ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a conference on regional connectivity on Wednesday called for addressing security and political challenges in South Asia for integrating the world’s least connected region.

Speaking at a day-long workshop on ‘Regional Connectivity in South Asia’ organised by the Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS) in collaboration with German foundation, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, the experts discussed various obstacles to integration in South Asia and noted that success of planned projects like Silk Route Economic Belt, New Silk Route, CASA-1000 and TAPI depended on the security situation in the region.

The speakers were of the opinion that Pakistan-India rivalry was the biggest hurdle in the way of integration.

Listing the factors behind poor integration of South Asia, analyst Dr Riffat Hussain said it was a result of colonial legacy, Pakistan-India hostilities, India-centred power structure of the region, its geography, presence of non-state actors and involvement of external powers. The situation, he contended, made the countries of the region look outwards for solution to their problems instead of finding solutions within the region.

He recommended conflict resolution, particularly that of Kashmir issue, as a way forward.

Pakistan-India rivalry termed biggest hurdle in the way of integration

Settlement of Kashmir, he said, was important for marginalising non-state actors who are threatening regional peace.

“Until border disputes are resolved and regimes for regulating borders are in place, doubts and suspicions would linger on and regional connectivity would remain a pipe dream,” he added.

Dr Hussain further proposed a regional mechanism for discussions on terrorism, adding that terrorism was a ‘regional public bad’ that did not serve anyone’s interest.

Former foreign secretary Shamshad Ahmed too blamed Pakistan and India’s “legacy of mistrust, hatred and suspicion” for the situation, but said the country’s leadership suffered from “bankruptcy of strategic vision”.

He stressed that “corrupt methods and insensitivity” of political leadership and bureaucracy was behind poor progress of connectivity projects.

Ambassador Shamshad said it had been over a year that the government signed an MoU with China for the Economic Corridor, but still there was no structure for handling the mega project that was dubbed a game-changer.

“Mindset at the top would have to change or else this project too would suffer,” he said and recalled that Gwadar Port remained un-operational for eight years and the agreement on increasing trade wasn’t able to meet the set targets.

Dr Ashfaq Hassan Khan, dean School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Nust, said peace and stability was critical for success of CASA-1000, TAPI and New Silk Route (NSR).

He asked Afghanistan and its neighbours to take ownership of NSR, conceived by the US for regional cooperation in South and Central Asia, sustaining economic growth in Afghanistan and promoting trade and investment in the region, so that it could succeed.

“If the driver is pulling out then, who’ll take care of it,” he said about the future of NSR after the completion of US drawdown from Afghanistan.

The Silk Route Economic Belt (SREB) project, he said, in comparison (to NSR) looked more viable because of support from China that has made it the centre-piece of its economic diplomacy.

Speaking about the SREB, Fazlur Rehman, an analyst, said China would continue to invest in the project despite the security challenge.

“The Chinese thinking is that economic progress would address poverty and ultimately fundamentalism and extremism.”

Mr Rehman, however, said security incidents could slow down the progress on SREB and economic corridor linking Gwadar to Kashgar.

Analyst Simbal Khan said political disputes played a more pronounced role in hindering connectivity in South Asia than in any other region.

She was of the opinion that domestic considerations of India and Afghanistan would have a stronger impact on the future of connectivity in the region.

Executive Director CISS retired ambassador Sarwar Naqvi concluded that Chinese commitment to the planned Economic Corridor coupled with determination and support of Pakistani government was cause for hope about the success of the project.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2014