SAARC Hope for economic and political collaboration in South ASia

SAARC: Hope for Economic and Political				India?s hegemonic behavior. India regards South
Collaboration in South Asia INTRODUCTION It				Asia as its geo-political region of influence, without
was the silent and enormous pressure of SAARC				proclaiming a doctrine of influence, she made it
that the stubborn Indian Government eventually				clear to the smaller states that they must pay
succumbed to and conceded to attend the 12th				due regard to its security sensitivities. ?The
SAARC Summit. Eventually, the 12th SAARC				neighbors complain that pay scant regard to their
Summit was successfully held in Islamabad from				security and at times does not mind trespassing
4 to 6 January 2004 in a congenial atmosphere,				on their sovereignty?. The political configuration of
not only gave a replenish thrust and dynamism to				south Asia presented a mosaic of weak states in
the regional association but also broke the log ?				which Pakistan; the middle power appears to be
jam between Pakistan and India. It was guided by				the strongest of the weak. Thus it always
the vision of peace and economic prosperity in				offered the main resistance to India?s ambition of
South Asia and by being proud of its culture and				domination in South Asian region. It was followed
rich traditions. The member states renewed their				by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, two smaller and
averred commitment to the objectives of the				comparatively weak states. Bangladesh gained
Organisation and pledged to continue working				independence only three decade ago with the
towards promoting political stability and economic				active support of India. Their level of resistance to
prosperity in the SAARC region. The current				Indian domination was much lower. Hence more
Chairman of SAARC, the Prime Minister of				often than not they tended to succumb to Indian
Pakistan termed the summit as ?It is victory of				pressure, whether politico-military or economic.
neither party; it is victory of poor people of South				The next category is that of mini states, the
Asia.? Regional diplomacy emerged triumphant and				weakest states in the region. Two of them are
prevailed and conflict vanished for the time being.				the Himalayans states of Nepal and Bhutan which
History has been made during three days of				are not only geographically landlocked but also
SAARC Summit. It is the credit to Saarc				politically India locked. The third is Maldives a string
statesman, leaders and people. It is the victory of				of tiny islands in the Indian Ocean. These states
1.4 billion people of South Asia. Few days ago the				have very little power to offset India?s
relations between two most important members				domination over them, and virtually no ability to
of Saarc were at the peak of K2. Tensions				counter Indian sponsored order in the region. No
between Pakistan and India have kept the growth				doubt they have desire to check the Indian
potential of the region hostage for long. Better				influence by extending cordial relations with
sense prevailed and the political dice got loaded to				Pakistan and other extra regional powers. Prior to
promote peace. It is the victory of democratic				the establishment of SAARC south asia has
forces and sagacity showed by the President of				witnessed four wars, the only states to be
Pakistan Pervez Musharraf that this crucial summit				dismembered since world war 11 through rebellion
happened. In fact, Pakistan begged other				of one of its parts effectively aided by the
members to participate in the Summit only in the				interventionist army of neighboring country . The
supreme interest of SAARCs existence. Hope has				political relations among the seven states at the
been ignited for the downtrodden masses of				time of establishment of SAARC were marked
Saarc region. The meeting of two arch rivals India				more by mutual mistrust and non cooperation
and Pakistan during SAARC summit was indeed a				than by good neighborliness. South Asia was
blessing for the poverty ridden people of South				strategically fragmented and divided, one of the
Asia. The 12th SAARC Summit was a great				most heavily armed regions. The political conditions
success, whose main achievement was the				were complicated by super power rivalries. The
delineation of a future course of action. The				inter state ethnic tensions were meshed with
Islamabad Declaration, Social Charter, SAFTA				domestic conflicts and regional tensions. ?SAARC
Framework agreement and the Additional Protocol				region does not have to go outside their region to
on Terrorism will go a long way in promoting and				test? what Homer wrote in his epic the
preserving meaningful regional cooperation and				?Odyssey? ?we are quick to flare up, we races
economic development in SAARC region. The				of men on the earth?. The south Asian states
strategic analysts are sanguine that milk and				were politically unstable due factors such as
honey would flow in the Indus, Ganges and				regime illegitimacy, socio-economic, religious and
Bramputra rivers of South Asia. Whether their				ethno linguistic tensions. This political instability in
dream would come true or not? The interaction				turn retarded any tangible initiative towards
of two important nuclear members of SAARC will				collective regional security arrangement. ?The
divulge the fact in due course of time. The				constraints in the path of South Asian
scenario in South Asia prior to the summit was				politico-strategic order were many and varied,
explosive. The world capitals were anticipating				these included internal political tension affecting the
nuclear war and exhorting India and Pakistan to				participating states, the existence of a large
show restraint. The people of South Asia were				number of complex and bilateral disputes and
terrified and apprehensive of their fate. The dark				regional division resulting from diverging external
clouds were blown away by the visit of Indian				orientations, alignment and perceptions?. India has
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. The people				been the major factor in perpetuating the
of south Asia got sigh of relief and cordially				differences against states rather than making
welcomed the holding of Summit. The 12th				genuine efforts to solve them in the best interest
SAARC Summit in the beautiful city Islamabad				of restoring peace in the region. The political
had taken profound and bold steps to correct				disorder in South Asia was due to her ?desire to
socio-economic imbalances, consolidate political				become a great power implies, at the minimum,
stability in the region and remove the stumbling				to acquire regional domination or hegemony and
bloc in the way of SAARC. The dynamic and				military superiority over its neighbors through the
effective SAARC is capable of eliminating the				spectrum of force This was one of India?s
ever increasing poverty from unfortunate SAARC				perceived role ?. The historical events and trends
region, which generates less than 2% of world				of Indian policies have not been conducive to
income, yet support 22% of world population and				good relationship, resulting in diversities to the
44% of the world?s poor (those who earn less				extent that fear and distrust have replaced the
than a dollar a day) and strive to diminish the				feeling of security and confidence in each other.
