International Diplomacy in the Times of WikiLeaks

Julian Assange should be hailed, not jailed. He should be respected, not suspected. Because, in a hugely “manipulated” world – in more ways than one – he had the “audacity” (Great, keep it up!) to expose the real.

Human beings are essentially weak. We are also incapable of taking care of our life. And, we do not know how to live in our world. Thus, we have “forced” the “stronger” in the world to “take care” of us – our life – in more ways than one. The world history is full of such instances. Otherwise, the earth wouldn’t have had suffered footsteps of numerous monsters and dictators. Sadly, the torment continues even in contemporary times.

In today’s world, “diplomacy” is the buzz word which legitimizes all forms of manipulations by the self-appointed world powers and powerful. The lesser mortals – nations - are subjected to forceful adoption of their whims and fancies – foreign policies! - suited to their grand plans for self gratification. International diplomacy; diplomat; negotiations; back channel talks; track II diplomacy; foreign policy; bilateral discussions; demarche; dispatch; protocol; sanctions; rapprochment; interlocution; treaty; diplomatic illness; privileges and immunities; declaration; delegation; attaches; ambassadors; diplomatic bags; espionage; counter-intelligence; arbitrations and mediations; recognition; thinktanks; friendly nation; hostile nation; geopolitics; cultural diplomacy; multilateral diplomacy; state diplomacy; paradiplomacy; hard power; soft power; … - terms are numerous which are beyond comprehension of normal humans – citizens of a country – but are capable of trapping world population in a manipulative maze.

Interestingly, the world seems to be quite comfortable with all these wheeling and dealing which go unperturbed – intentionally - in the name of international diplomacy. What is apparent is not quite the case often. Friendly handshakes are merely photo-ops. The definition of “friend” spreads across a wide spectrum with dimensions aplenty. Underneath active are major calculations devoid of any principles or reasons. Equations in international relations are kept “balanced” with diplomatic maneuvers. A nation gets used – abused – by powerful to maintain the latter’s supremacy. In spite of full-proof cases – 26/11 – countries find difficult to garner international support to nail the culprits. “National interests” including “security” concerns always come as refuge in diplomatic negotiations and areas like economy, trade, arms purchases, defence deployments, environment protection, human rights, etc. get majorly influenced in order to advance strategic advantages of the mighty. In short: the real world diplomacy is quite dirty and ugly.

And Julian Assange’s WikiLeaks has simply put a mirror to the murky world of manipulative geopolitics exercised by international diplomats all across the globe. The exposes have left the world leaders enormously uncomfortable. The cloaks of fake friendliness exhibited by the so-called strategic allies have slipped off and what lies beneath is not palatable. The inaccessible world of diplomacy has suddenly entered parlance of a common citizen’s everyday’s existence. Governments have been left red faced. Therefore, we see all the “impacted” – exposed – diplomats and leaders scurrying for cover – diplomatic curtains - and busy issuing apologies and explanations. The otherwise drab world of diplomacy - for ordinary public only - has suddenly acquired an incredibly interesting hue. And it is going to remain so for times to come.

But what is NOT “interesting” is the arrest of Julian Assange. When the world powers could not “control” the leaking of “classified/secret” documents detailing dishonest dealings of diplomats on WikiLeaks, they “falsely” – I feel strongly – implicated Julian Assange in sexual molestation cases and got him arrested. By doing so, they have proved their culpability and guilt, therefore. If the powerful nations, including a democratic America advocating freedom of speech amongst various human rights, are feeling the diplomatic heat and are indulging into dirty diplomatic tactics to silence the founder of WikiLeaks then it is an immensely sad state of affairs. In fact it once again bursts the myth of a free world.

All those talks of escalating tensions in international relations and global security getting jeopardized due to WikiLeaks exposure is a sham. Everybody knows how cohesively non-state actors and states work and spread terror on the globe and how incapable the powerful nations find themselves in containing the rogue states like Pakistan – crucible of terror - and abandon terrorism. Instead, they opted for the easier option: forcing the shutdown of WikiLeaks. Gagging and wrongfully nabbing Julian Assange will not ensure a safe and secure world. Soon there would be many more Julian Assanges “leaking” the truths to the world.

