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