Richa Gautam Assistant Professor Department of Political Science M.R.M. College, L.N.M.U., Darbhanga.
M. A. (Political science) 4TH SEMESTER, SESSION: 2018-20
PAPER-5, SOUTH ASIA IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS Lecture Note TOPIC- 3: SAARC: EVOLUTION, ACHIEVEMENTS AND LIMITATIONS
Sub-Part: II SAARC: Issues and SAARC Summits Issues: 1. Do you think that SAARC would only be placed at the bottom on account of its high degree of integration as well as economic and political cooperation? Why? 2. Why “SAARC is falling short of gaining a similar significance as is attached to the economic and diplomatic achievements of ASEAN”. 3. Do you think Promotion of BIMSTEC will affect the growth of ASEAN? What will be the consequences of such changes on politics of South Asian Countries? (https://asiatimes.com/2019/07/indias-free-riding-strategy-dooms-saarc/) 4. Do you think that SAARC is very much a political organisation which has been suffering from lack of commitment since the beginning? Why? 5. Indo‐Pak relations and the SAARC summits. 6. Cancelation Phenomena of SAARC Summits. 7. The Future of SAARC.
Page 1 of 17
Richa Gautam Assistant Professor Department of Political Science M.R.M. College, L.N.M.U., Darbhanga.
Background: The competitive globalism of the great powers motivated countries to establish an influential relationship with the local powers in various sub-systems of the world. Consequently, several regional organisations in different parts of the world have already come into existence before SAARC and were working fairly and satisfactorily, such as Arab League established in 1945, the Organisation of American States in 1948, the Association of South-East Asian Nations in 1967, and the European Union in 1993. Like others, the need for security against neighbours and economic aid for development strengthened the multidimensional relations with the western powers SAARC was setup in 1985. "SAARC”, set up as an organisation to build a connected and integrated South Asia, aims at promoting the development and progress and maintaining diversity of all countries in the region. If we take into account the central problem of South Asian politics along with India’s relationship with its neighbours and the resulting contentious issues, SAARC has offered an opportunity for introducing confidence-building measures on a higher level and has succeeded in reducing regional tension. The formation of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation is premised on three assumptions: ➢ First, The promotion and satisfaction of economic goals through cooperative measures to establish the salience of economic issues in intra- regional relations. ➢ Second, The realisation of the equitable distribution of benefits from the expansion of cooperation in areas of commercial and industrial activity will reduce the severity of hitherto unresolved disputes to a manageable level. ➢ Third, Dialogues through the SAARC forum and enhanced transactions to create a positive change in the attitudes of leadership and to help them to bring about consensus on peaceful means of conflict resolution.
Page 2 of 17
Richa Gautam Assistant Professor Department of Political Science M.R.M. College, L.N.M.U., Darbhanga.
While evaluating the entire system of SAARC, we should focus on the three latest sources of conflict: (a) The involvement in one another’s domestic conflicts. (b) The uncontrolled transfer of arms and weapons to the region from external arms suppliers. and (c) The probability of a nuclear arms race between India and Pakistan. One of the basics of internal involvement is the multi-faceted issue of ethnic mobilisation and its potential to spill over at the regional level. It is a new conflict and, in principle, exists since colonial times. It works both ways: it supports regional cooperation and, at the same time, it is likely to hamper it. While demographic and ethnic problems tend to cause disharmony, they also work in a positive way by contributing to building regional cooperation and consciousness among the South Asian states. Although SAARC missed its regional integration bid, it is fully evolved as a regional institution. It has adopted 14 agreements, and rules of procedures including two charters to establish SAARC and its specialized organs. It has also adopted seven regional conventions and 13 other regional agreements. SAARC Summits SAARC summits are usually held biennially and hosted by member states in alphabetical order. The member state hosting the summit assumes the Chair of the Association. Between the inaugural SAARC 1985 summit and 2019, a total of 18 summits have been held (See Table 1). Both the SAARD secretariat and the working divisions play a significant role in the design of each summit. The secretariat selects potential issues of interest to be discussed at the summit, and advice the country convening the summit on its precise framework, eventually, the secretariats provides guidance to a programming committee that is set up in advance of the actual summit. A SAARC summit typically lasts for two or three
