FOR Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit at Bishkek was only moving from the previous page to the next, meeting his old comrades, shaking hands with his equals, consolidating what he had been achieving for the past five years with wonderful alacrity, and planning for the future -- not for himself but for India and the larger world. In this second coming of his as India’s undisputed leader, thus, Mr. Modi demonstrated what a consummate statesman he has become, with freedom to make choice whom to meet and whom to avoid meeting. This ease, this high level of comfort with global leaders demonstrates that after his ‘arrival’ on the world’s diplomatic stage five years ago, Mr. Narendra Modi has had no time and reason to look back. The Bishkek Summit only endorsed this point -- that he is moving on.

 

 

 

Both of Mr. Modi’s special meetings on the sidelines of the Summit -- with Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping and Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin -- symbolised India’s points of strength. For, even when he talked about Pakistan’s terror sponsorship, Mr. Modi’s tone was not of complaint but of a confident assertion that India would not budge on that issue, no matter what. It is obvious from the signals from diplomatic circles that the Chinese leader showed a better understanding of what Mr. Modi thought about Pakistan. Beijing may not be able to mend Pakistan’s ways, but it will also not be able to ignore what India says. For, Islamabad is on the board with Beijing only because of the alliance constraints. In New Delhi’s case, Beijing can never go past the reality of India’s intrinsic and comprehensive strength in the Asian theatre.

 

Until Mr. Modi’s ascendence as Prime Minister leading diplomatic campaigns from the front, India often found the Chinese inscrutable -- difficult to decipher and impossible to befriend. That picture now stands changed considerably. For, Mr. Modi has been able to etch his own signature of firmness on the global slate, a reality Beijing cannot ignore. At Bishkek, that was more than clear. Of course, dealing with the Chinese has its own unexpected twists and turns. But the clarity of stance which India has been able to communicate to the world, Beijing has begun understanding the Indian point of view. It may still not alter its own ways, but it will also respect India’s view-point.

 

The scene was different, of course, in the meeting with Mr. Vladimir Putin, as if two old friends were meeting after a short break, engaging each other with plans for long-term commitment of better strategic relationship. Despite the recent American demonstrationism, despite the threats of US sanctions, India has gone on with its commitments with Russia. In its turn, Moscow also showed an equal candour, as if the two countries are not bothered about the US sanctions.

 

Three-fourth way around the world in Washington, Secretary of State Mr. Mike Pompeo was telling the India Ideas Summit at the same time that with Mr. Modi in the lead, everything was possible for India to achieve -- Modi Hai To Mumkin Hai! This recognition is the new platform from which India now operates its diplomatic campaigns -- to promote and protect Indian interests in every possible manner in every possible forum.

In diplomacy, everybody keeps his cards close to the chest. Yet, Prime Minister Mr. Modi has been able to bring to the diplomatic table a greater Indian assertion, thanks to the clarity of vision. In the years to come, with Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar by his side, Mr. Modi will be able to move on in the desired direction to serve the larger Indian cause in consonance with a favourable global flow. For, in time, India has become one of the few countries that have helped in deciding the direction.