In a bold move, India has snubbed both China and Pakistan by deciding to host the Group of 20 (G20) meeting in the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir. This decision has raised eyebrows in both countries and has the potential to exacerbate tensions in an already volatile region. Despite criticisms, India stands firm in its decision to hold the G20 meeting in Srinagar, the largest city in Jammu and Kashmir. This article will delve into the reasons behind India’s decision and the potential implications it may have for the region.
India has announced the dates for the G20 meeting in Srinagar despite opposition from Pakistan and China. While Pakistan lobbied its allies in G20, like Saudi Arabia and Turkey, to stop the meeting in Srinagar, Beijing had reacted to a meeting of the group in Arunachal by releasing “invented names” for 11 more places in the state to reinforce its claim over the region. India updated its G20 calendar to say that a meeting of the working group on tourism will take place from May 22 to 24. While China will likely ignore the Srinagar meeting, official sources here said there was never any doubt about the meeting in Srinagar.
Around 50 delegates had participated in the G20 meeting in Arunachal and the government is expecting a similar response to the event in Srinagar that will be an opportunity for India to refute Pakistan’s claims of human rights violations in the Kashmir Valley. The government will hope to convey to the world through the high-profile event that normalcy has returned in the Union territory.
China had last year expressed its disapproval to the proposed meeting as it asked “relevant parties” to not complicate the situation by making any unilateral move. The G20 meeting in Srinagar will also take place in the middle of several proposed high-level engagements with Beijing in the next few months. Both Chinese defence and foreign ministers are expected to visit India soon for the SCO meetings. India is also currently in touch with China, Russia and other member states to finalise the dates for the SCO summit in July.
If Chinese President Xi Jinping comes for the meeting, it will open up the chance for his first bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi since the ongoing military stand-off in eastern Ladakh erupted in April 2020.
Preparations for the meeting started last year. G20 meetings are taking place in all 28 states and eight Union territories. Both Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir are integral parts of India, said a source.
India’s announcement of the G20 meeting in Srinagar is likely to elevate the global prominence of the region. It is expected to have a positive impact on the economy of Jammu and Kashmir by sending a message to the world that normalcy has returned to the region.
India is making a diplomatic effort to boost its global profile and consolidate its position as a major player in the regional and global domains. The G20 meeting is an important tool for India to project its soft power and showcase itself as a capable member of the international community. As part of this effort, India is also hosting the BRICS summit this year.
The G20 is a group of 20 countries that represent about two-thirds of the world’s population, 85% of global GDP, and over 75% of global trade. The group was formed in 1999 to promote international economic cooperation among its members, and its current agenda includes issues such as global growth, employment and financial stability, climate change, energy, and development. The G20 is also a forum for countries to coordinate their policies, exchange information, and share best practices.