Page 3 of 17
Richa Gautam Assistant Professor Department of Political Science M.R.M. College, L.N.M.U., Darbhanga. days and resolve around a broad theme. At the conclusion of each summit, the SAARC member’s states issue a declaration which addresses the overarching theme of summit, but also announces broad initiatives on other issue. Occasionally, at the conclusion of SAARC summits, SAARC member states reach a formal agreement on specific policy issues, and conventions on other policy issue are also signed. In general, SAARC activity revolves around its summits, but there is clearly scope for improvement. Table 1: SAARC Summits Summit Agenda/Focus Outcome 7 and 8 To enhance and develop the SAARC Charter signed; Dhaka Declaration December South Asian Cooperation; to adopted; decided to set up a Study Group 1985, Dhaka accelerate economic and to analyze the problem of terrorism in social development; increase South Asia; decided to convene a people to people contact Ministerial level meeting to discuss NIEO, WTO and GATT issues 16 and 17 To accelerate economic MOU establishing the SAARC Secretariat November growth, social programmes signed by the Foreign Ministers of the 1986, and cultural development in SAARC countries; decided to establish Bangalore the region; to work towards SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu; proposals Collective Self-Reliance to establish South Asian Broadcasting Programme, SAARC Documentation Centre, SAARC scholarships, SAARC Fellowships and SAARC Chairs 2 and 4 To speed-up tangible SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression November assistance within the of Terrorism and the Agreement 1987, framework of the establishing South Asian Food Reserve were Kathmandu Substantial New Program of signed; decided to establish a commission Action (SNPA) for the Least to study disaster management Developed Countries 29-31 To identify areas of core Decided to declare 1989 as the "SAARC Year December interest in national Against Drug Abuse" and 1990 as the 1988, perspective plans and "SAARC Year of the Girl Child"; decided to Islamabad consolidate them into a undertake a joint study on the "Greenhouse regional plan to be called Effect" and its impact on the region "SAARC-2000: A Basic Needs Perspective" 21-23 To enact enabling measures Decided to observe the years 1991-2000 as
Page 4 of 17
Richa Gautam Assistant Professor Department of Political Science M.R.M. College, L.N.M.U., Darbhanga.
November for the implementation of the "SAARC Decade of the Girl Child" and 1990, Male the SAARC Regional 1991 as the "SAARC Year of Shelter",1992 Convention on Suppression as the "SAARC Year of Environment”; 1993 of Terrorism as the "SAARC Year of Disabled Persons "Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances signed; 21-Dec To emphasize on primary Decided to establish an independent South 1991, Colombo education in the struggle Asian Commission on Poverty Alleviation against poverty and the consisting of eminent persons; promotion of development; establishment of the Committee for to examine the Sri Lankan Economic Cooperation; adopted the Plan of proposal for establishing a Action for 1991-2000 as the SAARC Decade SAARC Preferential Trading of the Girl Child Arrangement (SAPTA) by 1997; to prioritize the question of child survival, protection and development 10-11 April To change SAARC charter to Framework of the Agreement on SAARC 1993, Dhaka allow informal discussion of Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA) contentious bilateral issues finalized; decided to observe 1993 as the on the sideline; poverty "SAARC Year of Disabled Persons", and to eradication in South Asia, adopt the Regional Plan of Action for the preferably by the year 2002 Disabled Persons through an Agenda of Action; to decentralize agricultural development and household level food security and small scale labour intensive industrialization 2-4 May SAARC Vision for the Second Declared 1995 as the "SAARC Year of 1995, New Decade- to identify the areas Poverty Eradication"; decided to observe Delhi in which SAARC should focus 1996 as the "SAARC Year of Literacy"; in its second decade; to establishment of a three-window South eradicate poverty in South Asian Development Fund with the merger Asia by 2002 of SAARC Fund for Regional Projects and the SAARC Regional Fund and a third window for social development and infrastructure development
Page 5 of 17
Richa Gautam Assistant Professor Department of Political Science M.R.M. College, L.N.M.U., Darbhanga.
