A friend in need is a friend indeed, goes the proverb. But there is much more than just friendship at stake as nations spring to the aid of earthquake-devastated Nepal (which was rattled by yet another strong quake on Tuesday) where the death toll is rising amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.
India, which is in the forefront of relief and rescue operations, launched what it called Operation Friendship no sooner the calamity struck on April 25. But regional nuclear powers, China and Pakistan, too started sending planeloads of assistance triggering an aid war to bolster their presence in Nepal. America and European Union also threw their hat into the ring. And within days, Russia, Japan, France, Switzerland, Singapore and even Bhutan — whose relations with Kathmandu are sore over the expulsion of Nepali-origin settlers — joined the race to reap diplomatic dividends from the tragedy. The goings on in Nepal demonstrate how providing succor during natural disasters has become a tool for courting poorer nations and one-upmanship among comparatively richer nations in pursuit of their foreign policy objectives
Nepal is a big priority for India, China and Pakistan. While India regards it within its zone of influence, China is systematically developing a huge stake there. And Pakistan, which dispatched four C-130 aircraft, is determined to not only counter regional rival India’s influence but also prop up China’s growing power in the Himalayan country. According to Talat Masood, a Pakistani former general, “the very strategic position of Nepal makes it very important for Pakistan, India and China.”
Whether its Chinese President Xi Jinping’s matter-of-fact statement or Narendra Modi’s flowery language, the objective is the same: Jostling for influence in Nepal while offering aid and sympathy. Xi said: “The Chinese side will provide all necessary disaster assistance to the Nepalese people”, soon after Modi dramatically declared: “My beloved brothers and sisters of Nepal, India is with you in your sadness. We will wipe your tears. We will hold your hands. We will support you in your hour of pain.”
Significantly, fully aware of Sino-Indian rivalry, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey not only balanced his praise for the nuclear powers his country is sandwiched between, but stressed that Nepal “has divided areas between India and China for specialized relief operations.”
Typically, India initially crowed as its military planes and helicopters delivered disaster-response personnel, a mobile hospital, food, medical supplies and rescue equipment, which became the staple diet of Indian state and private television networks. In China too, state broadcaster CCTV gave round-the-clock coverage to red-suited Chinese rescuers in action in Kathmandu.
But as operations acquired a competitive edge — as highlighted by Pandey’s assertion that he had deliberately divided areas between India and China - Beijing tried to normalize the situation by announcing that “it was willing to pro-actively coordinate with India on earthquake aid.” But many in India felt that China had once again stolen a march over India thanks to its financial muscle.
Wang Lian, a South Asian affairs expert at Beijing University’s School of International Studies, says that China is obviously keen to shoulder more and more international responsibilities and duties in tune with its rising global profile. “When China walks the talk and fulfills its duties,” according to Lian, “the objective is to boost its influence in South Asia and add to the good will that the Nepalese public has toward China.” At one level, it’s very difficult for China to outshine India in Nepal considering the religious and cultural ties, which bind Nepal and India together since centuries. But China’s seriousness is evident from the five-fold increase in aid and investment, which India simply can’t match however hard it tries.
At another level, the devastation in Nepal might prove to be a blessing in disguise for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. SAARC’s very existence is threatened by India-Pakistan differences over virtually all issues. The nuclear neighbors’ proven inability to engage constructively has turned SAARC into somewhat of a joke. But SAARC nations can put aside their differences and bond over managing natural disasters threatening them all. The will to combat disasters collectively can infuse unity, which has eluded SAARC for so long. Bangladesh is plagued by floods, the Maldives fears that it might disappear due to climate change, while Nepal, India and Pakistan are earthquake-prone.
It’s time SAARC realized that it could redeem itself by at least tackling natural calamities for the common good. Realization and timely implementation have the potential to pull SAARC back from the brink. The Nepal tragedy is in that sense a wake-up call for SAARC.
