ISAS Working Papers

ISA S Working Paper No. 14 5 – 16 March 201 2 469A Bukit Timah Road #07 - 01 Tower Block National University of Singapore Singapore 259770 Tel: 6516 4239 / 6516 6179 Fax: 6776 7505 / 6314 5447 Email: isassec@nus.edu.sg Website: www.isas.nus.edu.sg Stabilising the Neighbourhood? : India’s Flip Flop Approach to Maldives Crisis S D M uni 1 It has gradually dawned on the Indian policy mak ers that neighbourhood is strategically critical for India’s stability, development, security and also its regional and global aspirations. Since the beginning of this century, a clear admission of this reality has been articulated officially ; from foreign secretaries to the prime ministers. An independent group of strategic analysts in their latest report says: Interstate politics in South Asia has direct spill - over effects into domestic and regional politics in India. India’s ability to command respect i s considerably diminished by the resistance it meets in the region. South Asia also places fetters on India’s global ambitions. 2