In remarks that may stoke another controversy, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday said foreign policy debates in Parliament and the media seem to be obsessed with short-lived aspects about Pakistan.
"Our foreign policy debates in Parliament and the media seem obsessed with Pakistan or with ephemera, or worse ephemera about Pakistan," he said during the annual convocation of Mangalore University here while underlining the need for improving study of international affairs.
"There is little appetite for in-depth discussion about say, the merits of participating in Non-aligned Movement or the Conference of Democrats or the importance we should give to such bodies as SAARC or the Indian Ocean Rim Conference", he observed.
Speaking on 'Why foreign policy matters' he said foreign policy no longer remained merely foreign. "It affects right here where you live".
Tharoor said his ministry was ready to collaborate with education policy makers on the changes to be brought in teaching international relations in educational institutes.
He said India cannot be oblivious to developments taking place abroad. What happens in North America or North Africa - from protectionist policies to deforestation and desertification to the fight against AIDS - can affect lives of people in this country, he said.
{{/usCountry}}He said India cannot be oblivious to developments taking place abroad. What happens in North America or North Africa - from protectionist policies to deforestation and desertification to the fight against AIDS - can affect lives of people in this country, he said.
{{/usCountry}}Tharoor's comments against Government's austerity measures and immigration policy had triggered controversies earlier.