Ambassador P. Stobdan is a distinguished academician, diplomat, author and national security expert. Ambassador Stobdan is a specialist in Asian affairs and regarded as one of the topmost strategic experts in the country. He has served in the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses and in the Indian National Security Council. He has served as First Secretary/Director at the Embassy of India, Almaty (1999 and 2002) and Ambassador at the Embassy of India, Bishkek (2010-2012). He has also served as Director and Professor of the Centre for Strategic and Regional Studies at Jammu. He is a member of the India International Centre, New Delhi.

Q. Tell us something about your journey as a student to a professor and now an Ambassador.

Well, it is only through step by step process of learning and dedicated professionalism. Of course, it was not an easy journey all the way. It was a hard struggle, especially when we come from a modest socio-economic background. But, I never deviated from what had chosen to do though there were many distractions that would have motivated me to do something else. All my fellow contemporaries from Ladakh are pretty rich people now! 

Q. Don’t you think all our intellectuals are working outside Ladakh, Is it a kind of Brain Drain? What is the reason?

I don’t know whether you could call it a brain drain. For example, what could I have possibly done if I am in Ladakh? There is no job for me to do there. I have contributed enough at my level by advancing the issues concerning Ladakh at the national policy level. Even though I have never been the representative of the people of Ladakh, I had been articulating Ladakh’s concerns for years which were very seriously considered by those in the policy circles, and I hope to continue serving my people in my professional way.  I have noticed that even those think about Ladakh’s interests whether, in the field of culture, history or religion enjoy no respectful space in our society. Ladakh has no perspective of its own. We are yet to produce a leader who can evolve a vision for Ladakh and its future. Currently, we are passing through a stage where the wheelers and dealers, fixers or agents run the roost.

Q. It is inevitable that we ask you about the recent Chinese incursion. What are its implications for the people of Ladakh?

It depends what you mean by implications for Ladakh. Firstly, we have to define what Ladakh’s interests are. Are you looking from the point of view of Indian national interest or are you simply judging from the interest of Ladakh? The answer is a complex one and it would require to be approached from an in-depth understanding and analysis.

Q. Some say it was just one of those patrols by a local commander with Beijing not involved, others say it is a Chinese tactic to pressure India just before Li Kegiang’s visit. How do you see it, sir?

Well, China is a serious nation and they do not indulge in things without prior calculations. These issues have much debated in the national media and the conclusion has been that the Indian side still has not been able to fathom the Chinese motives nor the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang had provided any adequate explanation during his visit to India in May this year.

Q. Why does it happen time and again that the Chinese patrol to this side of Line of Actual Control (LAC) and India does not respond?

There is clearly a problem. India has not adequately addressed the problems of its border areas, because they simply do not understand them. You are a person from Ladakh and if you do not understand the reasons then how do you expect people sitting in Delhi or Mumbai are expected to understand the complexities?

Q. Explain us about this LAC and the dispute. What part of Ladakh frontiers the LAC?

The problem has arisen because of the Westphalian concept of state border concept adopted by India and China. Both countries must recognize that the issue is not so much about territory but a cultural and economic one. Ladakh and Ngari (Western Tibet) historically illustrated having a web of religious, political and commercial inter relationships. The two never challenged the temporal authority of India and China, but they enjoyed religious and commercial autonomy for mutual cooperation necessitated by geography. For them, the interface had no political/diplomatic significance and traditionally, such trans-border cultural environment was easily accepted by both India and China. Unfortunately, today, border management is only about deploying troops along the border. The issue may never be solved.
 
Q. Do you think Ladakh is highly unprotected and susceptible to a sudden Chinese thrust? Is the infrastructure adequate at this side of the border?

The Chinese will do whatever is in their interest. We (Ladakh) have to see what our interests are?

Q. Media highlighted Ladakh in a negative way what do you have to say about that? Are ladakhis too lenient about the incursion? Or they do not have any opinion regarding this issue.

Ladakh and people of Ladakh have historically been indifferent to their own interests. It only reflects the lack of self-consciousness or self-identity or self-being as an organic social unit. This has happened due to long historical processes. Today, Ladakh relies on the political consciousness of others. While Ladakh may still be important geopolitically because it still holds the balance of power (stability) between India and China and India and Pakistan but unfortunately people of Ladakh and their thought process (if any) are not important. Over the years, we have been exposed – lack of ignorance is visibly apparent. We have compromised on each and every aspects of our life. Only the dance and songs are left as our own.

