India-Pakistan tension threatens the success of Saarc Summit
THE theme of the 18th Kathmandu Summit was “Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity.” It is expected that the leaders will attach importance to how to implement the theme for peace and progress of almost 1.3 billion people of the Saarc.
It was earlier reported that that three agreements -- Saarc motor vehicles agreement, Saarc regional railway agreement and Saarc energy cooperation agreement -- would be considered and signed to facilitate physical connectivity among the Saarc countries. None of them has been concluded.
The atmosphere on the first day of the Summit at Kathmandu, as reported in the media, was unexpected, especially for the leaders of India and Pakistan. It was like a meeting between strangers. The body language of the prime ministers of India and Pakistan conveyed that feeling and they did not even exchange greetings or shake hands. It is not expected to be like this when the leaders of neighbouring countries meet each other face-to-face.
It seems that the Indian prime minister's mind was disturbed because the opening date of the summit coincided with the tragic terrorists attacks in Mumbai's in 2008, allegedly by a Pakistan-based terrorist organisation, killing 164 people and wounding at least 308, while the Pakistan prime minister's attitude towards India was influenced by India's cancellation of the meeting at the foreign secretary level between the two countries.
It was expected that the leaders would commit to further integration on issues such as physical connectivity through multi-modal transport, setting up of regional energy grid, regional water resources management institution, regional counter-terrorism strategy, combating environmental degradation, and people's movement within the region with easy visa facilities,
With the human and natural resources available within the Saarc region, a sizeable section of the population does not have to suffer endemic poverty. Furthermore, Saarc countries could gain by making more use of their collective resources to exert their influence in the global geo-political environment, as Asean has done in recent years.
The founding principles of Saarc are self-help and regional cooperation. The success of the efforts of the leaders is determined by their vision and performance.
It appears that India and Pakistan could not shed their old attitudes and suspicions. Saarc cannot be hostage to bilateral issues between the two countries. Despite territorial dispute between China and India, they boosted economic ties between themselves, and their bilateral trade stood at $70 billion. If China and India can do it why can't India and Pakistan follow a similar path?
If there is no breakthrough on any of the core issues of cooperation on the final day of the Summit, its viability will be seriously questioned. The South Asian countries may seriously consider “sub-regional cooperation” by deeper economic engagement and physical connectivity among Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and India's northeastern states for the benefit of the peoples of the sub-region.
The writer is former Bangladesh Ambassador to the UN, Geneva.
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