'India's Look East policy yet to translate into action'

Kolkata, March 10: Finding fault in India’s Look East and counter-terrorism policies, experts here on Tuesday stressed upon India’s significance in fostering regiol cooperation in South Asia. Participating in a two day conference on ‘Building Pan Asian Connectivity’, the experts, however, exuded confidence of a change in the scerio following positive steps by Prime Minister rendra Modi. “India’s counter-terrorism policy has been criticised by experts on grounds that it concerns only mid and short term responses. Some of the experts have said that it is mired in systematic weaknesses with terrorists having the upper hand,” said Julio Amador III, Deputy Director-General, Philippine Foreign Service Institute.

“However, under Modi, counter terrorism is being seen as a key tiol policy and seems to give renewed attention to terrorism as a security challenge,” said Amador. Observing that most ASEAN members have had problems in effectively collaborating in combating terrorism, Amador said India needs to be consistent in it counter-terrorism policy. “The onus is on India to coordite with the ASEAN members to forge closure cooperation in combating terrorism. It also need to consistent in its counter terrorism policy and spell out what it specifically wants from the ASEAN members regarding this,” added Amador.

RAND Corporation senior political scientist Joh Blank said India’s Look East policy was yet to translate into action. “When it comes to Sino-India rivalry in Southeast Asia, Chi is winning the trade war hands down. Though India’s trade relation with ASEAN has improved, it is not very fast. India also lags Chi far behind in terms of connectivity. Commercial flights from India to the region are sparse,” said Blank. (IANS)