New Delhi:
India is deeply worried as its immediate neighbours - Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are now caught in the vortex of a growing internal crisis. This is posing a serious challenge to New Delhi's foreign policy makers who now have to deal with instability on all its borders.
Nepal is now facing the prospect of a long period of political instability and the possibility of violent protests. The Taliban is increasing its influence in Pakistan - coming closer and closer to India's borders, while the Sri Lankan conflict shows no signs of ending with the Centre caught between the demands of its southern ally - the DMK and the Lankan government's refusal to halt its operations against the LTTE for the civilians trapped there.
Nepal's peace process, achieved after a 10-year underground war by the Maoists to overthrow the all-powerful King, is now under threat after the Maoist-led government headed by Prime Minister Prachanda fell on Monday. An unstable Nepal means a threat to India's security with the possibility of China taking advantage of the situation.
In Pakistan, the Taliban juggernaut is advancing despite the crackdown by Islamabad and the Pakistan Army's offensive. The Swat Peace Deal seems to be on the verge of collapsing with the Taliban going berserk on Monday, beheading two people and blowing up a girl's school.
And India's southern neigbhour, Sri Lanka is continuing to ignore New Delhi's call for cessation of hostilities and its army is continuing its offensive against the LTTE despite international calls for temporary pause to allow safe passage to the civilians caught in the cross fire. The humanitarian crisis is continuing to grow and there are disturbing reports that China is fishing in Sri Lanka's troubled waters to gain influence.
Meanwhile, the Maoists government in Nepal has blamed India. Nepal Finance Minister Babu-ram Bhattarai said, "India supported the army and the president. It was an enormous blunder. It is going to cost India all the goodwill it earned."
Reacting to the crisis in Nepal External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said, "India hopes the present crisis is resolved in a manner which contributes to the early conclusion of the peace process and the broadest possible political consensus would make it possible for Nepal to concentrate on the agreed tasks of Constitution making and of democratic transition."