Tuesday, November 25, 2014

PUTTING--W-- IN SAARC


SWAARC

Defining word ‘cooperation’ seems so awkward in SAARC where one of its member refuse to use a bulletproof car of another member country and bagged a vehicle with him onboard a plane and look at the lovely host Nepal that own only two bulletproof cars in the country using its President and primer and what can be drawn from this 18th summit of 8 nation club where, 2 main player of the forum dose even not love to face each other, thus no meeting
of Pak India premier is fixed in 2 day long summit underway in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu. In Pakistan majority of its people and analysts also advising PM Nawaz to not shake hand with Modi after some harsh statements came from Modi cabinet defense minister Jatly .This is not a new scenario or a fresh phenomenon, its prevailing from decades and SAARC fail to narrow this trust deficit between two nuclear rival and off course neighbor too.

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established in 1985 with the aim of economic cooperation of seven countries located in South Asia. Afghanistan was given membership as 8th state in 2007, the combined economy of SAARC is 3rd largest in the world in terms of GDP as purchasing power parity after the United States and China. Despite being so powerful and important regional club SAARC could not prove itself as relevant as other such economic blocks in the word. SAARC has six Apex bodies namely SAARC Chamber of commerce & Industry (SCCI), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in Law (SAARCLAW), South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA), South Asian Foundation (SAF) , South Asian Initiative to End Violence against Children (SAIEVAC) and Foundation of SAARC Writer and Literature (FOSWAL). These bodies exist only on papers with some offices and office bearers also exist but nothing to deliver practically.

 After observing the activities of this white elephant (SAARC), it is easily derived that the existence of such forum  is worthless for its member countries and sure no weight among other nations. Number of deliberations and proposals are discussed among member’s and other analysts to improve its performance but results are the same that no result.

For better results this forum must be expand with 2 more nations from South West Asia, that obviously China and Iran to balance power and better usability of this club and curtail it to only economic cooperation. In existing SAARC 2 powerful and rival nations Pakistan and India, with their so many conflicts is major hurdle to bring cooperation among member countries and not breakthrough is possible unless these 2 remain opponents. To overcome this phenomenon two more powerful and impotent nation is needed to bring in and expand this forum to enhance profitability. A European Union like economic block it may be established. Good relations between Pakistan and China and Iran between India will help to resolve difference between India and Pakistan as well. By entering China and Iran in the ring will attract rest world to give weight age to this forum and it may be called as SWAARC (South West Asia Association of Regional Cooperation) instead of SAARC.

Pakistan should take this initiative to make SAARC as SWAARC to take China and Iran in confidence initially and ask Iran to contact India as both have good relations, thus this could be start for betterment of this rejoin. If this established then conflicting issues brought into light between India and Pakistan in the presence of China and Iran along with other SWAARC members. Common roadmap to fight against terror to settle Afghan issue should be chalked out. Kashmir issue may create problem, to deal this issue Kashmir should be given under UNO for at least 25 years and Pakistan and India focus only on economic prosperity for their masses. I am on the view that with existing SAARC will not come out of the India Pakistan conflict shadows even it work for next 50 years or so.
  
Writer Jabbar Chaudhary is a broadcast journalist working as producer content development and editorial in Express News, He tweets @ajtabassum
  


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