Analysts deride SAARC as a ‘talking shop’ in absence of deals

SAARC leaders' failure to agree on any of the three much-touted connectivity and energy cooperation deals has once again put question marks over the regional grouping’s relevance to the South Asian people.

Analysts say it once again proved that it is a “talking shop”, though some see hope in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech.

However, Bangladesh still remained “optimistic” about getting at least the energy cooperation deal signed at the last minute.

All eyes have been on Modi in this 18th summit at Kathmandu as he talked a lot about regional cooperation after assuming his office in May.

He personally showed his interest in working together with the region floating new ideas of cooperation and connectivity and announcing long-term business visa for all SAARC members including Pakistan and easing medical visa rules.

But the much-touted regional connectivity-related deals have not been signed due to the India-Pakistan relations that matter most in this impoverished region’s grouping.

“The 18th summit has missed the opportunity,” former foreign minister of Nepal Ramesh Nath Pandey told bdnews24.com.

“It has become a talking shop now.”

He was frustrated that the leaders “could not seize the opportunity” of the current regional and global political context and recognise the need of this region’s people.

Pakistan has blocked the deals after India rejected its demand to give China a strong role.

Beijing was pressing hard this time and even host Nepal which is geographically sandwiched between India and China was also supportive of China’s growing role.

China has financed Nepal to give a face-lift to its cities ahead of the summit.

But India’s external affairs ministry spokesperson had told Indian media earlier that India would prefer to deepen cooperation among the current members “before we try and move horizontally”.

Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are the members of SAARC now.

Australia, China, the European Union, Iran, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mauritius, Myanmar and the USA are the nine observers.

Observers are not allowed to be part of deliberations and their participation is limited to the inaugural and closing sessions of the summit.

They make a short statement at the inauguration from their seats.

On the contrary, dialogue partners can express their views during the summit and in other meetings apart from the summit.

Executive President Jay Nishaant of Nepal Democracy Foundation that promotes regional cooperation told bdnews24.com that the summit once again displayed the coldness of the India-Pakistan relations.

He said on the one hand Modi made it clear that he would not allow any new member in SAARC, but to keep interest of the members of this regional grouping he floated new ideas.

“He clearly mentioned that India is ready to help for enhancing connectivity,” Nishaant said.

“I should say it’s (the summit) a mixed bag.”

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, however, in his speech at the summit tried to reach India by saying that his government was committed towards “a dispute-free South Asia”.

He also said his government was ready to cooperate with SAARC in its endeavours.

But Modi urged all countries to be “sensitive” to each other’s security to deepen friendship, cooperation and advance stability in the region.

He remembered the horror of the terror attack in Mumbai in 2008 to say “we feel the endless pain of lost lives”.

He also said in the current social media era “there is a new awakening in South Asia, a new recognition of inter-linked destinies, and a new belief in shared opportunities”.

He said each nation was free to choose its own path “but when we join our hands and walk in step, the path becomes easier, the journey quicker and the destination closer”.

Nishaant said India was “most prepared” in the summit and Modi “asserted his authority on SAARC”.

“India brought so many ideas for the benefit of the people, for the connectivity and highlighted satellite for the benefit of the people”.

He also talked about trade and investment.

Connectivity has always been an issue of discussion in the SAARC as South Asia is regarded as one of the “least integrated” regions in the world.

The intra-regional trade is less than 5 percent.

But this year’s summit has been seen as an opportunity as there is democracy in all member states which was mentioned by almost all leaders including the US.

The former Nepalese foreign minister Ramesh Pandey, who served from 2004 to 2006, told bdnews24.com that the leaders “failed to understand the challenges and opportunities” of the region and its people.

He said when it was said that the history of the 21st century would be written by Asia, being South Asian “we are very much part of it”.

“We have enormous potentials and we have emerging powers within this group,” he said, “but they failed to understand that.”

“SAARC failed to seize the opportunity and South Asia has failed to recognise the urgency of situation and also the need of its people,” a frustrated Pandey said.

He said the summit was crucial in the current context when the whole world was “changing”.

Nepal Democracy Foundation’s Nishaant, however, suggested that SAARC could work like the ASEAN, making it SAARC+3 to take China, US and Japan on board.

“It’ll engage them more, but we should not let them have any leverage of political issues,” he said.