The mandarins of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can put their backs to years of successful negotiations and diplomacy in various countries and international forums. If India is in a better place by the end of 2024 than it was at the beginning of this year, much of it owes to the sustained work done on ongoing engagements.
China had a major achievement in direct diplomacy through bilateral meetings at various levels during the year. The resumption of special representatives’ meetings after five years saw both countries agreeing to advance relations in several areas, affirming positively the outcome of the disengagement process in LAC.
The Himalayan thaw would not have happened without China, easily the most influential player in regional forums in which India figures prominently, planting initiatives to resolve border disputes. In an indication of where the diplomatic pressure was coming from, President Xi Jinping gave Prime Minister Narendra Modi a photo opportunity after their October 23 meeting in Kazan, Russia, where they agreed for the first time to revive a mechanism to address the border issue. Steps to normalize bilateral relations
SRs meeting led by NSA Ajit Doval and China’s Wang Yi took place in Beijing this week following a meeting between foreign ministers at the G-20 in Rio de Janeiro. They have given a positive momentum to the peace initiative together with the talks of convergence on 6 points to advance cross-border cooperation, including the revival of the Mansarovar Yatra for India and the exchange of data on cross-border rivers and border trade.
It’s a stark change from the gallant clashes of the summer of 2020 that revived the worst old suspicions and widened the trust deficit. There may not have been a reduction in Chinese troop build-up in the LAC, but the phased disengagement and resumption of patrols can be taken as evidence of how India has stood up to China on the border, not following the Chinese strategy of “cutting the salute”. “It could follow border disputes with at least five other countries.
Standing at a promising juncture as the dawn of a new era in China relations, India can take heart from the fact that in 2012 it strengthened its ties with Sri Lanka, which had moved out of China’s separate orbit and sought change. It can also be seen leaning towards India. Being a friend in need during the economic downturn, India is in a much better position than Sri Lanka was at the beginning of the year.
With solid, concrete diplomacy, India was able to aggressively reach out to the pro-China Maldives and bring it around to see the benefits of a balanced relationship. India has opened its purse strings to be more supportive of its neighbors and has done so with good intentions and this has made a difference in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
Regime change in Bangladesh may test India’s patience in diplomacy, but even there, India made its case during the foreign secretary’s visit to Dhaka to convince the developing nation of how beneficial connectivity in energy, digital pathways and trade can be.
Pakistan will be Pakistan, and it continues to swear by cross-border terrorism. It will only be a thorn in the side until China convinces it of the attractions of a regional peace initiative. Still, India can look back to 2024 and call it a diplomatic watershed year that could contribute to peace and prosperity.