National Security Advisor M K Narayanan’s statement warning Sri Lanka against purchasing military equipment from Pakistan and China was wholly unwarranted. Sri Lanka is a sovereign country. It is for Colombo to decide whether or not it wants to purchase equipment from Pakistan, China or any other country. Mr Narayanan has obviously overstepped the line. The growing influence of Pakistan and China over Sri Lanka is a matter of concern to India. Unlike India, these countries are not averse to Colombo resorting to the military option to resolve the ethnic crisis. Pakistan is reportedly behind Colombo’s strategy of aerial bombing of Tamil areas. This has worsened the crisis and increased the flow of refugees into India. This strategy is undermining India’s security. But these are concerns that India should convey to Sri Lanka via the diplomatic channel. Mr Narayanan exceeded his brief by airing these concerns through the media. It will deepen the neighbours’ perception of India as a big brother and a bully. This is hardly in India’s interest. The government should pull up Mr Narayanan for his indiscretion.

Colombo’s rationale for turning to Pakistan and China for its military purchases is that they are willing to provide it with the kind of lethal weaponry it needs to take on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). But Sri Lanka needs to realise that these weapons — however sophisticated they might be — cannot resolve the ethnic crisis. If India has been repeatedly cautioning Colombo against military operations and holding back from providing it with lethal weapons, it is because this is deepening the crisis and not creating the kind of environment necessary for resumption of talks.

Although the India-Sri Lanka relationship has been warm by and large, there are issues that have contributed to occasional friction. India has tended to be overbearing in its interaction with its smaller neighbour. Delhi has repeatedly said it is committed to Sri Lanka’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. It must act in a way that will convince Sri Lankans that this is indeed so. Delhi must respect Sri Lanka’s right to make its decisions. As for Sri Lanka, more sensitivity to India’s security concerns is in its interests as well.