata. Consulate General of India was as partner.
But, there are still issues that need to be addressed to ensure adequate security, spur economic growth and better connectivity with the rest of India and South East Asian countries.
-OJAANK SHUKLA
( DIRECTOR – OJAANK IAS )