India has shown indifference towards the latest initiatives by Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to reinvigorate the SAARC, which has stagnated since 2016. The reluctance stems from ongoing security threats posed by Pakistan. India has instead been active in promoting BIMSTEC as a more viable alternative for regional cooperation, amidst increasing calls for SAARC revival from Bangladeshi officials.

Recently, India exhibited a lack of enthusiasm towards attempts made by Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to revitalize the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which has been inactive since 2016. An initiative proposed by Kathmandu to convene a meeting of SAARC foreign ministers alongside the United Nations General Assembly in New York did not materialize, primarily due to India’s reluctance. Sources indicate that New Delhi firmly believes that efforts to rejuvenate SAARC are futile as long as Pakistan continues to instigate terrorism against India. In contrast, India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, took the opportunity to host a meeting for foreign ministers of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) in New York. BIMSTEC, which excludes Pakistan, consists of seven members, including five countries from the SAARC, serving as an alternative platform for regional dialogue. Notably, just prior to the UN General Assembly, Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor of Bangladesh’s interim government, expressed a desire to revive SAARC. Despite his intention to facilitate a photo opportunity with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Modi departed New York before Yunus’ arrival. Consequently, Yunus discussed the revival of SAARC during a bilateral meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, who indicated that Bangladesh and Pakistan could collaboratively advance this initiative. Yunus also engaged in discussions with Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, who previously advocated for the foreign ministers’ meeting in New York. It is important to note that SAARC meetings at the UN General Assembly have been discontinued since 2020 when India and others rejected Pakistan’s proposal to admit a representative from the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan. The stagnation of SAARC can be traced back to 2016 when Prime Minister Modi declined to attend the 19th SAARC summit in Islamabad due to escalating terrorism from Pakistan, resulting in a collective decision by the other member nations to withdraw from the meeting. Furthermore, Pakistan’s obstruction of several SAARC initiatives, including agreements on regional railways and vehicular movement, has exacerbated tensions within the organization.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, established in 1985, aims to promote regional economic and technical cooperation among its eight member states: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. However, the organization has faced significant challenges, primarily due to political tensions, particularly between India and Pakistan. After a series of terrorist attacks linked to Pakistani groups, India ceased participation in SAARC summits and has increasingly favored alternative forums like BIMSTEC, seeking regional cooperation without Pakistan’s involvement. The cessation of communication and collaboration within SAARC has resulted in stalled initiatives that would potentially benefit the member countries, highlighting the necessity of resolving bilateral conflicts to rejuvenate regional cooperation.

In conclusion, India’s dismissal of recent attempts by Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to revive the SAARC reflects a broader strategy to redirect regional cooperation efforts towards BIMSTEC, largely due to ongoing security concerns regarding Pakistan’s activities. The failure to convene a meeting of SAARC foreign ministers at the UN General Assembly underscores the organization’s stagnation and the challenges posed by political dynamics in South Asia. As long as regional disputes and the threat of terrorism persist, substantial progress within SAARC remains elusive, necessitating a reevaluation of collaborative frameworks in the region.

Original Source: www.deccanherald.com

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