When Maithripala Sirisena won the presidential elections in Sri Lanka in early 2015, followed by Ranil Wickremesinghe taking over as Prime Minister, New Delhi was delighted. India’s current approach — of quiet involvement to nudge Sri Lanka towards a resolution of its ethnic dispute — has emerged out of decades of experience. In Sri Lanka, both issues were present. India and Sri Lanka signed an accord, and Delhi then sent in the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to enforce the accord. Sri Lanka had shown both that India would inevitably have to get engaged into a dispute across its borders, and the perils of that engagement.

Source: Hindustan Times September 19, 2016 02:37 UTC