ever increasing defence expenditure of member				No wonder, the region had earned the dubious
countries. According to Former Indian prime				distinction of being the only one in the world
minister V P Singh a new ray of hope has been				where until 85 there was no concept of regional
kindled in the relations between India and Pakistan				cooperation. The political relations among South
due the efforts of SAARC. The world has				Asian states had been so distorted, fragile and
recognized that the SAARC is the only Ray of				unstable that even the formal launching of
Hope for downtrodden people of South Asia				SAARC through the first summit meeting of
groaning under the ever increasing burden of				seven South Asian heads of states and
defence, debt and conflicting political history. It				governments held in December 85 in Dhaka was
was a historic Summit with the start of diplomacy				viewed by many as symbolic rather than a step
between India and Pakistan at the highest level.				towards meaningful cooperation. The estranged
The12th SAARC summit proved as a crucial and				relations of India with its neighbors have not only
turning point in the tense geo-politics of South				marred the socio-economic development in the
Asia. Since January 2000 when the 11th Saarc				region but also retarded the spirit of regional
Summit was held at Katmandu, SAARC could not				cooperation. DEPLORABLE ECONOMIC
meet again at the Heads of Government?s level				CONDITIONS South Asia is unique in the world in
because of the usual impasse in India-Pakistan				having a concentration of third world economic
relations and reluctance of Indian leaders to				problems, at the forefront of which is the
interact with a military ruler of Pakistan following				poverty of its population. There is no region more
overthrow of democratic government in Pakistan.				in need of the alleviation of the lot of its people
The SAARC Summit adopted positive and				than South Asia. By all indices of economist, its
conducive measure to reduce ever increasing				people have been ranked as the poor and the
poverty, enhance vital economic cooperation and				region itself is the hard core world poverty. There
procure its lofty objectives enshrined in the noble				was population explosion in South Asia. This had
Charter. The aims and objective of SAARC, if				to be seen against its size, which is 3 per cent of
implemented in letter and spirit would dramatically				the land area of world and its output was 2
transform the future of the 1.4 billion poverty				percent, South Asia is although endowed with a
ridden people of south Asia, hitherto the peace,				range of natural resources especially minerals. The
cooperation and development of the South Asia				quantity is approximately 1 per cent of the world
have remained hostage to the exigencies of				resources. The distribution of these resources in
mutual mistrust and conflict. The ASEAN Summit				the region is uneven with India having 90 per cent
was held on 12 December 2003 at Tokyo Japan.				of natural resources and 87 per cent of the
The SAARC Summit was held after ASEAN. All				cultivable lands. The economies of South Asian
world masses saw that SAARC was one of the				countries were dependent on agriculture with
successful, crucial, and historic events in the annals				industries and services amounting on the average
of international politics. No body draw attention to				to about a fifth of the national output. There was
ASEAN despite its potential and success as world				dearth of technology. The majority of these
focused their attention on SAARC summit. This				countries were export oriented but dependent on
research article will examine the evolution of				a few primary commodities and as a result, they
SAARC, challenge to it and future strategy of				were vulnerable to market fluctuations, which had
SAARC for the betterment and amelioration of				disruptive effects on their economies. This
people in economic and political fields following 12th				situation is a legacy of colonial rule, which
successful Summit in Islamabad. EVOLUTION OF				subordinated the interests of colonies to serve
SAARC Historical review of South Asia SAARC				the Empire and distorted their economies.
region has an ancient history commencing from				Fluctuations in earning as a result of this market
the Indus Valley Civilization about 2500 BC. The				vicissitude had prevented regional countries from
evidence of this glorious civilization is found in the				prosecuting stable plans of economic development.
ruins of Mohen -Jo -Daro and Harapa. SAARC				The per capita income of the regional countries
region is pre-eminently a land of varieties. It has				were estimated between 100$ to 400$, on the
been aptly described as the epitome of the world.				basis of which it can be said that South Asia had
South Asian region is composed of seven				the bulk of poverty. This implies horrifying living
countries namely Bhutan, Bangladesh, India,				conditions of hunger, deprivation of life necessities,
Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. General				malnutrition, disease, squalor and living death of
(Retd) K.M Arif has described the members of				peoples. ?These conditions have eroded the
SAARC family as ?the seven member				quality of peoples as deprivation of opportunities
constellation of Ursa minor in South Asia?. These				for education and humanistic pursuits have
nations occupy almost all of the geographic area,				reduced their existence to primitive levels?. The
referred to historically as the Indian sub continent.				economic under development was one of the
This region is a physiographic mosaic with arid				main root causes of the most of tensions in
deserts, towering mountains, fertile plains, rivers,				South Asia, which has resulted in increasing
rain sodden delta, valleys and dense jungle. The				influence of external powers and also created
history of south Asia demonstrates that the				friction between India and neighboring states. The
geographic unity has helped to invest the region				economic conditions were characterized by a low
with a sense of common destiny. The South				rate of economic growth. Instead of improving
Asian sub continent is the collective home of				the lot of the lowest strata of population the
various social systems, cultures and religions.				conditions had worsened due to lack of regional
Diversity of culture and religion is a character of				cooperation among regional states. The
this area. All the world religions are found here.				percentage of growth rate of GDP at constant
Religions have shaped the historical contours of				price from 81 to 85 were less due to diverse
South Asia. The ideal of cultural unity is also				adverse factors such as high inflation, budgetary
nothing but a myth. Even we leave aside the				deficits, inappropriate price policies, inadequate
Muslims and other races ?the Hindus are divided				domestic management and increasing defence
into thousands of mutually exclusive and often				budget. The advantages accruing from the
hostile sections by the cast system and different				proximity and geographical continuity of South
social traditions? Under these circumstances it is				Asia in terms of inter regional trade has never
not surprising that ?the Hindus and Muslims despite				been exploited for the development of the
having lived as neighbors for centuries remained				shattered economy. The trade relationship
distant and separate?. The Hindus and Muslim				between the countries has been at the lowest
social system are existed side by side yet they				ebb. For example India ? Pakistan trade links were
could not work for real integration. Thus this				reestablished in 1975 after a lapse of ten years. In
fundamental and inherent social, cultural and				81 ? 82 the trade between both countries was
religious disunity was ultimately responsible for the				limited. Although, the SAARC countries have
creation of two states India and Pakistan. Despite				made some achievement though slow, in
several diversities, ?south asia does share				improving their economy, but their dependence on
powerful ecological, economical and political mutual				developing countries for import of various
ties?. GEOGRAPHICAL UNITY All the seven				commodities like petroleum products and
countries of South Asia have a geographical				machinery exceeds their exports resulting in
compactness. The continuity of border imparts				adverse balance of trade and balance of payment.
