Foreign policy likely to get boost with Gujral as PM

India's bilateral relations are likely to improve with South Asian countries, especially Pakistan, with Inder Kumar Gujral as prime minister.

It was Gujral who, as external affairs minister in the Deve Gowda government, made the "better neighbourhood doctrine" the piece de resistance of his foreign policy. The prime minister has kept the foreign affairs portfolio and UF sources say he will spread the Gujral doctrine and buy peace with Pakistan, particularly on the core issue of Kashmir.

His critics, however, accuse him of being "submissive" towards Pakistan, but diplomatic circles think presenting himself as a dove is one reason for his success.

It was Gujral who initiated bilateral dialogue with Pakistan, though the talks got bogged down on the third day of the discussions, when the Congress abruptly withdrew support to the United Front government on March 30.

Despite that event, Gujral persisted with his peace initiative and held the first foreign ministers-level meeting in three years with his Pakistani counterpart, Gohar Ayub Khan, on April 9. As prime minister, he has the chance to accomplish what he has set out to achieve when he meets Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharief on May 14 before the South Asian Association Regional Cooperation meeting in the Maldives.

While India is willing to discuss trade and commerce, Pakistan wants some concessions on the Kashmir issue. But many feel Gujral will not be able to take any bold initiative on the valley during the talks since he is heading a minority government.

Pakistan maintains that Kashmir is a disputed territory and India should declare it as such. Gujral is unlikely to concede this demand.

"The prime minister will, instead, address the outstanding issues between the countries in the typical Gujral way," a senior external affairs ministry official close to the premier told Rediff On The NeT..

The US too, he added, will welcome Gujral's elevation to the premiership, considering the enthusiasm his peace initiatives in South Asia generated in Washington. In the last ten months, he led the way for the treaties to share water with Bangladesh and Nepal, for which moves the US showered praise on him.

Interestingly, both Gujral and Nawaz Sharief are from what once used to be called West Punjab. Gujral was born in Jhelum, which is now part of Pakistan.

RELATED LINK: Inder Gujral's astonishing foreign policy triumphs