Press. voanews.com
India launched a
"South Asia" satellite on Friday to provide communication services to
neighboring countries in a new initiative hailed by leaders of seven South
Asian countries as a boost to regional cooperation. The "space
diplomacy" by India, which has an advanced space program, aims at building
stronger ties in the region where China has been gaining influence. But
underlining the tensions between the two most populous countries in the region,
India's arch-rival, Pakistan has opted out of the project.
Soon after the
launch of the $70-million satellite, which is funded by New Delhi, the leaders
of the seven countries participating in the project — India, Bangladesh, Nepal,
Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan and the Maldives, addressed a video conference
that was nationally televised. Calling it the "first of its kind"
project, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the satellite would help meet
the aspirations of economic progress of one-and-a-half-billion people in the
region.
"It shows
that our collective choices for our citizens will bring us together for
cooperation, not conflict, development, not destruction, and prosperity, not
poverty, he said." Pointing out that South Asia was the world's least
economically integrated region, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said "South
Asia has taken a giant step today toward regional cooperation."
The leader of
the landlocked country, which does not have road access to India, said if
cooperation through land is not possible, it is certainly possible through the
sky. "We are confident we will integrate," he said. Weighing 2,230
kilograms and containing 12 communication transponders, the satellite was put
in orbit by a rocket in Sriharikota in eastern Andhra Pradesh state. It will
help provide services such as telecommunications, telemedicine, disaster
management and weather forecasting.
In a region
prone to natural disasters like cyclones, floods and earthquakes, the
satellite's greatest benefit is expected to be in the area of disaster
management. The biggest beneficiaries will be the two smallest countries — Bhutan
and Maldives. Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay noted that his tiny
Himalayan country, which measures the happiness quotient of its citizens as an
indicator of progress, had neither the technical know-how nor the resources to
launch their own satellite. He said the satellite will "advance the well
being and happiness of our people" as it helps boost an array of services.
Pointing out
that India wants to use its space program to further its regional goals, Sukh
Deo Muni, a South Asia expert at New Delhi's Institute of Defense Studies and
Analyses said "India wants to take the lead in integrating the region, and
probably join hands on the developmental issues, cooperating with each
other." After taking office in 2014, Prime Minister Modi launched what he
called a "neighborhood first" approach, partly to counter China,
which has expanded its influence in South Asia and pumped in billions of
dollars to build infrastructure projects in countries like Sri Lanka.
Rajeswari Pillai
Rajagopalan at the Observer Research Foundation Others said that for the first
time, Modi is giving a strategic dimension to the country's space program. "India
is possibly beginning to appreciate the importance of space launches as part of
foreign policy tool and diplomatic engagement, something that China has been
doing for a long time," he said. Foreign policy experts say Pakistan's
decision to opt out of the project is not surprising given the deep political
hostilities and suspicions between the two countries.