I was part of a media conference, titled South Asia Looking East, arranged by the East West Centre International in New Delhi from September 8 to 11. Following the moot, the participants were invited to a dialogue on September 12 to discuss cooperation among South Asian journalists.
Senior Indian journalist Jyoti Malhotra claimed that the 19th SAARC conference, scheduled to take place in Pakistan in November, would be called off. Her announcement came just before Susan Kreifels, the East West Centre media programmes manager, was to kick start the formal talk.
The news came as a shock for the audience at Delhi’s Hans Hotel conference hall. They asked her if it was a fact or her desire. She replied, “This is news.” But I believe that it was her desire.
Dilrukshi, another senior journalist from Sri Lanka, said, “The Indian prime minister might skip the conference but there is no question of calling it off.”
Malhotra’s news-cum-wish surfaced at a time when Uri attack had not taken place, no unusual discussion on the Indus Water Treaty was underway and even the UNGA meeting was not under discussion. Does that mean New Delhi had decided to fail the SAARC Conference even before the Uri attack?
This is not the first time the regional cooperation forum has suffered from such issues. However, it is still struggling to narrow down the gap among its members. Two years ago, the conference had held in Nepal and Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif had refused to use an Indian car there. Instead, he had taken a car from Pakistan to Nepal.
The word ‘cooperation’ becomes awkward when a leader from one of SAARC members refuses to board a bullet-proof car from another member country. What could be the level of expectations when leaders from two member countries don’t even like to come across each other. This is not a new phenomenon; it has been prevailing from decades and SAARC has failed to narrow this trust deficit between two nuclear rivals.
India is not only fleeing from this meet but also forcing other small nations in the region to remain absent from the summit. Following India, Shaikh Haseena-led government in Dhaka has also run away. The Indian media is claiming that Bhutan and Afghanistan, too, will boycott the summit. If India has done so this time, Pakistan will do the same next time. Why is this forum needed further?
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established in 1985 with the aim of economic cooperation of seven countries located in South Asia. Afghanistan was given membership as 8th state in 2007, the combined economy of SAARC is 3rd largest in the world in terms of GDP as purchasing power parity after the United States and China. Despite being so powerful and important regional club SAARC could not prove itself as relevant as other such economic blocks in the world. SAARC has six Apex bodies namely SAARC Chamber of commerce & Industry (SCCI), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in Law (SAARCLAW), South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA), South Asian Foundation (SAF) , South Asian Initiative to End Violence against Children (SAIEVAC) and Foundation of SAARC Writer and Literature (FOSWAL). These bodies exist only on papers with some offices and office bearers but nothing to deliver practically.
After observing the activities of this white elephant (SAARC) it is easily derived that the existence of such forum is worthless for its member countries and sure no weight among other nations. Number of deliberations and proposals are discussed among member’s nations and other analysts to improve its performance but results are the same that no result.
It is proven fact that engagement is far better than fleeing away or sitting in the corner what India is opting this time and forcing other nations to do the same and do the same for what? Is this forum is belong to Pakistan only? Answer is in negative, this body is for all 8 nations and should not be jeopardies by one of its members only. If India think it should boycott this conference and also think this step can sooth its convections it should opt this but forcing other nation is a crime against people living under poverty line. If this practice continues this forum will be no longer exist.
I have a views that if this region wish to gain progress on economic front then this forum must be expand with 2 more nations from South West Asia, that obviously China and Iran to balance power and better usability of this club and curtail it to only economic cooperation. In existing SAARC two powerful and rival nations Pakistan and India, with their so many conflicts is major hurdle to bring cooperation among member countries and not breakthrough is possible unless these 2 remain opponents. To overcome this phenomenon two more powerful and impotent nation is needed to bring in and expand this forum to enhance profitability. A European Union like economic block it may be established. Good relations between Pakistan and China and Iran’s alignment with India will help to resolve difference between India and Pakistan as well. By entering China and Iran in the ring will attract rest world to give weight age to this forum and it may be called as SWAARC (South and West Asia Association of Regional Cooperation) instead of SAARC.
Writer is a senior broadcast journalist. He tweets @ajtabassum
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