SAARC Revival?

By Meriam Sabih | June 2020

The South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was created to tackle the “common problems and aspirations” of the South Asian people. It was also created to look out for their welfare and assist in economic issues. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently called on SAARC to work together to form a strategy to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Regional cooperation would not only help mitigate the spread of the virus but also help with the crippling long-term effects of the economic crisis which is bound to worsen. The sooner steps are taken to mitigate the situation the sooner life for people can start to return to normal.

On March 15, the eight members of the regional bloc held a video conference to discuss a joint strategy on mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Pakistan was the only country that chose not to be represented by its head of state, but by by the Special Advisor to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on health, Dr. Zafar Mirza. India announced a COVID-19 fund and pledged $10 million towards it. Modi has suggested a portal to track virus carriers and a Rapid Response team of Indian doctors. Afghanistan pledged 1 million dollars. Pakistan later pledged three million dollars to the fund to support regional efforts and asked for the funds to be overseen by the Secretary General of SAARC. The SAARC Disaster Management Centre has also launched a website for sharing information on COVID-19 in the regional languages.

Restoring a dormant SAARC is a good idea. A large segment of the population of the world, nearly one-fifth, is represented by the South Asian countries. Mutual cooperation can help foster peace in the region. The fact that SAARC has thus far not prospered has been blamed on the strained relations between Pakistan and India. India has attributed security issues as one of the reasons it has distanced itself in the past. Both countries have also in recent days accused the other of violating cease-fire terms. The 2016 summit that was to be held in Islamabad had been cancelled due to India refusing to attend. In New York, at a meeting of SAARC foreign ministers, Pakistan’s foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, walked out in protest. He stated that Pakistan is unwilling to engage with India, “...until and unless they lift the siege (on Kashmir)...”

Yet in December 2019, Prime Minister Imran Khan issued a statement marking the 35th anniversary of the signing of the SAARC charter by saying, “This day reminds us of the enormous responsibility placed on our shoulders by our peoples, and their expectations from their leaders to address the common challenges of poverty, illiteracy, disease and under-development.” He stressed Pakistan’s commitment to SAARC and the importance of regional cooperation. At the same time Pakistan made it clear that rivalry between the two neighbours will not be ignored, as its Health Minister made a point to bring up its concerns on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. While stressing the importance of synergy, the need to integrate SAARC countries, and pool collective resources, he also stated, “It is a matter of concern that COVID-19 has been reported from Jammu and Kashmir. In view of the health emergency it is imperative that all lockdown in the territory must be lifted immediately.”

Although issues of mutual concern should be the primary focus, especially during this health crisis, member states should be able to address their broader concerns in the hope of reaching an amicable solution, or simply for having their voices heard. Still, it should not get in the way of the cooperation needed on other fronts or alienate each other. It also would have been a better gesture for Prime Minister Imran Khan to put differences aside and join the video conference to prove Pakistan’s seriousness in working together.

If SAARC can become a more functional and integrated platform it could also help provide more stability and support for Afghanistan. India has decided to send 500,000 hydroxychloroquine tablets to Afghanistan. This will prove helpful as a deadly war continues in Afghanistan, even as it prepares to fight this pandemic with just 300 ventilators. The U.S. has already stated it is cutting $1 billion in aid to Afghanistan as the political leadership in the country has failed to come together. India and Pakistan working together in humanitarian efforts and development in Afghanistan would be a positive thing instead of both competing with one another for political leverage.

The World Bank in its new report on South Asia has released a “dire outlook” for the region. South Asia already grapples with poverty. Its poor are not only more susceptible to the virus but they will suffer more economically with the loss of jobs. It is also facing the lowest economic growth in over forty years. Some countries will face recession. If the SAARC as an umbrella organization can be strengthened, it can empower South Asian countries to deal with its unique challenges even beyond this pandemic. The economic crisis looming ahead will make it necessary for South Asian countries to present a united front.

Region/New Delhi

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