Q We heard that you are launching Leh International Centre soon in Ladakh. What is it exactly? Can you tell us about that?

I had decided to keep it as Leh International Centre but because of the demand from Kargil, I have decided to name it as Ladakh International Centre though originally I also thought about it.

Despite all the problems, I am still optimistic about the future of Ladakh. As we enter into the 21st Century, Ladakh and the trans-Himalayan regions have come to assume dynamic importance on the national and international scene. Many important aspects have begun to unravel in Ladakh, once a cross-road of Asia, with enormous significance for cultural and economic resurgence of Asia. Ladakh, in the last few decades, has particularly attracted international interests especially on the issues pertaining to culture, philosophy, tourism, environment (climate change), political and national security.

The conferment of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) status for Leh and Kargil (for which I played a key role) has paved the way for the empowerment of grassroots; the inculcation of self-confidence in relations to developments within Ladakh and outside. Clearly, there is a new sense of realism among the people as they also want to move faster towards change. Such optimism is a desirable change from every perspective.

At a time when the balance of power is shifting towards Asia, J&K and Ladakh could be factored into India’s foreign policy perspective. The State had historically served more as bridge than a barrier and efforts should be made to revive this status. The geo-strategic value of J&K can’t be underestimated. It still remains a keystone and a source of regional stability. With potential increased tensions between India and Pakistan, it may also be time for an out of box settlement of the Kashmir issue. If not, such prolonged crises, whose ends are not in sight, also leave the other regions in a state of uncertainty, especially about their direction of developments.

A fresh approach is also required to seek benefits from cooperation with China. A cooperative approach should eventually pave the way for greater understanding and softening of the current standoff, thereby creating a positive atmosphere for the resolution of boundary issue. For India, a fresh thinking is required; any further delay could risk serious ramifications against China’s increasing quest for strategic minerals and water resources. A foreign policy approach for J&K should also become an essential element for its economic development and for better governance, considering what is being witnessed in other States in India.
 
One of the important and powerful dynamics taking shape in J&K is the resurgence of Buddhism as factor of cultural mobilization and economic growth in Ladakh. This is happening when the Buddha nature and its wisdom is ushering a speedy comeback on the world stage to meet the challenges of 21st century. A strong revivalism of Buddhism in the trans-Himalayan region should be viewed as great importance for restoring the lost traditional linkages between Asian societies. This will become a new factor in enhancing mutual interests, especially exploring new opportunities for cultural, economic and human development.

Moreover, Buddhism is making a speedy comeback albeit as a Brand symbol of rising India. Analysts have noted that Buddha-Industry could transform the lives of millions, providing lucrative career options to a large youth component of his land. India’s corporate believes that the country is sitting atop millennia-old tourist mines. A recent study report suggested that Sakyamuni could potentially generate $1 billion revenue for the country. Fortunately, Ladakh is one of the important Buddhist cultural attractions in India and in the state of Jammu & Kashmir that is directly linked to spiritual destinies of millions in Asia. In fact, lot more needs to be done in conceptualizing the relevance of Buddhism as a cultural complex in contemporary times. More than its market import, Buddhism needs a cultural tagging - a source of knowledge–based soft-power lever.

There are, however, many challenges ahead and synergy is required for a nuanced and adept policy pursuit in Asia. The resurgence of Buddhism in China is inevitably posing a great challenge. In fact, China is already trying to play a foremost role over Buddhism, at least on the Asian scene. Not only would it like to control the trend and nature of discourses on Buddhism but also use it as a vehicle of influence and instrument of pragmatism in major parts of Asia. The challenge before India and State of Jammu & Kashmir is to retain their cultural leadership and play a meaningful role in shaping the course of this great phenomenon in the 21st century. Potentially, Buddhism has sufficient intellectual strength to affect the geopolitical trend in Asia besides the preservation of global peace. In fact, Buddhism was India’s ancient geopolitical tool that could still be employed to meet the challenges of the new millennium.

Interestingly, Islam - another important religious faith - is well embedded in the benign-ness of Buddhist cultural complex of Ladakh. Islam now defines the identity, and it imbues in the Kargil leadership the need to espouse Islamic values to maintain the political and social order. In fact, a range of historical and ethical association between Buddhist and Islamic principles continue to exist in Ladakh as opposed to Western ethics. It is essential that some of the existing flawed Western interpretations of Asian history must be revisited if a broader cohesion is to be brought about for a long-term peace and stability in Asia.

