ISLAMABAD, Nov 1: No single country in South Asia, including India, can effectively cope with its security issues. Regional cooperation is, therefore, the only way forward for South Asian nations.

This was the view of Farooq Subhan, a former foreign secretary of Bangladesh. He was speaking at a discussion, “Security architecture for South Asia” organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).

Mr Subhan said the mistrust between the regional members was the main impediment to South Asia’s development, adding that the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) had failed primarily because of such bilateral disputes.

He said various traditional and non-traditional security threats were being faced by the region, including terrorism, water security, health security, and the energy security.

To tackle them, he proposed joint initiatives such as exercises by armed forces, disaster management and economic cooperation between the nations.

He maintained that visa free travel in South Asia would allow both governmental and non-governmental organisations to assist in removing the mistrust between the nations.In response to a question pertaining to India’s role in the region, he said the Indian government was no longer trying to create hegemony in the region, and was now much more willing to participate in regional dialogues.

When questioned about the influence of external powers in the region, he said it was up to the nations to focus on their own issues instead of focusing on external powers.

Ashraf Jahangir Qazi, the director general of ISSI, said the importance of tackling the challenges was largely acknowledged but it was imperative to take action too. This required the efforts of civil society as well as political imagination.—Asad Najeeb

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.