Daily Times

Leaders of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member States agreed in Islamabad on March 1, 2017 to collectively combat terrorism and to cooperate in fields like trade, energy and infrastructure development. ECO Vision-2025 sets pragmatic goals, in line with the spirit of Islamabad Declaration that reflects collective political will of ECO leaders. ECO views connectivity as key to prosperity and need for the member countries to work as one unit for progress, with an integrated approach, to actualize the ECO Vision-2025 and objectives of the Islamabad Declaration, adopted at the Summit attended by eight heads of state and government. Members represented were Pakistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Addressing a news conference after the Summit, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he was pleased at the successful conclusion of the 13th ECO Summit, to which he was elected the chairman. Sharif said, the geography of the ECO region makes it indispensible for East-West Connectivity. This region (famed Silk Road) has always been a route for exchange of cultures and ideas. Building multi-dimensional connectivity in keeping with the spirit and Summit’s theme was crucial for Regional prosperity.

A day earlier, Foreign Ministers of member countries in their meeting had approved Islamabad Declaration. Pakistan said the Economic Cooperation Organization member countries should exploit the resources to transform the ECO into a formidable economic block. Addressing the meeting after assuming chairmanship of the 22nd Council of Ministers Meeting, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said, intra-regional trade was far below the potential which needed immediate attention. He advocated implementation of ECO trade agreement and removal of trade and non-trade barriers, besides establishment of a Free Trade Area in the region. Aziz said, lack of regional connectivity was a major impediment to economic cooperation. For movement of goods, there should be focus on corridor-based projects for greater connectivity.

Further, there was a need to increase the membership, scope and activities of ECO Trade and Development Bank as well as ECO Re-insurance Company. Sartaj Aziz proposed enhanced cooperation of public and private sectors of member states through ECO chambers of commerce and industry.

ECO region is faced with a number of challenges. It requires innovative approaches and concerted efforts for socio-economic and human development. The ECO region can benefit from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Gwadar Port as it would bring down the cost and time of transportation considerably.

The out-going Chairman of the Council of Ministers of ECO member countries, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said, the member countries should invest more time and energy on implementation of ECO Vision 2025. Zarif expected that Vision 2025 and associated plans of action would broaden regional integration and cohesion.

Islamabad Declaration was expected to help boost peace efforts through economic and social development consequent upon improved regional connectivity and more effective management and stronger institutional net-works working in integrated styles, forms and structures.

Addressing the ECO Summit, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said, being a founding member of the organization, Pakistan is committed to ECO objectives. This Summit has underscore collective desire for regional integration. ECO initiatives demand commitment and tangible actions for achieving desired goals. Peace was essential for sustainable development as highlighted by many distinguished brothers and colleagues. “I would also like to underscore the importance of solidarity within the Islamic World, to address the challenges that confront the adherents of Islam”, he added. Similar views were expressed by Iran, Turkey and other member countries emphasizing cooperation in diverse sectors including trade, transport, agriculture, tourism, science and technology, economic and human development, energy sector and efforts to achieve food security.

Speaking as an observer President of Turkish Northern Cyprus Mustafa Akinci expressed desire to contribute more effectively to ECO works with interest in strong economic cultural and social interaction with ECO member countries in the field of higher education and tourism. Things could work to satisfaction of all member countries if needed reforms and institutional restructuring was undertaken for economical and speedy delivery system. At the end of the day strengthening. Connectivity was key to get start on the road to prosperity and peace.

Cooperation and coordination for development, peace and security make sense only when the member countries of ECO, CPEC or any other alliance for peoples welfare look at things from the perspective that requires their specific interests and responsibility as well as a sense of maturity and political will to work together to actualize collective goals and aspirations. Partners in an alliance have to show greater maturity and understanding and share responsibility to improve situation such as incidents of terrorism. Afghanistan and Pakistan, for example, should try to improve conditions in this context through better communication to remove misperceptions that hinder effective steps handling terrorism and extremism.

Pakistan needs to take China in confidence about the security and strategic cost of CPEC, particularly about the threats to CPEC projects backed by India and other sources. China and her strategic ally will have to come out open to defend their interests within Pakistan and outside Pakistan.

Pakistan itself needs to think afresh about the welfare needs of its. People in mature and modern perspective before it wastoo late to cope with situations requiring improvement of the lot of the people socially and economically. Political, health and economic issues need to be tackled on war footing. The people of FATA and other such backward territories need to be protected by the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. They should have access to and representation in the national institutions and democratic rights as equal citizens. No special laws are required for this purpose. This would be the best and only prescription to strengthen our polity and politics, national integration and national interests. This will be our best bet to put an end to terrorism and extremism and strong hope for prosperous Pakistan.

The writer is a former Director of the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), a political analyst, a public policy expert and an author. His book Post 9/11 Pakistan was published in the United States. He can be reached at iftahmad786@hotmail.com