At a time when the economies of the Asian countries are rising, the State of J&K could play an important bridge role in expanding India’s economic and commercial interests across East and Central Asia. In the changing atmosphere, J&K should also focus on its calculus the need to restore the lost trade linkages while reconnecting itself to the Silk Route with the neighbouring countries of India. Such viewpoints could be the kernel not only for broader atmospheric change but will also prove beneficial to all stakeholders in the State. In fact, time has come to take benefit from China’s economic achievements. China can offer better technology and experiences that Ladakh and the State requires.
 
The two countries should explore the possibility of converting the existing problems into opportunities. In this context, attempts should be made to launch fresh cross-border initiatives such as by proposing a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) scheme between India and China. The RCEP will help to create a regional market covering both sides of the Indus corridor. In fact, Ladakh and Ngari (Western Tibet) historically had a web of religious, political and commercial interrelationships. Such a close cultural and commercial interdependence and mutual cooperation were necessitated more due to geography than by politics. And, traditionally, such a trans-border cultural environment was easily accepted both by India and China prior to the 1962 border conflict.

Even now the issues could be resolved not so much by politico-military but through a well calibrated cultural and economic means. A non-military approach might also work to end the current entanglement between the two countries. The RCEP may have a huge advantage for India and the State of J&K. Especially, a cross-border road connection between Eastern Ladakh and Western Tibet will provide India access to markets in Xinjiang and Tibet – both having a huge demand for Indian consumer products.

A fresh policy approach could be pursued through the RCEP to promote a brand of sustainable cultural tourism. It is to be noted that neighbouring China plans to invest $10 billion over the next five years to build several high profile infrastructure projects (roads, airports and hydropower stations) to develop its Ngari Prefecture bordering with Eastern Ladakh. The aim is to develop the entire Menser-Gunsa and Rudog-Senge Tsangpo (Indus) corridor so that the Kailash-Manasarwar area - considered as a holy land for Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains – could be developed into a world-class tourist and pilgrimage center. The goal is to attract its own affluent Chinese as well as international tourist traffic including Indian pilgrims to Western Tibet.

On our side, Ladakh has come into sharp domestic and international tourist focus. The entire Indus corridor (Lamayuru-Nimu-Bazgo-Leh-Hemis-Nyoma) has become an attractive cultural tourism complex. Now that India too is developing infrastructure including circular roads and airports in Ladakh, the two countries could explore the possibility of jointly developing tourism industry under RCEP mechanism. In the process, both cross-border tourism and trade could serve as engines of economic growth for Ladakh. In fact, as the Western tourist traffic is gradually drying up, the vast Indian and Chinese domestic tourists could become huge prospects for Ladakh and State tourism industry.

While every effort must be made to pursue a cooperative policy approach but both China and Pakistan will continue to pose a security challenge with strong ramifications for peace and stability in J&K. India and China are also locked in a boundary dispute in Ladakh and it is unlikely that a solution can be found in the near term.

Political stability, sustainable economic development, and environment are interconnected issues. Efforts are needed to mitigate the non-traditional security challenges such as climate change and natural disasters. Gradual glacial attrition from global warming means water scarcity in the State. The J&K government should make protection of environmental biodiversity a keystone of its policy. It should not only be considered as an important step toward making progress a reality but should also lay the platform for long-term stability and harmonious co-existence of diverse regions.

The understanding of the above-mentioned challenges requires sufficient intellectual resources so that issues unfolding in Ladakh can be comprehensively analyzed. It is in this background that the idea of establishing LADAKH INTERNATIONAL CENTRE (LIC) is being proposed as one of my initiatives. Though this, I wish to revive the essence of Ladakh in its historical, cultural, economic and political sense

Q. What is your suggestion to all the Ladakhi people regarding the Chinese incursion?

Three things have become clearer to understand and analyze future trends:

1. Ladakh as a Buddhist cultural complex will assume great importance for restoring the lost traditional linkages between Asian societies. This will become a new factor in enhancing mutual interests, especially exploring new opportunities for cultural, economic and human development;

2. The growth of sustainable tourism and agricultural economy will remain critical for the socio-economic prospects of Ladakh;

3. Sufficient capacity building is needed in Ladakh to mitigate the growing non-traditional security challenges such as climate change and natural disasters;

4. As part of the lessons learned so far, building harmonious social and economic relations with the neighbouring regions on the basis of partnership and mutual interests will remain a critical challenge for the development of Ladakh;

5. Ladakh will continue to play a critical role for national security with wide geopolitical implications.