The IRAN Vote

Every article that I read seems to strongly oppose India's decision to vote against Iran in the IAEA meeting. I was surprised not to see any one person write in support of the brave decision. I think the decision was a landmark policy shift in our international diplomacy. For once I support a decision made by this Congress government.
Let me point out the reasons why this decision by India was a landmark

1) India's traditional Non Aligned status has not worked out very well in the past. It alienated United States and many advanced european nations. India formed an alliance in which it seemed like a leader of developing countries..all african countries etc. What did we get from these nations who are not capable of standing on their own feet? With this vote India has moved on from this image of indecisive week kneed country.

2) India's status as a growing responsible economy needs to be augmented with such careful decisions which do not cause too much harm in terms of relationship but at the same time gives confidence to US that India is a partner that can be trusted.

3) Iran is still ruled by fundamentalist Islamists. Nuclear power in such hands can be very very dangerous

4) Talking about the gas deal, it will go on as the amount involved in that is billions. Which government would want to kill such a deal for a fricking vote? Its business at the end of the day and Iran would not be foolhardy to kill such a deal

5) First time, a Congress govt has not done something to appease the minority and the Islamic world

I read an article in rediff about how Iran saved India from a motion raised by Pakistan against human right violation in Kashmir. India in 1994 was a nation that was struggling to come out of the socialistic policies. There were not many multinationals here. The forex reserves would have been in single digits. India was an unimportant country then. But today as we slowly move towards market economy, our power is being recognized by US and european nations. Today none of them would support Pakistan or any Arab nation to raise such a motion.

In politics and diplomacy there is no such thing as long term relationship. India by voting against Iran has moved from its usual indecisive stance and moved into a new position of an opinionated developing nation.