economic advantage to the people of the region				The reason for low intra regional trade were fear
and helps them to amalgamate to each other.				of domination by India, high cost of production
This ?closeness gives the region many				due to inadequate technical advancement, cheaper
infrastructural linkage based on colonial legacies,				prices offered by developed countries and
common history, race, religion, language and				economic aid and loans from developed states.
cultural background which are unique as compared				The export of South Asian countries in 1984
to other regions like west asia or south east asia?.				valued at a little over 15 million dollar which form
The ethnic composition of the region is even				only 0.9 percent of the world export, while total
more heterogeneous than its religious and cultural				import of seven countries amounted to 28396
make-up given the diverse geographic origins of				million dollar which formed only 1.5 per cent of
the various peoples who settled South Asia.				world imports. Extremely slow progress in social
Internal migrations have inspired much inter ethnic				development stand in sharp contrast to the
strife that has undermined the sense of unity and				economic growth during the eighties. The main
replaced it with conflicting loyalties and nationalistic				social problems were poverty, unemployment,
antagonisms. The South Asia has nearly				illiteracy and limited scope of advancement for
continental dimension and its total area is nearly				women in social and economic activities. In South
two million square miles. The distance from west				Asian countries more than 40 per cent of the
to east is more than 2100 miles and from				population lived below the poverty lines, 45 per
extreme north to south is approximately the				cent were without access to health care, 55 per
same. The population of South Asia is more than				cent were exposed to insanitary conditions, ten
1.5 billion. ?South Asia, with 21 per cent of world				children died every minute and hundreds of
population, has barely 1.5 per cent of the world?s				thousands of women lost their lives during child
GNP and 3.3 per cent of the world?s total area.				birth. At the time of formation of SAARC,
Obviously it has the largest concentration of the				regional cooperation in Western Europe, South
world?s poverty ?. Thus it has been ranked as				America, Gulf region and South East Asia paid rich
third major concentration of population in the				dividends. Unfortunately, minimum regional
world. South Asia is bounded by china on the				cooperation in south Asia was not visible. These
north from the rest of Asia by Himalayas and is				adverse economic conditions were due to lake of
bounded on the other side by the Indian Ocean. A				regional cooperation. The economic pressures not
narrow arm of Afghanistan (Wakhan Corridor)				only at the time of creation of SAARC but also
separates it from Tajikistan, on the west of				today are even more threatening. It is evident
South Asia lies the Afghanistan and Iran, on the				that even today after eighteen years after the
east is Myanmar while on its south lays the Indian				establishment of SAARC the leaders of ASEM
Ocean with Bay of Bengal. On the world globe,				(Asia-Europe Meeting) are reluctant to invite India
South Asia lies between ?01 degrees south to 37				and Pakistan to join ASEM due to low economic
degrees North latitude and between 62 degrees				growth. These deteriorated social and economic
east to 97 degrees East latitude?. LACK OF				conditions urged the South Asian people and
POLITICAL COHESION Despite being a				leaders to come close to each other, hence the
geographical unit, South Asia always lacked political				Heads of States or Government of SAARC
unity. The history reveals that the entire region				countries reaffirmed during the first SAARC
has hardly remained as one political unit under the				Summit in Dhaka that ?their fundamental goal was
sovereignty of one government. South Asia was				to accelerate the process of economic and social
divided into smaller states, though some of the				development in their respective countries through
dynasties rose to prominence and effected a				the optimum utilization of their human and material
partial unification of the region under one rule, yet				resources, so as to promote the welfare and
no complete political union of the whole region				prosperity of their people and to improve their
was ever attained. It were the Muslims and lately				quality of life. They were conscious that peace
the British who united the sub continent by				and security was an essential prerequisite for
providing uniform administrative and some time a				realization of this objective?. The leaders of South
single government but it was transitory. The				Asia felt the gravity of situation and vehemently
natural division and physical features have always				strived to ?break the barriers and help one
prevailed and manifested in division of sub				another to cease to be stranger. An effective
continent. ?The sub continent has itself always				attempt has been taken in this direction in the
been at least two distinct worlds, the truly Indic				shape of SAARC to make this region socially
region comprising the gangetic plains and peninsular				united, politically strong and economically
India, on the one hand and the Indus region				prosperous?. These adverse economic and political
consisting of basin of Indus and its tributaries (i-e				developments forced and compelled the regional
Pakistan) on the other?. South Asia having seldom				states to adopt a rational policy to their common
political unity was a conglomeration of sates with				problems created by political discord in South Asia.