The world always knew how diplomatic machinery worked. The only difference WikiLeaks has created is that the practice of duplicity-in-diplomacy has become a common knowledge now. Though the world of international affairs will continue to function as it has been since time immemorial, still the damage is done. Credibility - ??? – of international diplomats is the victim. Nobody is ever going to believe in rhetoric – great speeches?! - being indulged into by heads of states on their state visits, howsoever loved or respected they are - had been - in host nations.

Global leadership cannot be practiced without moral authority. And moral authority is not a legitimate right of mighty even in the arena of geopolitics; it has to be acquired through transparency and honesty. A global leader should be sincere with impeccable integrity and not a mere geo-politician. (Barack Obama, I have always put you in this category.)

Now, I do not have even an iota of doubt about the global geopolitics heading towards any kind of reforms to salvage its prestige post WikiLeaks. Rather, it would try to enhance opacity of its functioning even more. The mechanisms would be employed so as to prevent any further “leaks” and make the system absolutely “WikiLeaks-proof”. Diplomats will soon be back practicing masquerades. The diplomatic charade will continue in name of international diplomacy – WikiLeaks or no WikiLeaks.

Still, I throw a challenge – at the cost of sounding extremely naïve and juvenile – to all those global leaders – Barack Obama in particular – that they should show courage and release Julian Assange from detention and face the changed world of diplomacy – a world of diplomacy in the times of WikiLeaks.

My challenge is also to the people of the world to come out in full support for Julian Assange and continue his crusade forward for a transparent world, a world free of manipulation of lives and humans...

Julian Assange, soon hope to see you back updating WikiLeaks! :)

India-US-Pak Triangle and My Umbrella

I was watching Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the over-the-top Foreign Minister of Pakistan at his theatrical best during the joint press conference with his US counterpart recently that the memories of my childhood’s multi-coloured umbrella came rushing in! I smiled, and soon started laughing! It was such a sweet memory, after all :)

I remember I had just started going to school. My parents gifted me a beautiful multi-coloured umbrella. And I instantly fell in love with it. My attachment became so ardent with that little piece of my initial few possessions that it almost became a part of me, my identity. And, if my mother did not bring that umbrella to the near-by bus stop, rain-or-no-rain, sun-or-no-sun, I would stubbornly refuse to walk back home. My obsession with my umbrella soon spread far and wide!

And my umbrella's story reached the ears of my self-styled competitor – yes, a trait so rare at that tender age! - in our immediate neighbourhood where lived a girl little elder to me. That girl had to have everything – yes, everything – which I had: be it dresses or toys or books or … yes, you guessed it right … an umbrella, too!

That girl created a huge fuss and pressured her parents in to buying almost a same umbrella for her! …

So, now you understand why I remembered my beautiful childhood umbrella watching Shah Mehmood Qureshi at his theatrical best in the US?

Well, while S. M. Qureshi’s attempts were quite hilarious and with his antics he had apparently succeeded in amusing Hillary Clinton – though only superficially - the Pakistani Foreign Minister was desperately trying to appease Madame Secretary for getting America to agree to an India-like civil nuclear deal for Pakistan too.

Now you see the connection between the India-US-Pakistan triangular relationship and my childhood umbrella?

In the not-so-easy geopolitical equations between India-US-Pakistan, Pakistan is that little spoilt girl from my neighbourhood who wanted everything that I had as a child, including an umbrella!

Well, on an adult-like serious note, I am sure that the Obama administration is not so naïve to give in to the obsessive demands of Pakistan, ranging from F-16s to military arsenals to monetary aids to civil nuclear deal; anyway, most of which are likely to be aimed against India in all probability. The US establishment understands all too well that Pakistan is a rogue state and is the epicenter of spread of terrorism in the world today. Howsoever crucial Pakistan’s role the US may deem to be in resolving the ever escalating Afghanistan conflict as an important component of its Af-Pak strategy for the crisis-ridden region, it will not let an almost failed nation get access to nuclear energy technology whose usage – abuse – it cannot guarantee for civil purposes exclusively. It would be akin to giving WMDs in hands of a Demon! Pakistan’s repeated proclaims of not being in control of its non-state actors – terrorists, extremists, fundamentalists – go absolutely against its own arguments to secure a favourable nuclear deal – India-like - from its otherwise old ally, the United States of America.

