National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra on Tuesday said India's national interest was in engaging the world, particularly the United States, in a partnership of 'shared values' to shape the new international order.
At the release of the book Crossing the Rubicon: The Shaping of India's New Foreign Policy, he said it had become imperative for India in the post-Cold War era to get the world on its side, and not merely have an alliance with the US, the only 'hyperpower.'
He brushed aside criticism that India's partnership with the US gave the impression that it had become Washington's client state. "India can never become a client state, it is too big, too proud.
"Once that partnership comes, you have successfully engaged the world. That's how you take care of your national interest by true engagement."
Referring to India's position in the post-Cold War era, he said, "Today you can only say that your (India's) potential is somewhat big. This engagement is not easy because of the asymmetry of power."
He said terrorism could only be countered if all democracies fought it together, and not through a 'loose international order'.
Stating that India's foreign policy should embody 'continuity with change', Mishra said at the beginning of the 1990s, India saw a 'big change in its position in the world'. "Many of us at that time felt that we had lost our moorings.
"But it needed the nuclear tests of May 11, 1998, to awaken the world to show how we changed the circumstances somewhat to suit our policy."
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