their distinctive language and customs, though it				The domestic and international economic pressure
had a certain amount of homogeneity because of				forced the heads to join hands to mitigate the
a common civilization and outlook on life. ?The				suffering and sorrows of people committed by
various philosophies and religion that sprang from				the history of mutual distrust. JOURNEY OF
its bosom were mostly based upon a set of				SAARC Regional cooperation is sin qua non-for
common assumption regarding cosmology and				the amelioration and betterment of the peoples of
life?. GEO- STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF SOUTH				SAARC region. One of the most significant ways
ASIA The South Asia has always been the focus				through which developing countries of SAARC
of world politics due to its strategic location. During				region can enhance and accelerate their economic
the inclement cold war between super powers it				growth is through increasing intra- regional
has been centre of stage. Indio ?Russian alliance				cooperation. It is also true that ?the important
and Pak-US marriage brought South Asia into				obstacles in the formation of closer ties among
world politics. The persistent political instability and				South Asian economies are their wide spread
war between Arab and Israel in the Middle East,				poverty and resources constraint?. As in political
the fall of pro US regime of Shah and Islamic				scenario, economic cooperation in the region was
revolution in Iran, the Soviet military intervention in				also dogged by dissimilarities which have created
Afghanistan in December 1979, the outbreak of				psychological barriers of fear perceptions and lack
fratricidal war between Iran and Iraq and Iraq?s				of trust. ?These revolve around the fear that the
occupation of Kuwait had diverted not only the				region would become a satellite of India, if the
attention of super powers but also the attention				latter is allowed to take a hand in its economic
of entire world including the United Nations active				development, in view of its towering resources.
involvement in South Asia. According to Dr. Moonis				This is borne out to some extent by the fact
Ahmar ?Compounded with these developments,				that India is the biggest exporter and smallest
Pakistan?s tilt towards the US in the post 1980s				importer in intra regional trade?. The single most
period the deepening of Soviet military presence				important factor appears to be the most serious
in Afghanistan and the accentuation of the super				hurdle has been the lack of political will on the part
power naval military build up in the Indian Ocean				of the member countries to augment economic
further augmented the South Asia prominence in				cooperation among them. This is partly because
the World Affairs?. The South Asia lies on the mid				the countries have not felt any political compulsion
way junction between South East Asia and the				as well as economic inspiration for intra regional
Middle East. In the annals of History both regions				cooperation and partly because the apprehension
are considered quite sensitive and strategic				not only creates impact to a conscious
regions of the world. The strategic importance of				unresponsiveness towards the economic
Indian Ocean bordering South Asia can be				cooperation. It is widely believed that the
appreciated in view of its geographical situation,				performance of SAARC in the most crucial field
with major sea routes connecting the gulf and the				of economic cooperation is not up to the mark. It
Red sea and stretching from Africa by way of				is my firm belief that it is not the failure of
Suez to the Far East and Australia, it covers an				SAARC as regional Organisation but it is the
area of about 15 million square kilometer or one				inability of members to procure enormous benefit
third of all the oceans. ?The Indian Ocean in				of regional economic cooperation due to internal
recent years has gained a major significance in				and external pressures. Despite the existence of
the global strategic consideration particularly after				South Asian Preferential Trading arrangement
establishment of US nuclear base at Diego				(SAPTA), intra regional trade flow accounts for
Garcia?. JUNCTION OF VARIOUS RELIGIONS				only 4% of the total trade flow. Persistent
South Asia is also situated at the junction of				squabbling over even the most modest
different ideologies, Islam to its west, Hinduism to				concessions granted under SAPTA reflects a
its East, Communism to its North and by virtue of				worrying lack of political will on the part of
American and western European naval presence				member countries. The total trade among
in Arabian sea, Christianity to its South.				SAARC countries during Financial Year 2001 ?2002
Economically, the shortest land and air route from				stood at 570 million dollar against 573 million dollar
Russia and central Asia to the Indian Ocean, from				during Financial Year 2000-2001 a decrease of
china to Indian Ocean, and from Middle East and				17.95%. ISLAMABAD SUMMIT AND REBIRTH OF
Iran to India passes through this region. Similarly,				SAARC The 12th SAARC Summit in Pakistan
the air routes from Europe to the Far East pass				attracted worldwide attention on account of the
over or close to South Asia. ?Their individual or				crucial and positive role it played in putting back
collective denial could result in great economic and				the stalled peace process between India and
political advantage to one or the other				Pakistan. The world leaders praised the efforts of
competitors?. The fatal terrorist attacks on World				Saarc in bringing peace in South Asia. The China in
Trade Centre on September 11, 2001 propelled				a message to Saarc summit appreciated its
South Asia onto the centre-stage of international				efforts and hoped that ?Saarc would become a
scene and global war against terrorism was				tool of economic development in South Asia?. The
launched from Pakistan, an important member of				world today is transforming into a global village. In
SAARC and ECO. The United States, Japan and				this progressive world, minor differences need to
Western Europe have strategic and vital interest				be kept aside to help humanity get together to
in South Asia due to its proximity to Central Asia,				solve each others identical problems. Saarc is
hub of economic potential and Middle East. The				striving to bring the people of region closer
SAARC region and ECO region has become the				together to make South Asia a better place to
house of hyper power and war against terrorism				live in and to let the world know how rich each
has been launched from the land of SAARC				country is in its own special culture and
region against a ECO member. Establishment of				background. The 12th summit also helped Pakistan
SAARC The world war 11 ended with the				and India come together after a very long time
destruction and annihilation of both victor and				to discuss the problems faced by the two
vanquished. The West Europe was utterly				countries and provided a good platform for future
destroyed by Germany. The East Europe was				meeting to discuss and solve outstanding issue
demolished by the allies. The Japan was defaced				between the two neighbours. According to an
from the map of world by the holocaust of				Indian columnist Kuldip Nayar ?No doubt, there has
atomic bomb dropped by the sole nuclear power,				been a welcome breakthrough at Islamabad?. It is
United States. After such destruction a fresh				the credit of SAARC that two arch rivals
wave of cooperative spirit was blowing in the				Musharraf ? Vajpayee met in Islamabad on
Europe. These destroyed nations realized that the				January 6 2004, and agreed to restart composite
formation of regional cooperation groups by				dialogue to normalize relations between the two
countries situated in geographical proximity having				countries and to settle all bilateral issues, including
close historical and similar cultural background and				Jammu and Kashmir. ?A conscious decision has
common economic problem with identical				been taken, at the highest level in both countries
capabilities to manage them is the solution of				to start the process of a composite dialogue.? If
grave problems. The international attention was				this outstanding issue is resolved, and we believe
also shifted to economic and social issues and				it will, then the ?Anthony Gideen?s dream of
nations were mobilizing their resources to raise				world having ?states without enemies? would
their level of living standard. They found regional				definitely come true ? if that is not possible
integration as the most effective and efficient				across the globe at least it can be possible here in
way to maximize social and economic				south asia as no outstanding issue will be left for
development. Regionalism and inter-regional				India and Pakistan that can put them as enemies.
