THE REPUBLICfeared that if he came back to power he would take up the fight against
them once more. In the meantime the Indian government has been relieved
of further worries by the active policy of Chandrika Kumaratunge who has
designed a convincing political solution of the Tamil problem, but also did
not hesitate to occupy Jaffna when the Tigers defied her. In 1987 India
intervened when Jayewardene attacked Jaffna. This time India did not
protest and even supported Chandrika Kumaratunge in her endeavours.
P.V.Narasimha Rao who had served as external affairs minister for a
long time in earlier years has in general followed a less dramatic line than
Indira and Rajiv Gandhi; he defended India’s national interest quietly but
firmly. The foreign policy of the National Front government followed more
or less the same line. Its minister of external affairs, Inder Gujral, had held
this post earlier in V.P.Singh’s government. He guaranteed the continuation
of a sober and balanced approach to the conduct of foreign policy. Perhaps
this will also contribute to a more positive role as far as SAARC is
concerned.