12-14 May To Advance the deadline for Decided to constitute a Group of Eminent 1997, Male creation of SAFTA to 2001; Persons (GEP) with distinguished to enhance Regional backgrounds in activities pertaining to Cooperation; enhance regional cooperation; agreed to amend political cooperation; Article V (1) of the MOU establishing the accelerate economic Secretariat to fix the tenure of the cooperation; eradicate Secretary-General for a term of three years; poverty in South Asia; decided to designate 1997 as the "SAARC combat terrorism and drug Year of Participatory Governance" trafficking 29-31 July 1988 To: promote Cultural Unity, The Heads of State or Government were of Colombo Enhancing Political the view that stability, peace and security in Cooperation, Appraisal of South Asia could not be considered in isolation of the global security environment. SAARC Activities, To Although great power rivalry which the Accelerate Economic NAM [Non-Aligned Movement] had Cooperation , links SAARC consistently opposed, no longer posed a With Other International serious threat and the danger of a global And Regional Organizations. nuclear conflagration had abated, yet some Deciding about SAARC In The States had sought to maintain huge arsenals Changing International of nuclear weapons. The NPT and the CTBT, to which some SAARC members were Economic Environment. signatories, had not led to any progress Special Measures For Least towards nuclear disarmament nor Developed And Land-Locked prevented proliferation. They underscored Countries, Education And their commitment to the complete Literacy, Poverty, Social elimination of nuclear weapons and the Charter, Communication, need for promoting nuclear disarmament Science and Technology, on a universal basis, under effective international control. They recognised that Tourism, Women and Child. global non-proliferation goals cannot be achieved in the absence of progress towards nuclear disarmament and in this context called upon all nuclear-weapon States, whether party or non-party to the NPT, for a transparent and credible process of negotiations at the Conference on Disarmament.
Page 6 of 17
Richa Gautam Assistant Professor Department of Political Science M.R.M. College, L.N.M.U., Darbhanga.
4-6 January To cooperate in the Adopted a convention on regional 2002, economic sector, poverty arrangements for the promotion of child Kathmandu alleviation, social and welfare in South Asia cultural sector; to combat terrorism in South Asia; to enhance political cooperation 2-6 January Took place at the backdrop India and Pakistan took positive steps to 2004, of CBMs initiated by India overcome past differences and build a Islamabad and Pakistan. Areas of focus strong South Asian Cooperation; an included agreements and agreement to establish a free trade zone in conventions of suppressing South Asia was signed along with a protocol terrorism; narcotic drugs on terrorism. and psychotropic substances; trafficking in women and children, and child welfare, apart from poverty elevation; to create a South Asian Free Trade Area 12-13 The theme of this summit Regional Environment Treaty was signed November was Disaster Risk for furthering environmental cooperation 2005, Management, Environment among the SAARC members. Dhaka & Ecosystems, Governance
3-4 April 2007, Connectivity as the theme, India made a unilateral offer for a more New Delhi the nations worked towards liberal visa regime for SAARC countries. The improving what is termed summit also saw agreements to establish a "multi-modal" transport South Asian university in India, a food bank links between the members. to take care of emergencies and India proposed that all rationalization of telecom tariffs on a SAARC capitals be connected reciprocal basis. The members agreed to by direct flights. operationalise the SAARC development fund with India agreeing to shell out $100 million (Rs 428 crore) as seed money.
Page 7 of 17
Richa Gautam Assistant Professor Department of Political Science M.R.M. College, L.N.M.U., Darbhanga.
The issues discussed were Australia and Myanmar were accepted as Colombo, Sri regional cooperation, observers. Food security- One of the major Lanka partnership for growth for points of discussion was the global food Date-1 to 3 the peoples of South Asia, crisis. The SAARC heads of government August 2008 connectivity, energy, the made a statement saying "in view of the environment, water emerging global situation of reduced food resources, poverty availability and worldwide rise in food alleviation, the SAARC prices, we direct that an Extra-ordinary Development Fund, Meeting of the Agriculture Ministers of the transport, information and SAARC Member States be convened in New communications technology Delhi, India in November 2008, to evolve development, science and and implement people-centered short to technology, tourism, culture, medium term regional strategy and the South Asian Free Trade collaborative projects." They also Area, the SAARC Social acknowledged the need to forge greater Charter, women and cooperation with the international children, education, community to ensure the food availability
combating terrorism. and nutrition security. Thimpu, Bhuta Climate change was the SAARC nations stand united on the issue of n central issue of the summit climate change. Thimpu Declaration was Date- 28 to 29 with summit's theme also made. April 2010 "Towards a Green and Happy South Asia". Addu, Maldive Trade, Transport and The Motto of the summit was ‘Building s Economic Integration was Bridges’. Members decided to establish a Date-10 to 11 the central theme of the commission to address the issue of gender November summit. Issues like piracy, inequality in South Asia. Addu Declaration 2011 Climate Change and Good was adopted. Governance were discussed 26-27 The theme of the summit Members signed an agreement on energy November was ‘Deeper Integration for cooperation namely ‘SAARC Framework 2014 , Peace and Prosperity’. It Agreement for Energy Cooperation Kathmandu focused on enhancing (Electricity). The legal permission was connectivity between the granted on SAARC Satellite Scheme in this member states for easier summit transit- transport across the region
Page 8 of 17
Richa Gautam Assistant Professor Department of Political Science M.R.M. College, L.N.M.U., Darbhanga.