cooperation have evolved as a new innovative				The SAARC has the capability to make this
phenomenon in the post war international system.				impossible dream come true. The12th SAARC
?They are perceived as panacea for avoiding				Summit concluded with adoption of the Islamabad
traumatic course of conflict and maximizing				Declaration with the members Heads of
efforts for development?. The post cold war era				Government and State reaffirming their
has witnessed the emergence and growing				commitment to work for collective action for
importance of regional economic grouping in many				promoting regional peace and revitalizing the
parts of the world to overcome obstacle to				Organisation by tapping their economic potential
international trade and to secure a better				through mutual cooperation. The signing of the
allocation of regional resources. Formation of				South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) would
regional grouping had become a trend in the world				translate into a win-win situation, not only for
politics since 1945 ?not only to strengthen gradual				Pakistan, but also for all seven nations of Saarc,
economic integration for overcoming barriers of				which is unfortunately one of the poorest regions
global trade policies but also to exploit the potential				of the world. The leaders of SAARC countries
of complimentaries for a better allocation of				signed a much awaited Social Charter on January
available resources to mutual comparative				4 2004, is a positive and conducive step for the
advantages?. Dr. Kleffens explains that a ?regional				region?s multitudes of impoverished people. The
arrangement is a voluntary association of				ten point Social Charter binds the member
sovereign states within a certain area or having				countries to adopt legislative, executive and
common interest in that area for a joint purpose				administrative measures for the social uplift of
which should not be of an offensive nature, in				their masses. It also binds members to share and
relation to that area?. EUROPE INSPIRATOR OF				review the implementation strategies of their
REGIONAL INTEGRATION The process of				respective socio-economic uplift plans ?in the fields
evolving cooperation on regional basis really				of education, health, human resources
started in Western Europe. ?It was Western				development, poverty alleviation, women?s?
Europe which made the first regional effort in the				development youth mobilization, population
fifties maturing itself into fully growth oriented				stabilization, drug rehabilitation and reintegration of
regional entity in the subsequent decades and its				minorities and migrants programmes.? The
success came to be replicated elsewhere in the				Charter, if adhered to and implemented in letter
world?. Maqbool Ahmed Bhatty writes that				and spirit by member countries, ?could bring the
?Europe has become the model for cooperation				much-needed social change in the living conditions
for development which is now being adopted in				of South Asians over 30 percent of who live
other parts of the world. Military arsenals are				below the poverty line.? Prime Minister Vajpayee
being reduced and seemingly intractable disputes				gave it a concrete regional cooperation dimension
being resolved through dialogue and compromise?.				by proposing a regional fund and offered an initial
The success story of ECC countries, now the				contribution of $100 million which could be spent
European Community gave inspiration and				on poverty alleviation projects in all Saarc
incentive all over the world to form regional				countries except India. Indian policy toward
organizations of countries to improve their				SAARC India, since independence cherished the
economic performance and the living standard of				goal of becoming a power of Asia. India?s
their people. The European Union is the best				strategic ambitions always constituted formidable
example of regional cooperation achieving good				hindrance to the growth of Saarc. It may recall
and great things. There is scramble for its				that in a report titled ?ASEAN Regional Forum?s
membership among European powers that were				Annual Security Outlook? (2001), India argued that
originally not its members. European Union has				its security concerns extended beyond the
become a key word for successful economic				conventional geographical definition of South Asia.
cooperation among countries of like minded and				Elaborating the point, New Delhi made it clear that
which posses affinities of a common civilizational				?given size, geographical location and trade links,
inheritance. It hardly needs to be emphasized that				India?s security environment ranges from the
regional cooperation amongst the neighboring				Persian Gulf to the Straits of Malacca across the
countries play a pivotal role in their economic				Indian Ocean, including Central Asia in the north
development. URGE FOR REGIONAL BLOCK IN				?west, China in the north east and South East
SOUTH ASIA The South Asian countries until				Asia?. India?s ultimate aim is to assume a large
1985 have not been able to establish regional				military role in Asia aimed at gradually squeezing
group and maintain amicable relations amongst				outside powers out of South Asia and the broad
themselves. The obvious result is that today they				oceanic areas surrounding it only to subjugate
are classified as the poorest amongst the poor				SAARC countries. It wants to be recognized as a
nations of the world. ?Impulses toward				dominating power in the Indian Ocean region and
cooperation in South Asia have been weak				assume the role which the British used to play in
historically, primarily because of political discord and				the region until the first half of the 20th century.
