Round The World
New
Delhi, 18 November 2014
18th
SAARC Summit
PRESERVE S. ASIAN CENTRALITY
By Ashok B
Sharma
South Asia needs to learn much from
the experiences of South-East Asian countries that are moving towards an ASEAN
Economic Community hopefully by 2015. About 80% of the spadework has been done
for the process of integration, only 20% of the efforts are needed. The ASEAN
group was of course formed much earlier in August 8, 1967, while the South
Asian group, SAARC, was formed in December 8, 1985. The European nations after
years of efforts finally came together in the form of European Union in
November 1, 1993.
Regional blocs have become necessary
in a globalised economy. The most spectacular thing about ASEAN is surviving
the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and also maintaining a steady growth following
a dip on account of 2008 Global Financial Crisis, while the European Union is
still struggling to bail itself out of the crisis generated in 2008 and
subsequently its own Sovereign Debt Crisis.
The lessons are before us, South
Asians. It is a pity that SAARC, despite its much cultural and civilizational
similarity, is not yet integrated as an economic union. Over the years it
remained much as a talk-shop, though some progress has been made. Much of the
irritants coming in the way of integration of South Asia are political in
nature, particularly the stand-off between two major countries – India and Pakistan.
It is not that the region does not
have the potentials for an eventful integration. Intra-SAARC trade today is to
the tune $22 billion. The critics say it is mere 5%. But they should know that
if trade through unofficial channels are included, the figure would be much
more than $22 billion may be even $60
billion – this is not a meagre achievement despite SAARC not being an economic
union.
The political irritants towards
formation of an economic union can be largely overcome by going to the basics
of our cultural and civilizational unity. Each country in the region needs to
take pride in their ancient civilisation and heritage. This would finally
result in integration in the region. The people in Pakistan are eager to visit Ajmer
Sharif – Khawaja Gharibnawaz Dargah and other Muslim holy sites. The Sikhs in India are equally eager to visit Nankana Sahib
in Pakistan.
Hindus and Sikhs of Pakistan like to visits holy sites in India. The
Buddhists in Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal
are desirous of visiting Buddhists sites in India. These underlying links of
unity need to be explored.
Besides coming to more modern times,
the countries in the region were ruled by the British and, therefore, have
similar administrative structure and laws. People from across the borders visit
their relatives.
It is an encouraging endeavour by
the civil society in the region to hold Peoples’ SAARC in the same venue of the
official SAARC Summit. Peoples’ SAARC should do much more to emphasise on the
ancient civilizational and cultural links of the region.
Trade and intra-region economic
activity follows old links much better. People from across the borders come to
avail of medical treatment and education in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi
should take up the issue of greater trade facilitation in the region and see
more commodities come in the list of trade in the 18th SAARC Summit
in Kathmandu (November 22-27) so as to make South Asia Free Trade Agreement
(SAFTA) a vibrant reality. Pakistan
has lately realised the need for trade with India is willing to give
non-discriminative market (NDMA) access to Indian exports in lieu of Most
Favoured Nation (MFN) status the coinage of which is not liked by the Pakistani
establishment. It has already switched over to negative list regime to
facilitate SAFTA trade. But the problem remains in Pakistan
to allow Indian goods to pass through land route to Afghanistan.
Connectivity is an issue that needs
to be addressed in the region. The Bangladesh Prime Minister had in 2011
proposed connectivity between India,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal
and even Myanmar.
Apart from Attari-Wagah on India-Pakistan border, India has proposed 13
integrated check posts (ICPs) at its borders like Petrapole in West Bengal,
Moreh in Manipur, Raxaul in Bihar, Dawki in Meghalaya, Agartala in Tripura,
Jogbani in Bihar, Hili and Changrabandha in West Bengal, Sutarkhandi in Assam,
Kawarpuchiah in Mizoram, Sunauli and Rupaidiha in Uttar Pradesh. India should
speed up works on setting up of these ICPs.
It is laudable that the 18th
SAARC Summit in Kathmandu is gearing up to
sign agreements on motor vehicle movements and railway connectivity. There is
also a need to ensure coastal and maritime linkages.
Least developed countries in the
region need not have apprehensions over free trade. They already enjoy
concessions. Intra-SAARC investments can balance their trade deficits. Sincere
efforts should be made to set up value chains in the region where raw materials
can be sourced from one country for manufacturing in another country and value
addition in another country. There should be energy trade in the region.
Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline is a good initiative.
Similarly Iran-Pakistan-India and Myanmar-Bangladesh-India gas pipeline should
become a reality. There is need for an energy grid in the region and food
security should be strengthened.
Finally, like ASEAN there is a need
to ensure the centrality of SAARC as this region with its common civilisation
linkages and heritage and ancient trade links stands unique to the rest of the
world. Eight countries in the region form SAARC like Afghanistan Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,
Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan
and Sri Lanka.
Myanmar
is a deserving candidate for SAARC membership. Iran
has some close ancient cultural links with South Asia.
But China does not have the
same civilisation ethos and heritage of South Asia and nor it is geographically
South Asia. Therefore, China’s
intention to be a SAARC member has no loco standii. It can remain as an
Observer to SAARC Summit like Australia,
European Union, Iran,
Japan, South Korea, Mauritius,
Myanmar and the US.
Apart from ensuring connectivity,
trade and value chain investments and ultimately moving towards a South Asia
Economic Union, it is essential that the centrality of SAARC should be ensured
at any cost. ---INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
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