Editorial»
Indo-Pak ties and SAARC
JAN 19 - Whether it is Sajid from Pakistan, Nitya from India,Upali from Sri Lanka, Javed from Bangladesh or Bhaskar from Nepal, when the topic of discussion is SAARC, they invariably say, “You see, SAARC will never take momentum until the problems between India and Pakistan are solved.” Sirs, I beg to differ. The problems between India and Pakistan will never be solved until SAARC takes momentum.
It is interesting to note that, though economic factors are supposedly the main motivators behind regional cooperation, many such arrangements came into being to end political rivalry between members. On 9 May 1950, fed up with wars, the then French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed the idea of European integration hoping that such an arrangement would forever prevent killing and destruction in Europe. The preamble to the 1951 treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, out of which the European Union (EU) grew, sets its aims as follows “ To create, by establishing an economic community, the basis for broader and deeper community among peoples long divided by bloody conflicts.” And the EU has indeed delivered half a century of stability, peace and prosperity.
Security concerns also played an important role in the establishment of Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) in 1991. Argentina and Brazil had for a long time perceived each other as threats. Economic agreements, covering steel and automobiles, were signed in the mid-eighties as part of an attempt to reduce tensions. This was followed by the establishment of MERCOSUR.
Similar motives were found in the creation of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - to reduce tensions between Indonesia and Malaysia.
Reducing political tensions in South Asia, dominated by tensions between India and Pakistan, seems to have also been the motivating factor for the establishment of SAARC. The SAARC Charter states “increased cooperation, contacts and exchanges among the countries of the region will contribute to the promotion of friendship and understanding among their peoples.” This is also proven by the fact that hardcore economic issues such as trade, industry and finance were kept out of SAARC in the first eight years of its existence.
This, however, does not mean that SAARC summits or SAARC can be used to solve directly the tensions between India and Pakistan. The notion that SAARC cannot move ahead until the problems between India and Pakistan are solved has been the greatest folly in the history of SAARC. In its 18 years of existence, SAARC has been able to have only 12 summits. The rest were cancelled due to problems
between India and Pakistan.
This has been exacerbated by the excessive attention given by the media on talk between India and Pakistan during almost all SAARC summits and events like President Musharraf’s coup de maitre handshake in Kathmandu. These make juicy headlines but do not help solve the problem. The focus on ‘Will they meet, will they not meet?’ definitely does not help reduce the tensions between India and Pakistan. In this sense, it is appalling that recently one media person belonging to an Indian TV channel went far enough to ask “Whether behind the facade of SAARC summit the real issue of Indo-Pak relationship will be discussed?” These clearly show that we have not understood how regional integration helps solve bilateral issues. Let’s not assume that delegates of other SAARC countries can be sent on a retreat and India and Pakistan can sit together and solve all their problems during SAARC summit. Thank god that they have not reached up to this point of insanity.
There are no direct ways to find solutions to many of life’s pressing problems. Albert Einstein, probably the greatest scientists of the twentieth century said, “To solve a problem at a certain level, you have to rise above that level.” With my limited knowledge on Modern Physics, I cannot tell at which level Einstein had problem and to which level he rose to solve it. But in the case of India and Pakistan, the problem they face is at the bilateral level and they can rise to the regional level to find a lasting solution to their problem.
For a start, the governments of India and Pakistan and the media should immediately stop focusing on Indo-Pak relationships during SAARC summits or whenever the issue of SAARC crops up. The focus should rather be on SAARC agenda such as enhanced economic cooperation and social integration in the region.
Once the people in the region start to feel the benefits of regional integration in terms of better living conditions, improved political relationship will follow. As they say, “Better economics makes better politics.” Many studies have shown that the regional cooperation in South Asia will bring benefits to all the members.
One such study says that enhanced economic cooperation in South Asia will result in a GDP increase of three percent for India, 59 percent for Nepal and in between the two for the rest of the countries. The figures will vary depending on the assumptions we make but it is beyond doubt that the cost of non-cooperation in South Asia is very high.
But a word of caution needs to be added that all regional integration attempts have not led to better political climate in the region. This was the case of East African Common Market. Benefits to Kenya, which was the dominant member in the group, were disproportionately higher than those for Uganda and Tanzania. This ultimately resulted in the collapse of the common market, closing of borders and sour political relationships.
This did not happen in Europe, and it has helped to raise living standards, built a single Europe-wide market, launched the single European currency, the euro, and strengthened Europe’s voice in the world.
I hope we are able to understand the dynamics of regional integration and do not repeat the mistakes of the past. We must not rush to directly find solutions to problems between India and Pakistan in SAARC summits and forums. There are reasons to believe that the philosophy that helped Einstein find the equation of relativity will also help India and Pakistan find their equation of tranquility.Posted on: 2004-01-20 04:03
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