MJ Akbar calls India’s engagement with neighbours – unprecedented

India has made unprecedented engagement with its neighbours and has responded to the present day needs for greater reach to its neighbours, MJ Akbar, minister of state for External Affairs, said on Monday.

According to him, the present day needs calls for India’s greater reach to its neighbours and not just merely for trade and commerce. The success has come with India getting access to strategic resources, Akbar said pointing out to recent acquisition of share in Abu Dhabi’s oil production after agreeing to pay $600 million for one tenth of one of the Emirates’ biggest offshore deposits.

We are getting strategic resources in place and securing our energy needs. The time has come when neighbourhood means reach. India’s level of engagement with neighbourhood is unprecedented, Akbar said.

On the PNB scam Akbar said the Centre has been quick on follow up action. The raids made and FIRs filed would certainly yield results. “Questions should also be put out to those who had opened showrooms for the accused,” Akbar said.