Monday, August 13, 2012

INDIA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH WEST ASIAN COUNTRIES


Syrian forces after a massive onslaught launched against the Free Syrian Army since one week, have somewhat succeeded in chasing away the latter from a major chunk of Aleppo, the second city after Damascus. With Iran coming out into the open declaring all-out support to Syria, Lebanon’s Hezbullah regime following in the footsteps of Iran stepping up support besides the two main allies Russia and China playing cardinal roles, President Dr. Bashar -Al-Assad’s sagging spirits have received a morale booster.
On the other side, Syria’s main enemies Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey besides US and its European allies are busy engaged in serious talks to extend financial as well as logistical support to the Free Syrian Army thus enabling them to intensify the raging battle against Assad’s forces.
Turkey has whole-heartedly agreed to the appeals of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Arab League to take on Assad’s forces by providing its Adan city as a launching pad to attack the former if found essential and to supply the Free Syrian Army forces with sophisticated weapons and financial assistance.
With both sides poised to intensify the battle no one has come forward to play a mediatory role after Kofi Annan bowed out of his role as UN-Arab League envoy.
Both sides suffered heavy casualties in the raging battle however the side most affected by it is the rebel forces. In the meantime an exodus of people is going on in full swing on a day to day basis.
US has tightened sanctions on both Syria and Iran with an intention of forcing Dr. Assad either abdicate his post or coming to the negotiating table and forcing Iran to put a halt to its uranium enriching programme apprehending that Iran is proceeding along manufacturing nuclear weapons .
India, meanwhile has sided with US in forgetting and pretending to forget – kind of selective amnesia – in teaching Syria and Iran a bitter lesson. Knowing fully well that almost six million Indians are employed in West Asian countries who contribute substantial foreign exchange for their native land.
Before voting with US to tighten sanctions on these two countries, India should have taken into consideration the fate the six million Indians earning their livelihood and contributing much of their hard-earned income for the good of their country.
Iran always wanted and still earnestly wishes to keep friendly relations with India and India should have recalled the rich trade and cultural relations maintained by both countries since time immemorial. US was not in the picture then, that fact our nation ought to have taken into account before holding on to the coat-tails of US who always tries to maintain friendly relations with other countries keeping its self-interest in mind. Take for instance, Pakistan once an all-weather friend of US is not in the good books of US now.
India like US too is a sovereign nation and before dealing with any other country always have to take care of its self-interest. I am always at a loss to know why India always prefers to play second fiddle to the so-called super-power called US.
US won’t have any qualms to ditch India when it senses a threat to its self –interest. America’s ultimate interest is always to protect their interests and with that aim in mind, it sides with a nation and whenever the latter takes an independent decision and chalks out its own course the same US won’t hesitate to turn the tables against it.
India should have abstained from voting against or in favour of Syria when the resolution was put to vote in UN Security Council. Iran was a generous contributor of oil to India till US dwelt upon India not o purchase oil from that country. After that, as a special case taking into account India’s ‘humble’ requests to purchase at least a reduced quantity of oil the big brother reluctantly heeded India’s requests. We should feel ashamed of our rulers at the helm for toeing the line of a country and sacrificing our own interests.
At least, take into account the dreams and hopes of six million Indians in the West Asian nations.


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