Prime Minister of the interim government of Bangladesh, Mohammad Yunus is trying to reactivate SAARC with Pakistan. During the meeting with Pakistan PM Shahbaz Sharif, Mohammad Yunus talked about the SAARC issue. Now Nepal’s Prime Minister Oli has also met Pakistani Ambassador Hashmi. India is inactive in the SAARC organization due to the proposals made by India and Pakistan not taking action on the issue of terrorism. And currently focusing on BIMSTEC.
What is SAARC organization and why have Pakistan and Bangladesh avoided reactivating it? What is the role of Nepal? Take a look..
What is SAARC?
The organization South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established on 8 December 1985 and consists of eight member countries: India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The main objective of SAARC is to promote the welfare of the people of South Asia and improve their quality of life; To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region.
current situation
Hashina’s government is working with Pakistan to revive SAARC under interim Bangladesh Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus. Earlier, Pakistani PM Shahbaz and Bangladeshi PM Yunus met at the D-8 summit in Cairo on Friday. The two leaders agreed to strengthen ties through trade, commerce and sports and exchange of cultural delegations. Now Nepal’s PM Oli has also discussed this matter in the meeting with Pakistani Ambassador Hashmi. The move comes at a time when India is focusing on BIMSTEC. Pakistan is influencing Bangladesh administration to put pressure on India.
India inactive in SAARC
SAARC is currently inactive due to Pakistan’s insistence on initiatives proposed by India and its refusal to act on cross-border terrorism. During the 18th summit of the group of eight nations in Kathmandu, Nepal in November 2014, SAARC was to finalize two agreements – the Regional Railways Agreement and the Motor Vehicles Agreement for Passenger and Goods Transport. But the then PM Nawaz Sharif government of Pakistan stopped these proposals under the pressure of the army. SAARC remains inactive due to Pakistan’s refusal to take up connectivity initiatives and issues of cross-border terrorism. India did not attend the last SAARC summit due to security concerns.
Wisdom of Nepal’s PM Oli
PM Oli said that Nepal is trying to activate the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) because the SAARC Chairmanship and SAARC member countries should play a constructive role in it. Even if there is any problem between any two countries, there should be no adverse impact on regional organizations like SAARC, he said, emphasizing that Nepal is expanding its relations and cooperating with friendly and neighboring countries.
The Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka is meeting various organizations that link ministries to South Asia and South East Asia and is reactivating its ties with universities to put forward a number of ideas, including SAARC. The current Secretary General of SAARC is Bangladeshi diplomat Mohammad Ghulam Sarwar.