Details of Recent Summits : Sixteenth summit Place- Thimpu, Bhutan Date- 28 to 29 April 2010 Bhutan hosted the SAARC summit for the first time. This was marked the silver jubilee celebration of SAARC that was formed in Bangladesh in December 1985. The Sixteenth SAARC Summit was a historic event as it marked the twenty fifth anniversary of the organisation. This was also the first gathering of SAARC Leaders in Bhutan. The Summit adopted the Thimphu Silver Jubilee Declaration entitled, "Towards a Green and Happy South Asia", and a separate Statement on Climate Change. In the Thimphu Declaration, SAARC Heads of State/Government decided to develop a 'Vision Statement' and set up a 'South Asia Forum', which would provide inputs for charting out its future course of the organisation and suggest, if necessary, improvements required in the existing mechanisms. The Summit Declaration strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and expressed deep concern over the threat which terrorism continued to pose to peace, security and economic stability of the South Asian region. It directed Commerce Ministers to continue coordinating SAARC positions on WTO Issues and the Doha Development Agenda during the Seventh WTO Ministerial Conference. The leaders emphasized deepening regional efforts on poverty alleviation and called for the expeditious mainstreaming of the SAARC Development Goals (SDGs) in the national processes and completion of the Mid- term Review of the SDGs as scheduled. They further noted the useful finding and recommendations made by successive regional studies through the Regional Poverty Profiles and directed the relevant SAARC mechanisms to act on them. The Thimphu Statement on Climate Change outlined regional actions on the issue of climate change. These included, inter alia, seeking Observer Status for SAARC at the UNFCCC and evolving a common position for the 16th Conference of Parties to be held in Cancun, Mexico; launching a number of studies to better understand
Page 9 of 17
Richa Gautam Assistant Professor Department of Political Science M.R.M. College, L.N.M.U., Darbhanga. changes brought about by global warming in the region; and establishing an Inter- governmental Expert Group on Climate Change to develop a clear policy direction and guidance for regional cooperation as envisaged in the SAARC Plan of Action on Climate Change; and commissioning SAARC Inter-governmental Mountain, Marine and Monsoon Initiatives. Two instruments, the SAARC Convention on Cooperation in Environment and Agreement on Trade in Services, were signed at the Summit. The Summit inter alia took decisions on regional cooperation relating to security, trade, climate change, energy and food security, poverty alleviation and disaster management. The most visible manifestation of this new dynamism in SAARC has been the early operationalization of the SAARC Development Fund (SDF) and the inauguration of its permanent premises in Bhutan during the Sixteenth SAARC Summit in April 2010. India has transferred its full commitment of US $ 189.9 ($ 89.9 million as assessed contribution and $ 100 million as grant for the social window) to the SDF. Other Member States are also expected to remit their contributions to the SDF shortly. Two regional projects - on women's empowerment and maternal and child health care - under SDF are currently being implemented with technical assistance from India. Major points of Thimpu Statement on Climate Change: SAARC nations stand united on the issue of climate change before UN Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico.
1. SAARC leaders signed a SAARC Convention on Cooperation on Environment to tackle the problem of climate change. 2. The SAARC nations also pledged to plant 10 million trees over the next 5 years. 3. India proposed setting up of climate innovation centers in South Asia to develop sustainable energy technologies. 4. India offered services of India's mission on sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem to the SAARC member states saying that the initiative could serve as a nucleus for regional cooperation in this vital area.
Page 10 of 17
Richa Gautam Assistant Professor Department of Political Science M.R.M. College, L.N.M.U., Darbhanga.
