Indian arrogance & SAARC Summit
By Sadia Nasir

INDIA’s unilateral back out from the 13th SAARC Summit scheduled for (February 7-8), on flimsy grounds, has undermined another opportunity of acquiring convivial relation among SAARC member countries. India has given no further dates for the recommencing of the Summit.

This Indian move has damaged the impetus provided by the 12th Summit that concluded on encouraging note based on enhancing regional cooperation and harmony among member states.

Since its establishment, for the fifth time such a stalemate has occurred in the SAARC, mostly via Indian courtesy. The SAARC charter enunciates that non-participation of any member State will result in delay of summit talks. The Indian decision has come without any prior consultation with the member States.

The sudden Indian decision came on the pretext of unfavourable regional situation in the backdrop of sacking of representative Government in Nepal by King Gyanendra and ostensibly non-satisfactory security conditions in Dhaka after the killing of former Finance Minister.

Pakistan, the SAARC Chairman along with other affiliates has shown great disappointment on the Indian stance. No other State has shown distrust on security situation in Dhaka and called Prime Minister Manmohan’s move as an eye-shed. Dhaka has rejected the Indian decision outright, in a Press conference presided by Foreign Secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, stating, “We are shocked and dismayed at the unwarranted and unexpected decision of the Government of India not to attend the SAARC Summit when all preparations have been completed to keep the SAARC spirit and process alive”.

Indian anxiety on the political situation in neighbouring States must not be matter of concern because India initiated itself that SAARC would not be a platform for discussing political issues. Moreover, no country possesses right to show satisfaction or dissatisfaction on political kaleidoscope in other State. The dissolution of Assemblies in Kathmandu and a low-scale people rage in Dhaka are the internal affairs of the respective States and the principle of non-interference in the internal matters of neighbouring and all other States is a prerequisite for the friendly atmosphere in the region.

Hence, the Indian rationale of stepping back on these issues is nothing but ‘mere lame excuses’. In today’s world, regionalism has demonstrated its effectiveness in enhancing mutual understanding and economic integration.

Regional alliances such as EU and ASEAN have become major sources of resolving the intrastate disputes and exploring multidimensional avenue’s of cooperation. Whereas, South Asia has not taken any quantum leap in this perspective due to Indian reluctance to give its neighbours their due status. The regionalism obliges equality and atmosphere of better understanding among member States, which can be largely contributed by the big actors.

India on the other hand has manipulated and exploited any situation, one way or the other, barring an effective regional alliance. Indian reluctance to give China SAARC membership is one of the moves in this regard. It vividly shows that any move that may challenge India’s big power status is unacceptable to it. The high-level regional forum, like SAARC, gives a chance to eliminate the difference of opinion and mutual distrust if any.

It is clear that India, to show its dislike on the Baghlihar Dam issue and the river-linking project which are vital concern to Bangladesh, has used the delaying tactics to postpone the summit so that it can gain favorable attitude from these two countries. However, what should not be sidelined is that no State would give concessions to jeopardise its national interest. If India wants to maintain its big brother status it has to illustrate some goodwill gestures too.

It was during the highly tense times and peak of enmity when President Musharraf unilaterally took decision to give peace a chance, going out of the way and made a handshake with former Prime Minister of India Atal Behari Vajpayee in the 11th SAARC Summit. This attitude was highly praised around the globe and Musharraf emerged as leader intrinsically sincere for peace in South Asia. However, India responded contrary and remained inflexible until the recent peace initiatives commenced since November 2003.

The 13th SAARC Summit holds an excellent opportunity to discuss the issues of poverty, trade and globalisation, drug trafficking and human security, gender issues, food security and especially mitigation of natural catastrophe that shocked South Asia and elsewhere. South Asia was expecting a summit giving major breakthroughs to the expert level meetings. The issues like the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, investment of Indian companies in Pakistan’s telecom sector and the opening of the road and trade links are matters still in pipeline and their final approval is only possible through high-level talks. Some important decisions were also expected on the free trade zone among SAARC States. Pakistan has tried to highlight these issues during the Indian FM Natwar Singh’s visit too.

Joint obligation holds for the SAARC members to compel India to break the ice or to seek an alternative so that a unilateral decision undermining SAARC regional interest must cease to exist in future. President Pervez Musharraf rightly suggested that there must be some formulation that can prevent such postponement in future and all the members should sit and work collectively to decide about it. It is a sensible approach and will bound the states to act rationally before taking any irresponsible decision.

If any postponement is necessary it has to be with mutual agreement of the all member States. A new elaborated set of rules should also be devised to maximize the chances of member States’ participation in such high profile meetings with respect to result orientation.

The regional States must set aside their bilateral cleavages and take lead in the trade and economic opportunities, equally beneficial to the poor and non-prosperous States.

Major actors in the region have also obligation to work out poverty problems and improve the living standard of poverty-stricken masses. India should also announce the earliest possible dates for resuming the summit to eliminate the air of distrust amongst the member States.●

© 2005 Sadia Nasir