Connectivity initiatives must promote trade, not tension: Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale

Connectivity initiatives that strdle national boundaries must be pursued in a manner that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said on Thursday, asserting that such projects must promote tre and t tension.

His remarks assume significance with India boycotting China's One Belt, One Ro (OBOR) initiative on grounds of territorial sovereignty, as China-Pakistan Ecomic Corridor, OBOR's flagship connectivity and tre project, passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Gokhale, in his dress at Regional Connectivity Conference in Delhi, said India's connectivity to its west remains "blighted" and it has sought to bypass an "unwilling regime" in Pakistan by establishing in June last year an air freight corridor between India and Afghanistan, which it plans to expand to more cities.

India is seeking to develop Chabahar Port as a gateway for onward connectivity to and from Afghanistan and Central Asia, he said.

"Since its inauguration last year, we have shipped about 110 thousand metric tonnes of much-needed wheat and 2,000 metric tonnes of pulses from India to Afghanistan through this port.

"To tap its full potential for benefit of Afghanistan, we might also need to pursue development of a rail line from Chabahar to Zahedan at some future st. re is also potential for development of International rth-South Transport Corridor which will considerably reduce time and cost of transport from India to Central Asia," Gokhale said.

Regional connectivity in South Asia is of much relevance to wider Indo-Pacific and world at large, he said.

He, however, cautioned that "connectivity initiatives that strdle national boundaries must be pursued in a manner that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations".

"y should promote tre, t tension," foreign secretary asserted.

Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at this year's Shangri-La Dialogue, Gokhale said India believes in a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific Region, which includes all nations in this geography and ors who have a stake in it. 

US Ambassor to India Kenneth Juster, in his remarks at conference, said, re were several benefits of stepping up connectivity, but cautioned that it also carries significant risks such as illicit tre, political interference and vulnerability to cyber attacks.

He also emphasised increasing digital connectivity in South Asia and asserted that free flow of information across borders via internet drives productivity, growth, and invation.

"For that reason, we urge India and or countries to remain cautious in enacting data localisation and data privacy legislations which certainly can dress legitimate privacy concerns, but if t done carefully under involvement of all stakeholders, can also unnecessary restrict data flows, cause unnecessary regulations, and disrupt connectivity," Juster said.

He also emphasised on role of private sector in enhancing connectivity in South Asian and Indo-Pacific regions.

He said increased connectivity must be mand effectively and with responsible governance.

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Japanese Ambassor to India Kenji Hiramatsu said re were substantive discussions between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Indian counterpart at recently-concluded summit in Japan and two leers vowed to strengn cooperation for promoting connectivity.

He said India-Japan have agreed to cooperate on specific projects contributing to better connectivity in region and cited example of Banglesh, where India will construct ros while Japan will provide bridges to better connect m.

Hiramatsu emphasised on cooperation in India's rast region, ranging from connectivity to people-to-people exchanges.

Gokhale, in his remarks, said, "Connectivity efforts in region must be based on principles of ecomic viability and financial responsibility."

y should promote ecomic activity and t place nations under irredeemable debt burden, foreign secretary said. 

Gokhale also said "physical hardware of connectivity" across nations can only sustain itself in a common and universally applicable rules-based world order.

"Such an order must uphold sovereignty, territorial integrity and equality of all nations. All nations must respect ir international commitments.

"This is foremost requirement, and refore a pressing need in our part of world (Indian Ocean) and any such arrangement must naturally accord due primacy to states located in geography of Indian Ocean," he said.

He asserted that connectivity can be meaningful only when everyone has equal access under international law to use of global commons that would require freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law.

He also listed several connectivity projects that India is involved in region -- from Nepal to Sri Lanka.

" Indian Ocean has a vital role to play as a connector of littoral nations. Sri Lanka and Maldives are focus of our maritime connectivity efforts in Indian Ocean," he said. 

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