the existence of bitter disputes among the states				In order to materialize its design she has strived
of the region?. Neither a common threat				to normalize its estranged relations with China to
perception and maturing of nationalism that				dent the relations of Pakistan with China. ?The
actuated states of West Europe to abandon old				thrust f Indian strategy appears to be to improve
patterns of conflicts, nor a shared vision of				ties with China to keep it as far away Pakistan as
security through cooperation that motivated				possible.? India is striving hard to enhance its trade
countries of South East asia, has been prevalent				with china. The cordial relations between them
in South Asia. Unfortunately, in South Asia conflict				pose a direct threat to Pakistani?s strategic
and disputes has often emanates from within the				interest in South Asia. In due course of time china
region. Consequential tension and bitterness over a				would not be in a position to help Pakistan against
prolonged period have desiccated the region.				India on the pretext that both should mend the
There were various external and internal factors				relations. It is aptly feared that India would be
and pressures which compelled the regional states				succeeded to make China as a neutral player in
to establish regional organization in South Asia. The				the affairs of South Asia. The Indian has
forward march of communism on the border of				succeeded to establish cordial relations with all the
South Asia pushed them to unite to save their				members of SAARC except Pakistan. India has
political, social and economic system. India despite				signed a historic water accord with Bangladesh
friendship treaty with former Soviet Union did not				and accorded it the status of Most Favored
supported Soviet invasion of Afghanistan because				Nation. The trade between them has increased
she wanted to preserve her political, social and				manifold. The India has stopped to interfere in the
economic system. In fact all regional countries				Tamil affairs of Sri Lanka and consequently,
have supported the United Nations sponsored				procured the good will of Sri Lanka in the affairs
peace initiative and demanded immediate				of SAARC. India signed Free Trade Agreement
withdrawal of Soviet forces. It was dangerous				with Sri Lanka in 2000. In order to sideline and
external pressure which forced the regional states				neutralize the say of Pakistan in SAARC, India
hitherto divide to unite under the umbrella of				established a sub regional organization called South
SAARC. The security and peace of South Asia				Asian Growth Quadrangle (SAGQ) with
was also under pressure within the region. India?s				Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and the Northeastern
expansionist foreign policy toward her neighbor				states of India as a ?dynamic area of growth?. In
has consistently lacked magnanimity expected				June 1997, BIMSTEC (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar,
from a big brother. By pursuing irrational and				Sri Lanka, and Thailand Economic Cooperation)
expansionist foreign policy, she has isolated herself				was also launched. Nepal and Bhutan also applied
from those countries which are located on her				for membership. During summit held on 08
periphery. In turn, her regional neighbor treats her				February 2004 agreed to create a free trade
with suspicion and questions her sincerity and				zone encompassing nearly two billion people but
ulterior intentions. All these development in South				Bangladesh held out for the time being. It may be
Asia and the public opinion of South Asian masses				recalled that India succeeded in launching the
forced the rulers of to devise such mechanism				Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) at Vientiane,
that may create a better and conducive				Laos, in November 2000. The grouping, which
environment. As corollary, the adamant rulers				reflects New Delhi?s desire to play a larger role in
realized and convinced that regional cooperation				South East Asia, consists of India, Cambodia,
could play a vital role in their economic and social				Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar. It is
development. In the best interests of South Asian				evident from the anti neighbor policies pursued by
region, Bangladesh in 1980 proffered to convene a				India that she has stalled the Saarc process,
regional summit for establishing a regional				effectively undermining the very existence of this
organization on the pattern of ASEAN. President				cooperative structure within South Asia.
Ziaur Rehman in his letter of May 2, 1980				PAKISTANS RESPONS It has become evident
addressed to the head of Governments of the				from the policies of India to hurt the vital
region briefly touched on the underlying factors				economic and strategic interest of Pakistan by
which prompted him to take the initiative. He				hook or by crook. All South Asian states, to great
mentioned that positive and conducive				extent under duress, are ready to go along with
development in the region had created a better				India and at the verge of ignoring Pakistan.
climate of understanding. For the first time, there				Pakistan should realize all states, through SAARC
were distinct possibilities of regional cooperation				that without active support and involvement of
from which all South Asian states would benefit				Pakistan not only the future of SAARC but also
and work collectively for the welfare of its poor				the sovereignty of all states would be
masses. Emphasizing a shared historical experience				endangered. ?The firm massage be delivered to
and a common cultural heritage, the deceased				India that she would not able to procure the
Bangladesh President made an impassioned plea				resources and access to the vital Central Asia.?
for a summit level meeting of the seven South				This message will have dramatic impact on the
Asian states. Prof: Shamim Akhtar called it ?a bold				future strategy with regard to Central Asia.
initiative?. The Bangladesh proposal argued that				Pakistan should gain the support of ECO countries
?inherent logic strongly justified regional				in order to neutralize Indian pressure and solidify
cooperation, particularly among South Asian				its relations with ECO and ASEAN members.
countries, because the countries in the region				Pakistan should expedite the pace and efforts to
enjoy geographical contiguity, historical, social,				join the SCO. Recently, The SCO has indicated to
cultural and ethnic affinities which would act as				accept the membership of Pakistan. Pakistan
centripetal forces and thus, contribute				occupies a pivotal position in the present
substantively to facilitate coordination and to				international politics. It is active partner of United
reducing of transaction costs? . The letter				States in war against Terrorism and enjoys Non
diplomacy prevailed and the Foreign Ministers at				NATO military ally. The trends and developments
their first meeting in New Delhi on August 2 1983				have proved and even tacitly conceded by the
adopted the declaration on the South Asian				US that the US will not be able to achieve
Regional Cooperation and formally launched its				success in war against terrorism without the
integrated programme of action. At the First				support of Pakistan. The crucial fact has been
summit held in Dhaka on 07-08 December 1985,				admitted by the US president and Secretary
the Charter establishing the South Asian				General of United Nations in their diverse
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)				statements from time to time. India has raised
was adopted. It was a ?manifestation of the				hue and cry against this development. Future
peoples of South Asia to work together towards				Strategy of SAARC A conciliation through the
finding solutions to their common problem in a				aegis of SAARC on the Kashmir as well other
spirit of friendship, trust and understanding and to				issues between India and other members of
create an order based on mutual respect, equity				SAARC can bring not only the prospects for the
and shared benefits?. The prime and noble				sub continent but also give a much stronger voice
objectives of SAARC are to eradicate poverty				to the have-nots of the world in their dealing with
