4/28/2015 iReader

http://www.orfonline.org/cms/sites/orfonline/modules/analysis/AnalysisDetail.html?cmaid=81964&mmacmaid=81965 1/2

Analysis

C.RajaMohan28April2015

New Delhi did well to respond decisively when tragedy struck Nepal. But India is at the verybeginning of a long and demanding process of delivering relief to victims, assisting theirrehabilitationandcontributingtothereconstructionofNepal.WhileKathmanduisnowbeingfloodedwithmediaandreliefteamsfromaroundtheworld,thecameraswillsoonleaveNepal.Theworld'sattentionwillturntothenextcrisis.ButIndiamuststickaroundforthelonghaul.

Geographicproximity,cultural intimacyandeconomic interdependencemeansNepal'sproblemsarealsoIndia's. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is aware of this reality and has devoted special attention torevitalising ties after he took charge as PM.Nepal is the only countryModi has visited twice.On bothoccasions,heunderlinedtheuniquebondbetweenthetwocountries.

IftherewasamomenttolendsubstancetotheclaimthattheneighbourhoodranksfirstinIndia'sforeignpolicy,itisnowandinNepal.Signallinggoodwilliseasy,asModididimmediately.Hemustnowfollowthrough and initiate a comprehensive strategy to support Nepal's rapid recovery. This will involve asignificant commitment of resources. Even more important is a credible longterm strategy for IndianparticipationinNepal'sefforts torisefromtherubble.Central to that is thepoliticalrecognitionthatanyframework forexternal assistancemustbe supportiveof,but subordinate to, the initiativesof theNepalipeople.

Disasterpolitics

It isamatterof timebeforepolitics intrudesonthemanagementof theaftermath.Delhimustbeacutelyconscious of two pitfalls. The Indian government must avoid any real or seeming violation of Nepal'ssovereignty.Inhumanitarianassistanceanddisasterrelief,Indiahasinsistedonabsoluterespectforthehostgovernment. It shouldnot forget that principle.Mostpolitical elites are touchyabout external assistanceduringanationalcalamity.ThepoliticalclassesinKathmanduareeventouchier,especiallywhenitcomestoIndia'srole.IndiahasmuchgoodwillamongNepal'speople.ButDelhicouldeasilysquanderitbybeingpoliticallyinsensitive.

Delhimust also insulate its relief effort from India's domestic politics.Nepal has long been a temptingtheatreforvariousIndiangroupstoplaytheirownpoliticalgames.Itisessentialforthegovernmenttostayontopofthediscourse.Giventhelongtermcommitmentsinvolved,Modimustreachouttoallpartiesandtake them into confidence on India's aid strategy. Equally important is the need to draw in the chiefministersof thestatesborderingNepal.Thatfits inwiththePM'semphasisonfederalism,aswellas thechallengesthatNepalanditsneighbouringIndianregionsshare.

Regionalcooperation

DelhimustnotforgetthatthecrisisinNepalisnotjustaboutIndiaanditssupportforaspecialneighbour.Many countries and international institutionswill be involved in assistingNepal. Instead of thinking inexclusive terms,Delhimustactivelypromotegreater regionaland internationalcooperation inrebuildingNepal.

AlthoughSaarchasagreementsondisastermanagement, theyhavenot reallybeeneffective.DelhimustfocusonacceleratingsubregionalcooperationbetweenBangladesh,Bhutan,IndiaandNepal.Indiamustalso engage China, Europe and America on making the Himalayan regions less vulnerable to naturaldisasters.BeijinghasoftentalkedaboutatriangulartransHimalayancooperationamongIndia,NepalandChina.AsModipreparestotraveltoChina,thisisanopportunemomenttoexplorethatproposition.