With invite to BIMSTEC in Modi's swearing-in, India focuses on expanding outreach across region

The shift of focus from SAARC to BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) this year, indicates a clear isolation of Pakistan without really losing on key neighbours like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal.

PM Narendra Modi (PIC/PTI)

New Delhi: In a circumspectly planned diplomatic move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony, will witness participation of leaders of the BIMSTEC nations, along with those of Kyrgyz Republic and Mauritius. In the year 2014, when Modi was sworn in as the Prime Minster after getting a clear majority in a historic win, he invited the leaders of  South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC ) nations to the ceremony including the then PM of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif. The shift of focus from SAARC to BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) this year, indicates a clear isolation of Pakistan without really losing on key neighbours like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal. Apart from India, the BIMSTEC includes Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand , Nepal and Bhutan. Of these, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka are also a part of the SAARC- which also includes Pakistan. BIMSTEC can provide a platform where five SAARC countries can come together, keeping Pakistan out of New Delhi’s interaction with the rest. The BIMSTEC is an international organisation of seven nations of South Asia and South East Asia, dependent on the Bay of Bengal, housing 1.5 billion people and having a combined gross domestic product of $3.5 trillion  (as per 2018 data). The invite to Kyrgyz Republic leader shows India’s attempt to indirectly reach out to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, as the President of the Kyrgyz Republic is the current Chair of the SCO which includes China Russia, Uzbekistan, kazakhastan, Tajikistan and Pakistan. Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, who was the Chief Guest at this year's Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, has also been invited. It is speculated that other world leaders including US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and others would be chief guests in attendance for the swearing-in ceremony that will take place on Thursday from 6 pm at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the national capital. While, inviting the SAARC countries did not turn out be as fruitful as expected, because of strenuous ties between India and Pakistan marred by Uri attack, Pathankot air base attack and then the Pulwama attack two years later, this year’s speculated list of invitees hint at India’s attempt to widen its reach across the region.