The South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Co-operation (BIMSTEC) are in the news. Unfortunately, it is not on how both regional blocs can help member nations through regional co-operation. But, the debate is something like SAARC vs BIMSTEC. The whole debate began when PM Narendra Modi decided to invite leaders of BIMSTEC nations for his swearing-in ceremony. This was a departure from his earlier swearing-in in 2014.
The fact is both the SAARC and BIMSTEC are not rivals, they can complement each other. The last SAARC summit was held in November 2014 in Kathmandu, Nepal and since then SAARC summit is not held. It was to be held in Pakistan at the end of 2016. But, the attack on Uri changed the scenario. India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan decided to boycott the summit. Under the SAARC constitution, the summit cannot be held even a single member nation decides to boycott.
BIMSTEC consists of seven nations, five from South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka) and two from South East Asia (Myanmar and Thailand). Except Pakistan, Afghanistan and Maldives remaining five member nations of SAARC are part of BIMSTEC. Again except India and Bhutan, all other countries of BIMSTEC have joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China’s influence is growing in the SAARC and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) through its massive investment in the region and BIMSTEC can also be seen as India’s ‘Act East’ policy. BIMSTEC also connects South Asia and ASEAN nations.
The SAARC cannot be neglected and allowed to die. We must realise that there is something like South Asian identity. The South Asian countries have significant things including history in common. The ancient Gandhara kingdom was extended from today’s Jalalabad, Afghanistan to Peshawar, Pakistan. Ancient Sanskrit epic Ramayan narrates the story of Sita abducted by Ravan, King of Lanka. With Nepal and Bhutan also, we have historic relations. Bangladesh and Pakistan were part of British India.
S Jaishankar, India’s new Minister for External Affairs, without mentioning Pakistan recently said, “SAARC has certain problems. I think we all know what it is, even if you were to put terrorism issue aside. There are issues related to connectivity and trade.” He sees energy in BIMSTEC. The fact is in 2014, Modi government gave priority to SAARC. PM attended the SAARC summit in Nepal. Keeping in mind ‘Neighbourhood First’ the PM began his foreign visit with Maldives and Sri Lanka, S Jaishankar first visited Bhutan. The PM attended the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, of which Pakistan is also a member. It was also attended by Pakistan PM Imran Khan, though there was no bilateral meeting between the two leaders. The SCO is China and Russia led eight members mainly economic and security bloc.
Nepal is the current chair of SAARC. They are looking to revive the SAARC process. Nepal’s Ambassador to India Nilambar Acharya said, “India and Pakistan should get over their differences and get SAARC moving in the larger interest of South Asia. The SAARC has failed to yield the desired result and the same can be said of BIMSTEC. South Asian University (SAU) is a reality and students from each member countries of SAARC are studying in Delhi. It can be said that SAARC continues to suffer because of tense relations between India and Pakistan.
The trade between India and Pakistan has suffered worse since the terrorist attack on CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) jawans in Pulwama. India withdrew Most Favoured Nation status given to Pakistan in 1996 and imposed a 200 per cent tax on items coming from Pakistan. Intra-regional trade within SAARC is less than 5 per cent. The political leadership of the SAARC nations have failed to give momentum. In the larger interest of South Asia, India and Pakistan must get over their differences and work to strengthen the SAARC. All regional blocs should help each other.
