Modelled on lines of US, MEA dept to position India as a global power

NEW DELHI: Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar's pet project to boost Public Policy division in the Ministry of External Affairs will play role of an anchor aiming to develop seamless coordination among different divisions in the Ministry for long term policy making vis-à-vis issues important to India and matters of global significance besides coordinating among various Central Ministries for effective implementation of projects in partner countries.
Aimed to be modelled on the lines of US State Department Public Policy division, the MEA’s Public Policy section hopes to position India as a global power and deserving permanent member of the UN Security Council through interactions with its counterparts in various world capitals, diplomatic sources well versed with the developments told ET. The division, hitherto, lacked teeth and is given prominence and headed by Santosh Jha, an officer known for his diplomatic skills. Jha had worked in the past in the Americas division under Jaishankar and was closely involved in the making of India-US nuclear deal.

While the State Department’s Public Policy division has over 20 officers dealing with various regions and countries of the world, MEA’s department will comprise 10 officers including lateral entrants and draw some best Indian Foreign Service brain, sources indicated. “A key focus of MEA’s Public Policy division will be to coordinate with its counterpart with such divisions of permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) besides important countries like Japan, Saudi Arabia and Germany to share perspectives on global issues. The idea is to understand their perspective as well as appraise those countries of Delhi’s perspective of various key issues. The goal of the division is still evolving,” an officer well-versed with the functioning told ET. Most global powers have effective Public Policy divisions.

The larger goal of the Modi government is to increase contacts with all UN member states with an eye for UNSC permanent seat and maximize all bilateral relations. The PP Division will contribute in that goal, foreign policy experts indicated.

A key goal of the division is to formulate long term policy vis-à-vis issues as well as countries. Imperativeness of long term policy has been hallmark of Jaishankar’s approach to foreign policy. However, the time frame for long term policy will be tailor-made. A diplomatic source pointed out that while India could develop 10-year-long policy towards Africa, Delhi’s policy towards Af-Pak region cannot be beyond a two-year term. “The Af-Pak region is volatile and constantly evolving and Delhi needs to make its policy accordingly. In fact for India’s neighbourhood the government needs to constantly monitor the situation,” the source noted.

The Public Policy Division will also participate at the Forum for Public Policy Divisions of various countries for effective coordination and developing common positions on critical global issues. Besides, the Department will also help position India in various Track 1.5 and Track II foreign policy dialogues that Delhi earlier skipped. Sources pointed out as an example that India has not been participating at a high level at the Shangrila Dialogue and the Division will ensure that the country is well-represented at such for a for articulating Delhi’s positions. Yet another goal is to interact with think tanks both in India and abroad and dovetail their suggestions into India’s foreign policy making and at the same time highlight Delhi’s priorities through these bodies.

The PP division will also hopes to coordinate among various Central Ministries for smooth cooperation with MEA in the conduct of foreign policy goals. Lack of coordination among Ministries have often delayed India-funded projects in various countries in the neighbourhood and extended neighbourhood. An example in the recent years was the delay in the government’s approval in India’s financial support in expansion of Iran’s Chabahar Port that will connect Delhi with Afghanistan, Central Asia and beyond.