Both Pakistan and India are nuclear power, have fought
various wars and constantly live in state of war ever since they got
independence from British Raj in 1947. Economists are of the consensus that had
the two countries lived like peaceful neighbors, abstained from spending billions
of dollars annually on procurement of lethal arsenal and invested money on the
development; these would have been the most prosperous economies of the world.
It would not be wrong to say that the British Raj left a thorn, Kashmir, which
has been constantly exploited by the United States. Let the readers keep one
point in mind that Hindus have not accepted partition of subcontinent and
openly say that they would not allow another partition of India on the basis of
religion (apartheid of Kashmir).
As Indian delegates attended the Kartarpur corridor groundbreaking
ceremony, Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj announced that
India will not attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(Saarc) conference if it is held in Pakistan. She brushed off any possibility
of improvement in relations between India and Pakistan, despite the opening of
the Kartarpur crossing. "Until and unless Pakistan stops terrorist
activities in India, there will be no dialogue and we will not participate in
Saarc [conference]," asserted Swaraj. Owing to India's refusal to attend,
Pakistan will not be able to convene the event for the third year now.
Participation of all member states is mandatory for the convening of a Saarc
summit.
Saarc summit remains in limbo for the third year running due
to India’s refusal to attend a meeting in Pakistan. Islamabad was to host the
19th summit of the regional bloc in November 2016, but India on that occasion
forced its cancellation by first pulling out of the meeting on the pretext of
“increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing
interference in internal affairs of member states by one country”, because of
which it claimed the environment was “not conducive to the successful holding
of the 19th Saarc summit in Islamabad”. India was later joined by its regional
allies Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Bhutan, all of whom also pulled out citing
concerns about terrorism and external interference in an implied criticism of
Pakistan. Pakistan has not been able to convene the event for the third year
now because of a virtual Indian veto.
Saarc summits, as per the charter of the body, are to be
held once a year or more frequently as required by the situation. The summits
are held on a rotational basis in alphabetical order of the names of member
states. However, summits could be held only on 18 occasions in Saarc’s 33 years
of existence. Most of the postponements have taken place in the last 17 years. Although
there have been different reasons for the delays and rescheduling, including
bilateral disputes and internal problems of member states, India has been the
most common cause in these postponements, if not all. At least on two occasions
the hold-ups were because of Pakistan-India disputes.
India refused to attend the 11th summit on the pretext of a
coup in Pakistan and the 12th summit because of the prime minister’s schedule.
India on those occasions used the participation card to pressure the hosts. The
longest delay was on the occasion of the 11th summit hosted by Kathmandu. On
that occasion the summit scheduled for November 1999 was held in January 2002
after delay of nearly two years and two months. On five occasions in the past
the venue had to be changed for hosting of the conference — 3rd, 4th, 5th, 15th
and 16th summits.
This time India is insisting that it would not agree to a
meeting in Islamabad as long as it does not see any visible progress on its
concerns about terrorism. Pakistan has time and again denied the allegations
and has on several occasions offered dialogue to address the outstanding
issues. The functioning of Saarc appeared to have the silent support of
everyone except India. Saarc summits once scheduled, after obtaining the
concurrence of all the member states, must go ahead even if the heads of state
or government of one or two members do not find it convenient to attend. No
member should be allowed to hold Saarc to ransom. Using internal developments
in one member state to disrupt the Saarc process should be unacceptable.
There is a need to oppose any attempt to dilute the
principle of sovereign equality of member states, as all members are equal
partners. Saarc members should use its platform to resolve their political
differences. All problems that afflict the region must be sincerely addressed
and resolved. Sweeping them under the carpet can never be the answer. The only
wise and courageous choice is to resolve all disputes and differences on a
durable basis, those solutions based on justice and fair play can be durable. Peace
and tranquility is essential for the progress of South Asia. Nothing can be
achieved as long as there is tension and hostilities among any members.
Pakistan condemns terrorist attacks and joined the
international coalition in the campaign against terrorism. The country itself
has been a victim of terrorism. The concerted campaign against terrorism must
also identify and examine the causes that breed terrorism, that derive people
to hopelessness and to desperation. It is equally important that a distinction
was maintained between acts of legitimate resistance and freedom struggles on
one hand and the acts of terrorism on the other.
This article was originally published in Pakistan & Gulf Economist
