At a time when experts on South Asian affairs were highly apprehensive about the future of the main regional grouping, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), some of the leaders in the region express desire to strengthen the Association. As a founding member, Sri Lanka attributes high importance to the purposes and principles of the SAARC Charter which aims to promote peace, stability, amity and progress in the region through strict adherence to the principles of the UN Charter and Non-alignment, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said.
The regional giant India too articulated similar sentiments, but expressed fears about some impediments to SAARC progress. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s continued support to various initiatives to achieve closer cooperation in diverse areas, and noted that while SAARC has made progress, more needs to be done. However, he added that an atmosphere of threats and acts of terrorism have impeded the realization of the full potential of SAARC. Although Modi did not name Pakistan in his letter to the SAARC Secretariat, extending his greetings to the people of member countries on the occasion of the grouping’s 35th Charter Day, New Delhi often accused Islamabad of aiding and abetting Islam terrorism.
Common goals and objectives
In his message on the Occasion of the Commemoration of 35th SAARC Charter Day President Rajapaksa said, “the SAARC Charter Day provides an occasion to recall the contribution made by the founders of our Association and to re-dedicate ourselves to furthering the common goals and objectives that we have set for ourselves.”
As President Rajapaksa pointed out, the Member States of SAARC are faced with challenges in the areas of education, food security, nutrition, poverty alleviation, and eradication of terrorism. Despite progress made in some of the key areas, these challenges continue to affect the well-being of large sections of our populations. As a region, we have to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of our cooperative mechanisms, particularly on areas which are priorities to the people of our region.
“We have much to share with the world in terms of art, culture, philosophy and religion. In this regard, we are pleased to host the SAARC Cultural Centre in Sri Lanka, which is- working towards building close cultural linkages among the people of South Asia. We owe it to the future generations to protect the rich cultural heritage of our region,” the President said.
In his message, Indian Premier Modi acknowledged that SAARC has made progress, but pointed out that more needs to be done. “Our efforts for greater collaboration have repeatedly been challenged with threats and acts of terrorism,” Modi said.
SAARC Charter
In this context, he highlighted that India’s efforts for greater collaboration have repeatedly been challenged with threats and acts of terrorism, and such an environment has impeded the shared objective of realizing SAARC’s full potential.
Prime Minister Modi said it is critical for all countries in the region to take effective steps to defeat terrorism and the forces that support it to generate greater trust and confidence to build a stronger SAARC. “Such an environment impedes our shared objective of realizing the full potential of SAARC. It is critical that all countries in the region take effective steps to defeat the scourge of terrorism and the forces that support it,” he said.
SAARC Summits have been deadlocked because of India’s refusal to attend. The SAARC Charter makes it compulsory for all the leaders to attend. Following an attack on an Indian Army camp at Uri by Pakistan-based terrorists in 2016, India pulled out of the SAARC Summit that was to be held in Islamabad that year. Subsequently, on India’s insistence, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan also pulled out of the Summit.
In 1991 too India disrupted Colombo SAARC Summit because New Delhi was irritated with President Ranasinghe Premadasa’s quit notice to Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF).
Since 2016, India, was indifferent to the attempts to revive the SAARC Summit, and openly focused more on strengthening other regional groupings such as Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectorial Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in which Pakistan is not a member.
However, on the occasion of SAARC Charter Day, Modi appealed to the citizens of all member countries to dedicate themselves to the task of fulfilling the people’s aspirations for a prosperous and peaceful South Asia.
“SAARC, set up as an organization to build a connected and integrated South Asia, aims at promoting the development and progress of all countries in the region. India continues to support various initiatives to achieve closer cooperation in diverse areas,” Modi said.
During the first SAARC Summit in Dhaka, in which Sri Lanka was represented by President J R Jayewardene, the seven heads of state and government adopted the grouping’s charter on December 8, 1985 to mark the beginning of a new era of regional cooperation. Since then, it has been customary for heads of state and government to issue messages to commemorate the Charter Day.
President Rajapaksa said, the Member States of SAARC are better positioned to provide the necessary safety networks to address major concerns such as security through forming effective alliances. To achieve this objective, the Region as a whole requires to forge new avenues of cooperation to steer the organisation to be more effective in addressing the emerging challenges.
“I take this opportunity: to reiterate Sri Lanka’s firm commitment to SAARC and its objectives and remain confident of the determination of the governments and peoples of our region towards fostering stronger cooperation that is essential for peace, stability and economic prosperity in our region.”
Prime Minister Modi’s message is also encouraging. However, if SAARC is to progress in strength, India’s genuine political will is essential. Unfortunately, despite Modi’s positive-sounding words, New Delhi’s genuine desire towards SAARC is yet to be seen.
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