The Role of India in Promoting Regional Cooperation in South Asia

Transcription

1 The Role of India in Promoting Regional Cooperation in South Asia Anand Kumar INSTITUTE FOR DEFENCE STUDIES AND ANALYSES 1, DEVELOPMENT ENCLAVE, RAO TULA RAM MARG NEW DELHI

2 India and SAARC India is central to SAARC not because of its size or economy simply because it is centrally located shares border with all countries If SAARC has to go anywhere then role of India becomes important SAARC should be aware of changed geo political environment Cold War rivalry a thing of past SAARC has not done its bit For last few years it has been meeting regularly Large number of issues deliberated SAARC has a role to play Other regional organisations becoming important India will play a role in rejuvenation of SAARC

3 Need for Rejuvenation SAARC has to become a vehicle of regional integration Countries of the region are doing well Democracy everywhere Otherwise window of opportunity will dry up

4 Reasons Behind non delivery Political instability Capacities missing tendency to look beyond the region Security has been looming large SAARC does not discuss security issues Different countries have different concerns India will standby its commitments

5 SAARC at a crucial juncture Now changed situation worldwide Regional cooperation growing everywhere EU and ASEAN have been presented as two successful cases came up to face the threat of Soviet Union, China and communism (internal threat) present within the states Changes attempted at Islamabad SAARC summit since then need for SAARC to play a role has only increased Today south Asia is facing problem of religious radicalism posing threat to even state system Saarc can provide anti dote to it and make countries of the region come together Strange that today EU is facing threat a group often cited as successful model on the contrary conditions are more ripe in south Asia SAFTA benefiting Indo Pak rivalry showing signs of ebbing talk of MFN Connectivity no great progress building bridges theme of Male summit President Nasheed no longer in power shows challenge existing in Saarc region Terrorism can be destroyer of prosperity Political will necessary to make progress

6 India s Role Changes seen in India s approach since New Delhi summit in 2007 Some explained it on the basis of new found confidence of India because of its economic growth others considered it as a soft Indian policy to increase its influence in its neighbourhood where China has been extending its reach Whatever be reason, India was willing to walk the extra mile to make SAARC a success Economic role willing to integrate with SAARC willing to share benefits Willing to be non reciprocal on certain issues can take asymmetric responsibilities Reduced sensitive list for the LDCs under SAFTA from 480 tariff lines to 25 tariff lines (continued)

7 India s role Building social and economic capacities societies, human resources the Postal Administrations of SAARC agreed to establish a South Asian Postal Union. India is hosting the ad hoc Secretariat for the Union, and sponsoring training courses at Postal Staff College to train upto ten SAARC officials per year, belonging to interested Member States. ready to facilitate the development of a regional telecommunications infrastructure to improve the quality of connectivity. Hosting a conclave of the top dozen tour operators from the SAARC region to boost tourism exchanges. Taking initiative to establish a travelling exhibition on the ancient history of South Asia. This could comprise of a hundred archeologically significant pieces per country to be selected by member States. The exhibition can be hosted in each of our national museums in turn for three months. Post graduate courses in the South Asian University have started in July India will increase the number of SAARC Silver Jubilee Scholarships for the South Asian University from 50 to of these will be at the Masters level and 25 at the doctoral level. Protecting Environment The India Endowment for Climate Change has been established. Project proposals from SAARC members would be sponsored. ten scholarships per year to SAARC Member States for post graduate and doctoral studies in forestry courses at the Forestry Research Institute of India, Dehradun. (continued)

8 India s Role India no longer unwilling to accept outside powers thinks that observers can play positive role Observers should be there for right reasons China brought in for balancing India Reasons behind growing western interest growing economy or just to keep tab on a trouble spot India can play a role in enhancing regional stability important role in peace process in Nepal, restoration of democracy in Bangladesh, cooperation with Sri Lanka, role in Afghanistan, Maldives

9 Conclusion Other players should play positive role Sub regional grouping India s trade within SAARC is small even in the absence of barriers volume of trade may not increase dramatically Removal of barriers will have larger political benefits remove barriers from the minds of the people reduce the level of hostility prevailing in the sub continent Might help improve relationship with other countries economic benefit flowing in from there might be greater than those coming from the region IPI gas pipeline, Myanmar, Bangladesh, India pipeline Not only in Indian interest both Pakistan and Bangladesh facing power shortage could help them Help thwart domestic disturbance help industrialisation in south Asia SAARC important for general goodwill and well being of the region