5. India announced "India endowment for climate change" in South Asia to help member states meet their urgent adaption and capacity building needs posed by the climate change. 6. The seven-page ‘Thimphu Silver Jubilee Declaration-Towards a Green and Happy South Asia’ emphasized the importance of reducing dependence on high-carbon technologies for economic growth and hoped promotion of climate resilience will promote both development and poverty eradication in a sustainable manner. 7. Agreement on Trade in Services was made. Earlier SAFTA included only trade in goods. Seventeenth summit Place- Addu, Maldives Date-10 to11 November 2011 17th SAARC Summit The XVII SAARC Summit takes place in Addu City, in the southern atolls of the Maldives, situated in the Southern Hemisphere. This is the third time that Maldives hosts a SAARC Summit; it did so previously in 1997 (IX Summit) and 1990 (V Summit). The theme for the Summit is "Building Bridges". This covers both the direct implication of connectivity between the SAARC Member States, and also the conceptual connotations of connecting peoples of the SAARC region in all facets, including social, economic, cultural, developmental aspects. This harmonizes with the observance of the current decade as the "SAARC Decade of Intra-Regional Connectivity". Mohamed Nasheed was elected as the Chairperson of the 17th SAARC Summit. In his inaugural address President Nasheed highlighted three areas of cooperation 1. Trade, transport and economic integration; 2. Security issues such piracy and climate change; 3. Good governance.
Page 11 of 17
Richa Gautam Assistant Professor Department of Political Science M.R.M. College, L.N.M.U., Darbhanga.
The President also called on the Member States to establish a commission to address issues of gender inequalities in South Asia. The Summit being held under the theme of "Building Bridges" provides further impetus and momentum to build the many bridges that needs to be built: from bridging the gaps created by uneven economic development and income distribution, the gaps in recognizing and respecting the equality of men and women, the closing of space between intent and implementation. In this Meeting, the Foreign Ministers of the respective Member States signed four agreements:
• SAARC Agreement on Rapid Response to Natural Disasters • SAARC Agreement on Multilateral Arrangement on Recognition of Conformity Assessment • SAARC Agreement on Implementation of Regional Standards • SAARC Seed Bank Agreement In this summit the Addu Declaration was adopted. Addu Declaration deals with 1. It will intensify efforts to fully and effectively implement SAFTA. 2. SAARC Finance Ministers will work for greater flow of financial capital and intra regional long term investment. 3. To hold twelfth SAARC Trade Fair and SAARC Travel and Tourism Fair in Kulhudhuffushi, Maldives in 2012. 4. It will try for Regional Railway Agreement 5. It will work on the Indian Ocean Cargo and Passenger Ferry Service. This will revolutionize movement of people and goods within the region. 6. It will timely implement Thimpu Statement on Climate Change. This holds that appropriate percentage of national income should go towards the respective countries renewable energy investments.
Page 12 of 17
Richa Gautam Assistant Professor Department of Political Science M.R.M. College, L.N.M.U., Darbhanga.
7. It will work on SAARC Food Bank which will provide food security to the people of the region. 8. It will make more coordinated and concerted efforts to combat terrorism and its linkages with illegal trafficking in narcotic drugs, Psychotropic substances and small arms. 9. It will ratify SAARC Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters. 10. It will cooperate to combat maritime piracy in the region 11. It will work on Convention on Preventing and combating trafficking in women and children for prostitution. 12. It will give mutual recognition to academic and professional degrees and establish long term linkages among universities, research institutions and think tank in the region. 13. A day will be decided to celebrate as SAARC Media Day. 14. It will convene a Regional conference on media to consider deepening collaboration in the region. Eighteenth summit Place- Kathmandu, Nepal Date- 26 to 27 November 2018 It was attended by the prime ministers of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan, and the presidents of the Afghanistan, Maldives and Sri Lanka. The theme of the summit was ‘Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity’. It focused on enhancing connectivity between the member states for easier transit- transport across the region. Foreign ministers of the members signed an agreement on energy cooperation namely ‘SAARC Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity).
Page 13 of 17
Richa Gautam Assistant Professor Department of Political Science M.R.M. College, L.N.M.U., Darbhanga.
Due to Pakistan’s opposition agreements could not be reached on ‘Regulation of Passenger and Cargo Vehicular Traffic amongst SAARC member states’ and ‘SAARC Regional Agreement on Railways’ The legal permission was granted on SAARC Satellite Scheme in this summit. The scheme will be developed in all member nations except Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Causes of Cancellation of Some of SAARC’s Summits: It may be divided into following parts:
• Bilateral disputes: Such as disputes between Sri Lanka and Maldives, India and Sri Lanka (1988-91), India and Bangladesh (1992 and 2005), India and Pakistan (1994-1996. 1999-2003 and 2016).
• Political problems: Political instability, unrest, general elections, insurgencies,.
• Contentious issues: Like economic recessions which lead to lack of adequate infrastructure and resources on the part of some country (like Bhutan) to organise the regional event and natural calamities.
