In the management of international affairs in parliamentary democracies, there is a barrier between politicians who formulate policies and the professionals who implement it. To cross the barrier, professionals have to join politics and move up the hard way to ministerial positions. By appointing former Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar as the Minister of External Affairs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created history by adopting an aspect of the presidential system, in which professionals do not need to go through the parliamentary process. A rare chemistry between the Prime Minister and his former Foreign Secretary has led to this step, about which there are dissenting murmurs in political and bureaucratic circles. Therefore, this is likely to be an isolated event. But its significance will be discussed in the days to come.
Diplomatic outcomes are difficult to measure and no one person can claim credit or blame as many people work over time to ensure that initiatives fructify. For instance, the nuclear deal took several years to accomplish right from the days of the Vajpayee government. Many diplomats, scientists and politicians worked at different levels. But as the point person for the U.S., Mr. Jaishankar was credited with the success of the negotiations. Though much of the 123 Agreement was not implemented, every word was fiercely fought. The deal still remains a major accomplishment of Indian diplomacy. Mr. Jaishankar has a consistent record of successful tenures in Moscow, Colombo, Budapest, Prague, Singapore, Beijing and Washington with intermittent key postings at headquarters. Successive governments rated Mr. Jaishankar high, and finally Mr. Modi appointed him Foreign Secretary by curtailing the tenure of his predecessor. Mr. Jaishankar provided the professional touch to Mr. Modi’s disruptive and innovative ideas, which made waves around the globe. It is no wonder that Mr. Jaishankar was inducted as a Cabinet Minister in Mr. Modi’s second term.
When Mr. Jaishankar was appointed the Foreign Secretary in 2015, I had written, “The 60th year in Jaishankar’s life is just an important landmark and it is too early to assess his lifetime achievements. He has much more to do and to tell before he hangs his diplomatic boots.” As predicted, he has to do much more in his new post. Indian foreign policy is at a crossroads. The present trajectory needs to be changed because of the unpredictability of the U.S., and the growth of influence of China and Russia. The spirit of Wuhan and Sochi needs to be nurtured with a view to creating a niche for India in an emerging multipolar world. It is here that Mr. Jaishankar will be an asset to Mr. Modi.
T.P. Sreenivasan is former Ambassador of India and Governor for India of the IAEA
