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

Connectivity initiatives that straddle national boundaries must be pursued in a manner that respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said on Thursday, asserting that such projects must promote trade and not tension.

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

Gokhale, in his address at the 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 the 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 the benefit of Afghanistan, we might also need to pursue the development of a rail line from Chabahar to Zahedan at some future stage. There is also potential for the development of the International North-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 the wider Indo-Pacific and the world at large, he said.

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

"They should promote trade, not tension," the 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 others who have a stake in it. 

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

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

"For that reason, we urge India and other countries to remain cautious in enacting data localisation and data privacy legislations which certainly can address legitimate privacy concerns, but if not done carefully under the involvement of all stakeholders, can also unnecessary restrict data flows, cause unnecessary regulations, and disrupt connectivity," Juster said.

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

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

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Japanese Ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu said there were substantive discussions between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Indian counterpart at the recently-concluded summit in Japan and the two leaders vowed to strengthen cooperation for promoting connectivity.

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

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

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

They should promote economic activity and not place nations under irredeemable debt burden, the 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 the sovereignty, territorial integrity and equality of all nations. All nations must respect their international commitments.

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

He asserted that connectivity can be meaningful only when everyone has equal access under international law to the 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 the region -- from Nepal to Sri Lanka.

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

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