from South Asia and enhance economic				the haves. There is a dire need that Saarc
cooperation in various vital fields. The leaders of				collectively strive for positive peace with honour
South Asia acknowledged during the first Summit				and justice if the people of this conflict ridden
held in Dhaka on 7-8 December 1985 that ?the				region are to tread the roads of progress and
countries of South Asia who constitute one-fifth				prosperity. The leaders of SAARC signed the
of humanity, were faced with the formidable				Social Charter and recognized poverty alleviation
challenges posed by poverty, underdevelopment,				as the formidable challenge facing the people of
low level of production, unemployment and				the region and directed the South Asian
pressure of population compounded by				commission for poverty Alleviation to prepare ?a
exploitation of the past and other adverse				comprehensive and realistic blueprint setting out
legacies?. The basic goal of poverty eradication is				SAARC development goals for the next five
to be achieved by gradual step by step				years in the areas of poverty alleviation,
collaboration and mutual assistance in unanimously				education, health and environment.? The post 9/11
chosen programmes in the economic, social,				international scenario and the perilously explosive
technical and scientific fields. Progress in these				situation in South Asia generated by bedeviled
non-controversial and mutually beneficial areas is				relations between India and Pakistan demands
expected in turn to contribute to ?mutual trust,				that SAARC in order to prove its usefulness
understanding and appreciation of one another?s				should prevail upon them to accept the offer of
problems? leading to peace and stability in the				mediation of Saarc in promoting reconciliation and
region. CHARTER OF THE SAARC The Charter				to find mutually acceptable solution that address
of the SAARC consists of ten articles, according				the root cause of tension. SAARCs future
to article One the objectives are to promote the				progress is in Indo-Pak rapprochement and good
welfare of the people of the region and to				will since tangible regional cooperation cannot take
improve their quality of life, to accelerate				place without their active support and
economic growth, to promote active collaboration				involvement. SAARCs progress cannot be
and mutual assistance in the economic, social, and				expected unless the relationship between India
cultural, technical and scientific fields, to strengthen				and Pakistan is improved. SAARC should convince
cooperation among themselves in international				India to pursue policies which reassure all the
forums and with developing countries, to promote				other partners of her economic and political
mutual trust and appreciation of one another?s				goodwill. Only then the SAARC states will be able
problem and to cooperate with international and				to move forward collectively towards a more
regional organizations. The article Two of Charter				prosperous and secure future. The SAARC should
of SAARC consists of principles which say that				convince the members to unravel internal political
such cooperation shall be based on respect for				problem in a spirit of peaceful coexistence and
the sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political				tolerance. The internal problem in Sri Lanka, Nepal,
independence, non interference in internal affairs				Bangladesh and India needs SAARCs immediate
of other states and mutual benefit. Such				attention. Dynamic and effective SAARC will
cooperation shall not be as substitute for bilateral				preserve precious resources which are
and multilateral cooperation but shall complement				squandered for the purchase of unnecessary
them. Article Three says that heads of states or				weapons and could be diverted to development
government shall meet once a year or more				of soft sectors of economy. The prime duty of
often as and when considered necessary. Twelve				SAARC is to realize the masses of South Asia
summits have been held so far in various capitals				that once the core issue Kashmir is settled
of SAARC countries. Article Four of charter				peacefully to the satisfaction of the Kashmiris and
establishes council of ministers, which are				Pakistan and India, there will be no bone of
responsible for formulating policies and meets				contention of any consequence to damage the
twice a year. Articles Five establish standing				relations between India and Pakistan and South
committees which are entrusted with over all				Asia will become a haven of peace, prosperity
monitoring and coordination of programmes and				and stability. The benefits to India will be immense
the modalities of financing and identifying areas of				including trade not only with Pakistan but also with
cooperation. Article Six establishes technical				the Central Asian states. India has been looking
committee which formulates programmes and				for permanent membership of the United Nations
prepares projects in their respective fields. Article				Security Council and good neighbourly relations
Seven establishes action committee. Article Eight				with Pakistan are bound to help in enlisting the
establish SAARC secretariat in Nepal on 16				support of Pakistan. India will also gain in moral
January 1987. Its role is to coordinate and monitor				stature internationally. The saving over defence
the implementation of SAARC activities. Article				will go a long way to increase social and economic
Nine pertains to financial arrangements and the				prosperity. The SAARC with the consent of its
Article Ten contains General provisions that				entire member strive to amend Article ten of its
decision at all levels shall be taken on the basis of				Charter to include political issues within its domain
unanimity and bilateral and contentious issues shall				as promised during Sixth SAARC summit. The
be excluded from the deliberations. The Time				SAARC has to wage jihad against increasing and
International commented on the establishment of				galloping Poverty. The leaders of Saarc countries
SAARC in the following words that ?since they				have ?recognize poverty alleviation as the
emerged from British rule following world war 11				greatest challenge facing the people of South Asia
many of the countries of South Asia have				and declare poverty alleviation as the overarching
frequently had uneasy relations with each other.				goal of all SAARC activities.? The Saarc must
Sabers have been rattled and some time used.				convince and persuade its members to accord
Although the leaders of the region have had				top priority to the development of soft sectors.
bilateral summits, they had never met as a group				Effectual and effective mechanism should be
to discuss the areas problem so it was with some				devised to implement the recommendations of
skepticism and a good deal of optimism that the				Independent South Asian Commission for Poverty
leaders met in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh,				Alleviation report ?Our future our Responsibility?.
for the first summit. There they founded the				In order to attract more aid and economic
SAARC with the aim of reducing and promoting				assistance, SAARC should expedite its efforts to
joint endeavors in the area?. Though no dramatic				collaborate with international donors to reduce
break through were expected at the first summit,				poverty from region. The SAARC should strive to
yet ?it will be the harbinger of another regional				forge economic cooperation among member
grouping in Asia, housing some 20% of the world				countries. The SAARC countries signed SAFTA
population, the new alliance has a formidable				agreement on January 6 2004 with a firm pledge
potential if only the participating countries sort out				to scale down their tariff in two phases to 0-5
their bilateral disputes and ungrudgingly strives for				percent that will come into force on January 1,
an equitable distribution of the benefits of				2006.The SAARC should ensure successful
cooperation assuring that these benefits accrue				implementation of South Asian Free Trade
not merely to the more advanced states in the				Agreement as it will surely help generate
region but to each states individually?. POLITICAL				economic activity and benefit people of the region.