Therefore, India need not worry at all.

Nevertheless, at the end, I must thank Mr. Qureshi for taking me back on my memory lane and let me cherish in my thoughts my beautiful little multi-coloured umbrella!

(The umbrella is still secured at home – though now tattered and faded – along with few other valuables from my childhood.)

………………..

Watching Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s theatrics also reminded me of an age-old adage about “Politics Being the Theatre of the Absurd”! He for sure was an absurdist personified that afternoon!

Post-Bush America: for India

The fact that we are still not living in a Post-American world is evident from the all around frenzy in our country over the not so well developing Indo-US relation since Obama administration took charge of affairs. The fact that the US foreign policy hawks did not deem India suitable enough to be a part of the stability plan in our troubled northern neighborhoods is also causing concern amongst the Indian politicians and the diplomats alike. The fact that the American President tried to involve China in the Indian scheme of things in Kashmir is giving severe ulcers to foreign policy pundits. The fact that President Obama played a marvelous host to our prime minister during his state visit but never for once publicly reprimanded – even as a passing remark – Pakistan for sponsoring terror activities on the Indian soil is solid enough a proof that for the United States of America – under Barack Obama – India still has to cover quite a distance before it can even think of being counted as its “natural ally”.

So, what should India do?

Without delay, India should remove all those ambiguous factors that have kept its foreign policy ailing, and inconsequential, since inception post independence.

India should immediately take stock of its foreign policy framework and rework on it, putting a few brilliant “expert” brains behind it. If India wants to sit on the global high table and get counted in matters pertaining to geopolitics, it will have to sell itself well. And, India has a lot to “sell” to the world: its hard power and its soft power as well!

India’s military prowess – in defending its territorial integrity in spite of repeated assaults by both Pakistan and China - is acknowledged by all. Though it should maintain its non-ambitious status in terms of border expansion, nevertheless, India should assert itself strongly in matters related to regional politics. India truly deserves a leadership position in its immediate neighborhoods, to start with, before embarking on an endeavor with global aspirations.

Talking about its soft power, though things “Indian” are becoming a rage abroad, still a lot needs to be achieved in this domain. India has to put in a lots of “intelligent” efforts in making people world over adopt the “Indian-way-of-life” as a matter of routine, like the “American-way-of-life” dominates the global psyche. India has to get into the consciousness of the world. Then only we can truly claim to have arrived on the world stage.

For India, selling its soft power is much easier today due to world’s willingness to accept and experiment things “Indian”. This change is apparent, and possible, because of India’s growing economic clout. After all, everybody wants to emulate a nation which is economically on a strong foundation. Remember, the “Mighty Dollar”? India’s “Reliable Rupee” could do the trick!

I feel, it is simple to comprehend.

India is an emerging economy and as the fourth largest economy of the world is expected to soon acquire the economic superpower status along side China. Therefore, it is high time India leveraged its economic strength and established itself as a real “emerging” global power. For this, India needs to put its foreign policy in place.

And, soon the world will see a strategic shift in Obama administration’s attitude towards India and will acknowledge our country as US’ “natural ally”. Its otherwise “failing and crumbling” neighborhoods will accept India as its regional leader and sustained peace and prosperity will be brought about in this part of the world and elsewhere as well! I truly believe that a lot can be accomplished globally with coming together of the oldest and the largest democracies of the world!

Sounds achievable? … I think so.

Thus, Indians need not worry about having to live in a Post-Bush America. With the requisite changes in India’s approach towards its international affairs, both India and the world will soon get to enjoy the Obama-Singh era!

(A sincere digression: God forbid, if the world will ever have to live in the Post-American world. ’Cause, all said and done, the democratic America is a much better world leader than the autocratic Russia or China!)

Disclaimer - The above views are the earnest expressions of a foreign policy non-pundit!