ISLAMABAD, Nov 11: Two days after declaring its support for Afghanistan’s entry into Saarc, India has opposed inclusion of China as a dialogue partner or observer of the seven-nation regional grouping, according to diplomatic sources.
It is learnt that India made its position loud and clear on this issue at the Saarc Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Dhaka on Friday when China’s case was taken up.
The proposal was mooted by Pakistan at China’s request. China had conveyed its interest in becoming a dialogue partner of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
According to knowledgeable sources, India was the only Saarc member state that strongly opposed Chinese bid to join the regional alliance.
“Even though India stood isolated on this question, it did not budge from its position,” a source privy to the meeting told this correspondent from Dhaka.
This has been reported in a section of Bangladeshi media.
Observers say India believes that China’s entry into Saarc would eclipse India’s importance and standing as a major regional power in the grouping.
Another concern it has is that the inclusion of China, an emerging global power, will hurt India’s economic interests in the region.
Pakistan is keen on making both Afghanistan and China Saarc dialogue partners.
Pakistan basically supports establishing dialogue partnership with interested countries before granting them observer status or full membership.
Bangladesh, however, supports the observer status. Ahead of the preparatory meetings leading up to the 13th summit, Dhaka had circulated a proposal to create an observer category in Saarc.
Japan has also shown interest in building closer collaboration with Saarc.
However, under the Saarc charter, new admissions to the regional grouping will require consensus of member states.
Saarc at present comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