SCENARIO AT THE TIME OF ESTABLISHMENT				Its committee of experts is working on details to
At the time of establishment of SAARC, South				pave the way for its phased implementation. If
Asian states were politically unstable due to				the process is allowed to succeed it will change
factors such as regime illegitimacy,				the dynamics of business in the region. It will also
socio-economic, religious and ethno linguistic				alter the economic landscape of every Saarc
tensions. This political instability in turn retarded				country. In accordance with the SAFTA
any initiative towards collective regional				framework treaty trade barriers between
cooperation. Unstable political government used				SAARC member states will be gradually removed.
the external threat to counter domestic pressure.				The SAARC must maintain the momentum
The historical events and trends of Indian policies				achieved during 12th SAARC summit and proceed
have not been conducive to the extent that fear				further broadening of economic cooperation and
and distrust have replaced the feeling of security				ensure equitable distribution of benefits of trade
and confidence in each other. The political scenario				and cater to the special needs of the LDC
in south Asia, prior to the establishment of				countries by providing them differential treatment.
SAARC was explosive. These were vitiated due				The intra ? regional trade, which is only 4% of the
to irrational and expansionist behavior of India. Her				total trade, can be increased up to 20-25%
relations with all regional states were at lowest				provided member countries fulfill the requirements
ebb. India?s arms build up and ambitious plans to				of SAFTA and SAPTA arrangement.
assume the regional power utterly shattered the				CONCLUSION Being a member of SAARC
balance of power in the region, because of her				country, it is my firm belief that Saarc had not
dispute with neighboring countries i-e Indo ?				been allowed to achieve its lofty objectives.
Pakistan dispute over the Kashmir, the Siachen				Inspite of differences and stumbling bloc, it has
Glacier and their nuclear programme. There was				accomplished more than its counter part
disagreement between India and Sri Lanka over				organization. As they have no internal territorial
contentious and political problem of Tamil, and				dispute to settle, while SAARC has a wound
withdrawal of Indian peacekeeping force from the				which is still profusely bleeding. Like The United
country. The India refused to renew the trade				Nations, SAARC as a regional organization cannot
and transit agreement with Nepal. The				be termed as failure but the members of it are
Indo-Bangladesh disagreement on the sharing of				unable to make it effective, result oriented and
Ganges water, the Chakma refugees, the				dynamic organization. SAARC has human and
transfer of Tin Bigha corridor and the inability of				natural resource, and capable of becoming a
the two countries to solve border and trade				potential regional Organisation. It can cater
disputes and the emerging disquiet in Bhutan				enormous benefits in socio-economic sectors
about India?s intransigent approach toward her				provided member states coalesce with each
neighbors. Ethnicity, religion and territory were the				other in a spirit of fraternity. According to well
main cause of conflict in the South Asia. ?The				known Urdu writer Hassan Nisar ?single currency
South Asian system revolves around the core				and soft borders will change the destiny of
power India, the bargainer Pakistan and the				Muslims of South Asia? It is aptly believed that
periphery powers Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri				the platform of SAARC will help Muslims of South
Lanka and Maldives?. Geographically, India is the				Asia to reunite and bring glory to the Muslims of
only country which has common land frontiers				South Asia. ?Those who are against soft borders
with other South Asian states and maritime				and single currency are enemy of Muslim might
boundaries with Sri Lanka and Maldives which				and their welfare?. The forum of Saarc has
make India the central state of South Asia. By				provided an opportunity which could be availed of
virtue of its geographic dimension, both size and				not only to attain self reliance and improve the
location and enormous economic and military				economic and social conditions within states but
strength she occupies central and pivotal position				also to safeguard against extra regional forces
in the region. This advantage has naturally				which may create pressures and problems to suit
engendered aspiration of regional leadership and				their interests. These external powers are selling
consequently Indian policies since independence				huge weapons of Mass Destruction to South Asia
have been directed toward attaining central status				countries. It is going to be a significant milestone in
in the region. There have been two distinct				the history of Saarc. The dream of poverty
dimensions of India?s security and foreign policies				eradication will not come true unless SAARC
behavior in the region. First, it has attempted to				become active in devising a potent mechanism to
play the decisive role in shaping the events taking				settle intra and internal problems among its
place in its neighborhood, and secondly it has				members. To avoid any possible pitfalls and
opposed any extra regional involvement in the				derailment of composite peace process,
affairs of South Asia. She expressed its				auspiciously initiated following the 12th summit, on
resentment over Pak-US relations. Generally, it				which the peace ? loving people have pinned their
insisted upon the acceptance of its pre-eminent				hopes, SAARC has to be active and vigilant. The
position in the region, both by other South Asian				SAARC should ensure that composite dialogue
states and the major external powers.				should continue in the spirit of cordiality, goodwill
?Preeminence is not precisely defined, and India?s				and accommodation that was witnessed during
objective is not classic client-state relationship but				the 12th SAARC Summit. It is time that the
this stance is seen by India?s neighbors as a				SAARC states wakeup to the realities of the
limitation on their sovereign powers?. Despite its				situation, reduce the level of mutual recrimination,
close strategic cooperation with former Soviet				and instead build a strong base for regional
Union she has also persistently opposed any extra				cooperation. Without an amicable solution of
regional security arrangements made by any of				bilateral and regional disputes bedeviling the political
the South Asian countries to counter its				climate in South Asia, the dream of a regional
aspirations for regional predominance. During				alliance and economic wellbeing of poor masses,
1980s India showed increased readiness to assert				may not come true. The Prime Minister of
its power directly and dramatically while dealing				Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia, whose late
with its smaller neighbors. The outbreak of ethnic				husband, President Ziaur Rehman, had first
violence in Sri Lanka in 1983 led to the unofficial				propounded the idea of the South Asian grouping
formulation of a version o f Monroe doctrine				said while addressing the 12th SAARC summit
referred to as Indian doctrine in South Asia. The				?we must seize the present momentum and
regional states were fret and apprehensive of				forge ahead?.

Bali Boxes

SAARC Hope for economic and political collaboration in South ASia