Confidence-building Measures in South Asia are Difficult

Confidence-building Measures (CBMs) can work when thrust is given at bilateral and multilateral levels in the ambience of the SAARC. CBMs are difficult in the region, in some ways, both politically and otherwise, but not impossible and beyond reach. Greater political will is necessary for this and one can only hope that it should be in the offing despite problems.

CONFIDENCE-building measures in South Asia constitute an important element in the development of political, economic, social and other multi-faceted relations in the region, which is afflicted by bilateral differences and even animosities between some countries that unfortunately retard the progress of developing co-operation among the seven nations. The South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) that formally came into being as a boost to the fledging economic and social co-operation among the nations of the most populous region in the world is unquestionably making progress.

However, there can be no denying that the political environment in the region as a whole often puts a brake on the assiduously nurtured SAARC and this is somewhat evident from the fact that the last SAARC summit had to be postponed due to certain reasons. The fact remains that calling the summit off which was to take place in Kathmandu dealt a blow to the regional body's organisational activities since the event was expected to take a number of decisions at the highest level to bolster economic, and particularly trade, activities.

The fresh tensions between two principal players of the South Asian scene - India and Pakistan - over Kargil and later a change of government in the latter were largely responsible for worsening the situation in the region. While the two countries traded charges in their traditional manner accusing each other for the deteriorating conditions, the smaller nations in the region watched rather helplessly this undesirable downswing of the political climate among the SAARC member-countries. The issue that arises is the question of how to get rid of this situation as far as possible and promote healthy environment for the welfare and betterment of the vast multitude living in the region most of whom are mired in abject poverty.

I am writing this column from Colombo where journalists, columnists and scholars from the SAARC member-nations assembled to discuss different aspects of the confidence-building measures (CBMs) - potentials and prospects in the region. Clearly, the discussions that lasted for four days spread over several sessions were devoted on both pious and innocuous kind of matters as well as on vexed issues. Not surprisingly, the contentious subjects drew more deliberations because of the complexity of the matters and their seemingly intractable nature. Nonetheless, the hopes that emerged from the conference which was also attended by scholars from some other countries like China and the United States was that CBMs should be carefully promoted and developed to the extent that the region succeeds in overcoming the inhibitions and mistrust. The region should be put on a collective endeavour of progress and development.

The question is whether these confidence-building measures are possible in the given situation when not only relations between the two main countries - India and Pakistan - have touched almost lowest ebb at the moment because of the near-war condition during the last few months. Does the scenario look to be that ominous that the South Asian region cannot make progress in their vaunted objective of economic progress in a collective spirit? Is it possible to overcome this perilous situation for the sake of peace and prosperity in the area?

There is a silver lining in the otherwise dark cloud. Even as guns trotted in the high mountains of Kargil in the middle of June 1999, experts from India and Pakistan along with others met at the sea side resort of Wadduwa, Sri Lanka for a dialogue. The subject was happily confidence building. The scope was wide. It was to bring together the lessons of the world in ameliorating conflict to the doorstep of South Asia. The experts from both sides did not seek to put it under the carpet, as they wanted to be realistic. But the spirit of the whole exercise was to find light at the end of the tunnel. This was the kind of the spirit that was desirable at the time when fear of a war was lurking. May be such spirits contributed even if in a scant manner - to the lessening of the tensions.

The participants in the conference on CBMs differed on many matters as they sought to touch the crux of the main problems when India and Pakistan have, in a way, Herculean tasks to reduce tensions and some other nations have bilateral and other differences on trade and other issues at times stemming from mistrust and lack of confidence. But the message that was loud and clear: the willingness and zeal to work together for collective betterment despite problems are essential. Here, it is also pertinent to mention that bilateral co-operation are also important to promote overall collective progress. For instance, Dhaka-Colombo co-operation in different sectors need to be further strengthened although such co-operation is on the increase in some areas in the recent times. The formation of the business council by the two countries last year graced by their foreign ministers here was a step in the right direction. So, was the recent visit by a high business delegation led by FBCCI president Abdul Awal Minto here recently when two sides had manifold important discussions to promote business at private levels.

The Lankan delegations are also visiting Bangladesh. But how does one explain that there is no direct flight between the capitals of two countries? We reached Colombo via Bangkok taking nearly twenty hours with halt for the earliest connecting flight. Happily, things are going to change as Air Lanka is expected to begin direct flight by June, this year. How can there be CBMs when the capital cities of the SAARC countries are not directly connected although the regional body came into being in 1985? Bangladesh also needs to strengthen and expand its activities in countries like Sri Lanka by enlarging the mission with sufficient persons so that more works can be done and the gains could be consolidated. After all, CBMs can work when effective and greater push are given at bilateral and also in the multilateral levels in the ambience of the SAARC. CBMs are difficult in the region in some ways both politically and otherwise but not impossible and beyond reach. Greater political will is necessary for this and one can only hope that it should be in the offing despite inherent problems.