Present Dead Lock: The last SAARC Summit in 2014 was held in Kathmandu, which was attended by Indian Prime minister Shri Narendra Modi. India has focused on other sub- regional initiatives like the BBIN corridor (often referred to as “SAARC minus Pakistan”), after Islamabad did not give its approval to the Motor Vehicle Agreement at the SAARC Summit of 2014. India went ahead and inked a motor vehicle pact with Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal in 2015, which sought to promote the free movement of passengers and cargo vehicles among those countries. Bhutan did temporarily withdraw from the pact in 2017, due to domestic opposition for political reasons (there are sections of the Bhutanese
Page 14 of 17
Richa Gautam Assistant Professor Department of Political Science M.R.M. College, L.N.M.U., Darbhanga. community which feel that the country should continue to be cautious in its opening to the external world), and also environmental and economic concerns. But, India appears to have further neglected the SAARC process after the Uri terror attack. The 2016 SAARC summit was to be held in Islamabad. But after the terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances". Coupled with this, there were the Indus water treaty issue and India’s vow for orchestrating Pakistan’s diplomatic isolation. The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet Thus, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation has no longer been a happening place as leaders of the eight member countries have failed to meet in the past six years, which also constitutes a violation of the commitment to holding the summit ‘every two years or earlier’ that the countries made at the 18th summit in November 26–27, 2014 in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu. Recent Initiatives by Indian Prime Minister to Revitalize the SAARC: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s move to convene a video conference of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) states to collectively rein in the threat of COVID-19 can be seen as a thoughtful drive to respond to China’s growing influence in the region by reasserting India’s leadership. This video call played a great role in triggering SAARC, which has been sluggish since 2016. Following the 2016 Uri terror attacks that year by a Pakistan- based group, India had refused to participate in the SAARC summit, which was to be held in Islamabad. The summit was finally called off as three other nations also withdrew from the summit. Modi’s move can be seen as a masterstroke to assert India’s leadership in the South Asian region. India is also pushing for more clout as the world’s largest democracy. Recently, Modi’s campaign to portray India as a rising power seemed to be ticking along amid China’s multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and some troubles internally in India. China has built inroads in almost every country in the region and promises investments as a part of the Page 15 of 17
Richa Gautam Assistant Professor Department of Political Science M.R.M. College, L.N.M.U., Darbhanga.
BRI, a 21st century Marshall Plan to connect Asia, Africa, and Europe. Various countries have pledged their official support to the project, which is part of China’s bid for global dominance. So Modi’s move may also have the intention to maintain India’s leadership role amid China’s ambitions. Recent SAARC Video Conference meets by the leaders of SAARC nations opens a new hope for this regional Organisation. The remark made by the Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on telemedicine is significant, especially for a landlocked country like Afghanistan, Bhutan and Nepal. India, as a substantial power in Space in the SAARC region, can contribute to building such satellite-based telemedicine information to their neighbours. In the South Asian region, India is a superpower in outer space activities. India can share the outer space benefit with its South Asian neighbours to make a strong bond on Space diplomacy. In 2017, India’s successful launch of the first-ever South Asia Satellite (SAS) to boost communication and improve disaster links among its six SAARC neighbours except Pakistan has “opened up new horizons of engagement” in the region and helped it carve a unique place for itself in space diplomacy. The successful launched of SAS by ISRO was appreciated through a video conference by leaders of South Asia barring Pakistan. Solution to make SAARC Effective: With other countries of the region, India’s gigantism is the most real obstacle in the way of regional cooperation. The second is India’s major political problems with all the countries of the region, with the possible exception of the Maldives. Bilateral cooperation among the states of the region should also be considered an ingredient of the whole system as the king of Bhutan has put it: ‘As long as we do not have good bilateral relations, it will be very difficult to have a good regional relationship.
Page 16 of 17
Richa Gautam Assistant Professor Department of Political Science M.R.M. College, L.N.M.U., Darbhanga.
Reading List: http://saarcsec.org/download/publications/compilation_of_Charter,_conv_20161 227112809.pdf http://www.ipcs.org/comm_select.php?articleNo=1271. http://www.ipripak.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Article-No.-3w17.pdf. https://mea.gov.in/index.htm. https://www.brookings.edu/research/reinvigorating-saarc-indias-opportunities- and-challenges/ https://www.newagebd.net/article/96376/relevance-of-saarc-in-global perspectives. https://www.nyulawglobal.org/globalex/SAARC.html. Saez, L. 2011: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation: An emerging collaboration architecture. Routledge.
Page 17 of 17