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Priorities for SAARC

For us of the SAARC region, this is a time for rejoicing, although many a conflict is continuing rage in South Asia and heaps of problems remain to be resolved by the nations and their leaders of this part of the globe. The reason for this note of jubilation is the fact that another SAARC summit has got underway despite initial uncertainty over the prospects of ever holding it.

Regardless of the outcome of this all-important forum of the region's political leaders, South Asians could be collectively glad that the SAARC ship is continuing to soil, although the current climate is far from clement and is hardly conducive to accelerated cooperation.

The current meet was due to be held in November 1999, but was postponed on account of bilateral bickering between India and Pakistan. The Kathmandu forum too appeared to be doomed amid stepped-up friction between India and Pakistan in the wake of the recent terror attack on the Indian parliamentary complex, but the leaders of these countries have, fortunately, put SAARC above their rivalries and antagonisms. So, SAARC is continuing to survive the bilateral storms of its most prominent members, thanks to the statesmanship displayed by the leaders of India and Pakistan.

We hope this sense of priorities among the SAARC Seven would continue to prevail. Come what may, the process of regional cooperation which was launched in 1985, irrespective of how substantial the gains have been, should be continued and this commitment should be elevated to the status of an operational principle of SAARC. This will ensure SAARC continuity and durability.

As is well known, much remains to be achieved by SAARC. Terrorism has, once again, shot to the top of the SAARC agenda on account of the Afghan conflict and the issue of "Cross-border terrorism." Sri Lanka has made the correct move by initiating plans to hold a regional forum on terrorism in May. We hope a clear consensus would emerge among the SAARC Seven on how the phenomenon of terror should be handled and defused.

What would be most unwelcome are more rounds of hair-splitting on what constitutes and what does not constitute terrorism. The spiritual heritage of almost all South Asians dictates that the harming or taking of life, for whatever reason, is evil and therefore forbidden and this should be the taking-off point for any discourse on terrorism in this part of the world. Any other standpoint would only lead to barren, fruitless debates.

However, violence is spurred on by economic deprivation and this should be born in mind by SAARC leaders. The economic betterment of SAARC populations should also be, therefore, addressed urgently by its leaders and decision-makers. Core areas of cooperation, such as trade and commerce, investment and poverty alleviation, should be rejuvenated and steadily forged ahead with. Thus will the lot of the people be eased somewhat.

We hope that tension among states too would be defused through the creation of mechanisms which would facilitate closer cooperation and amity among them. SAARC leaders need to think long and deep on these issues and work with visionary zeal towards the stated aims of SAARC, if progress is to be made a reality.

• Editorial of  The Observer - Towards political tolerance 04.01.2002
  

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