ISLAMABAD: Noted Nepalese scholar and international law expert Dr Yubaraj Sangroula on Monday urged the South Asian states to make Saarc a vibrant and viable organisation to reap the advantages of regional connectivity schemes such as China’s One-Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, which also includes the mega project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The Nepalese scholar, who is currently visiting Pakistan, cautioned that with a “dysfunctional” South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), China has to deal with each of the South Asian countries, which was an onerous task.

He expressed these views at an exclusive talk on “Changing regional scenario and cooperation among South Asian countries,” hosted by Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS).

Nepalese scholar says with a ‘dysfunctional’ Saarc, China has to deal with each South Asian country separately

Dr Sangroula said many South Asian countries were entering new relations with China. For one, China has offered generous proposals in the region: CPEC being the much-talked about example in Pakistan.

But China is also investing in other countries, including Nepal and Bangladesh.

Yet, as of now, China has to deal with these South Asian countries separately, a situation not much beneficial to both Saarc and China.

He said while all the South Asian countries were working in the same direction individually why they did not work together.

Former foreign secretary Inamul Haq, who chaired the session, said before addressing regional issues Pakistan needed to set its own house in order.

“If our foreign investment rate is going down, unemployment rate is high, how can we negotiate with other countries. The government should be tackling these issues first to fight its case on international fronts,” he added.

In reply to a question, he said it appears China wants regional and inter-regional cooperation as evident from OBOR.

He said the governments in Pakistan and India were strong enough and would not allow people to influence their policies. Importantly, the Indian army has influence on the Indian government, he added.

To come up with one voice, Dr Sangroula called for making Saarc functional. If that happens, the relations of these countries with China will further improve to the benefit of the entire Saarc.

He questioned the rationale of not doing so.

Already, India is a member of BRICS, which includes China, with which the South Asian countries such as Pakistan are partnering on economic initiatives.

To make Saarc functional, Dr Sangroula called for taking several steps aimed at engaging people of the South Asian countries, especially their academics, think tanks and journalists.

He envisioned Saarc be made “peoples’ association,” which serves as a complimentary institute to the existing bilateral and multilateral forums.

He took a critical note on the Saarc charter, which has made Saarc a community of South Asia countries rather than of the peoples.

PIPS director Mohammad Amir Rana reminded that only recently attempts had been made to disconnect Pakistan from South Asia when Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India refused to participate in the Saarc summit in Pakistan. He called upon addressing this reality.

Published in Dawn January 24th, 2017