The Indian foreign policy, a matter which even the opposition in our country respects (that?s the only thing left that they respect anyway!), has showed its factual effect on world events, a direct example of which is the release of the three Indian hostages who were being held as hostages in Iraq and gained there freedom on Wednesday. The centre must have heaved a big sigh of relief after being on their toes for more than a month.
A sizeable part of the credit goes to the Kuwaiti transport company which had to pay a tidy sum for the release of the hostages. But credit also lies with our country?s foreign policy, a policy which is not meddled with every now and then like other policies of our country (Thankfully!!).
Our foreign policy including the new one which had been launched recently by Mr. Manmohan?s government, paints a very quaint picture of us in the entire world. It?s one of those things which always make matters go in our way. Our most prioritized policy is that we do not bother or intend to get involved with the matters and problems of other countries until invited so and even then, to give support or not is still a question.
It is made a matter of big debate and sessions are kept in the parliament with all people of responsibility and authority banging their heads together to decide what is best for our country on the whole, and analyzing each and every angle, all the pros and cons involved, and then whatever step is taken, is taken as a united and firm step of which our support to the government of Sri Lanka is an example.
This policy, of all other policies, and the way we proceed with it, has uplifted the appearance of our nation in the world arena, marking a very fine impression for all others to see and to learn on how things of international concern are to be dealt with. This intuition along with our non-violence policy has gained us an enviable position of respect, one which helps us in matters like the ones in Iraq.
At one time or another, even the Black Banners Brigade militants must have thought the same thing, that these are Indians, peace loving people, who do not cause harm to anyone nor does their country have any controversial policy towards the people of Iraq and as reported in the Deccan Chronicle dated September 4, 2004, the captors themselves where cajoling the Indian hostages that they will be released and to keep hope!!
If our country had many contentious policies for various countries in the world, the chances of gaining freedom for our three brothers would have been grimmer. But lady luck always doesn?t smile on everyone like it did on us. The killing of twelve Nepalese men, without any warning or request for negotiations, is a grim reminder of what hard lined groups can do even though the foreign policy of Nepal is not even near to the word divisive, may their souls rest in peace.
But with people of little reason who take up a very violent way of getting things done, foreign policies of a nation usually don?t make such a difference. But it does a lot when dealing with other countries and by far, our foreign policy is the best, hats off to the present government and the numerous governments which had gone into the pages of history, for upholding one of the biggest policies, which is a true representation of what the Indian people truly are and what they believe in!!!