Daily Times

The perpetual strain between its members has long withheld SAARC from realising its actual potential of promoting both political and economic cooperation in the region. Even this year, the summit was clouded in controversy over the absence of Bangladeshi Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, as well as the escalating tension over Kashmir. Nevertheless, the much-needed participation of India’s Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in the 7th SAARC Home/Interior Ministers’ conference is a highly commendable development for both Pakistan-India ties as well as regional stability.

Had Singh decided to meet his Pakistani counterpart, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan — or vice versa — the two ministers might have actively partaken in a dialogue to address their mutual predicaments as well as suggested ways to improve bilateral economic ties. It is high time that the two countries realised how their persisting cold war held back the regional summit from achieving any significant progress for several decades. The conference held in Kathmandu was twice postponed in 2002 because of this very rift in relations, and 12 years later, at the inaugural session of the 18th SAARC summit, a lack of pleasantries prevailed between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Even now, Singh’s arrival in Pakistan was marred by death threats from extremist organisations as well as rallies, which were organised by Kashmiri activists and religious parties. Although humanitarian principles restrain Pakistan’s administration from exerting leverage over peaceful protesting by its citizens, the authorities should have considered cancelling or at least reducing their media coverage to distance itself from their demands. No host country should be seen holding hands with terrorist outfits, particularly when it has been oft-blamed for endorsing their agendas. Singh voiced a similar concern in this regard at the conference and said, “Those who provide support, encouragement, give sanctuary and safe haven and assistance to terrorists and terrorism must be isolated. Mere condemnation of terrorism and terrorists is not enough.”

It is high time that Pakistan initiated a process of dialogue to clear its stance in all military and diplomatic affairs that affect its neighbours or other countries. Both Pakistan and India have long designed their foreign policies on the lines of existential security, driven by paranoia over survival, and now they should start pushing for collaboration and stability instead. Even if Pakistan wishes to raise global attention towards the atrocities being committed in Kashmir, it should do so while paying heed to other important matters pertaining to its own progress. The dismal state of human development in South Asia continues to be dismissed by both Pakistan and India, while indicators of poverty and hunger paint an abysmal picture. Gone are the days when countries could survive solely on the basis of self-defence. More important issues in today’s times are economic liberation and well-being of a country’s citizens, which can only be achieved by establishing regional connectivity and trade ties.

Pakistan needs active trade partners to survive the prevalent cutthroat competition in world market and SAARC appears to be an excellent platform for it to make new business allies. Furthermore, the examples of collaborations between US and China as well as that between China and India have validated how trade linkages help set forth a parallel narrative in formerly estranged countries. Hence, it would be a good start for both SAARC and Pakistan to reconsider their priorities.*