BJP Spokesman MJ Akbar, addressing a select audience at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London, on Friday 28 November, said Indian PM Narendra Modi is keen to establish an international alliance of prosperity, rather than sticking to the old idea of non-alignment.
Speaking about the challenges and opportunities of his foreign policies, Akbar reflected that the 'Make in India' campaign spoke about India's new approach that has seen increasing focus on 'Act East'.
The Hindustan Times reported, cautioning Pakistan on what he called a 'deep freeze', Akbar added that 'goodwill' did not go far in international relations: "There was 10 years of unrelenting goodwill from the Manmohan Singh government (towards Pakistan), but it achieved nothing in return".
Speaking further on the challenge posed by ISIS as a 'war between modernity and the romance of regression', he reportedly said that the Islamic State (IS) was not the first state in history formed on the basis of religion; the credit went to Pakistan, which was formed on the basis of religion.
Akbar added that India would be 'happy to partner' in international efforts to eliminate regressive ideologies, and hoped that a strategic agreement in this regard could be reached with Britain.
