Essay by Paula Pazos
India’s role in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
The South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation, or SAARC, is the geopolitical and economic association of eight
States in the region of South Asia, which include Afghanistan,
Bangladesh,Bhutan, India,The Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
When it comes to the region represented by
SAARC, its population consists of 1.7 billion people from different cultures,
religions and ethnicities, which represent 21% of the planet’s inhabitants; it
is worth mentioning that 17.74 % of the global society is located in India
alone.
One of the main goals of SAARC is the
peace and development of the South Asian region, thus including economic
progress. However, the original idea exposed in The South Asian Free Trade
Agreement (SAFTA) in 2004, which aimed to eliminate custom duties in trade
between the member states, has not quite improved SAARC’s economic situation.
Constant clashes between India, which is considered to be the core of the
organisation, and the other member States have led to bilateral trade, instead
of the ideal multilateral trade agreements.
As a matter of fact, this reality is
reflected in economic studies, which conclude that the total number of
trade with all SAARC countries together represents less than a third of the
total trade of the country with China. Nevertheless, recently the trading of
India with SAARC countries have triggered an overall increase in Indian trade,
being the export sector the one that has grown the most. In addition, it must
be noticed that there are differences in the level of trade between India and
each of the SAARC countries individually; imports and exports with Bangladesh,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka appear to be significantly higher in frequency.
Apart from that, statistics from the World
Bank show that the South Asian GDP has exponentially increased since the
beginning of the 21st Century, going from 614.756 billion US$ the year 2000 to
2.892 trillion US$ in 2016. This reality can be explained by the
significant population growth in South Asia, as well as by other factors such
as trade agreements with other world powers, and an increase in foreign
capital.
Plus, more recently policies for economic
integration have been adopted, including seminars and conferences to improve
cooperation among SAARC nations. In addition, there is an intra regional
trading trend, triggered by the interest Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh have
to promote this kind of trend.
As mentioned above, SAARC’s economy is
affected primarily by the existing tensions between what is regarded as the
core of the organisation, India, and the other States. As a matter of fact,
historically conflicts in the South Asian region have been common, the most
remarkable of them being the four wars between Pakistan and India in
1947,1965,1971 and 1999. The confrontations during these years were triggered
by the possession of the princely state of Kashmir, the independence of
Bangladesh ( Bangladesh Liberation War) and the occupation of the Indian Kargil
district by Pakistani troops ( also known as Kargil war). Apart from the wars
mentioned above, there have been numerous incidents and conflicts; just to
mention one instance, between 2014 and 2016 military confrontations between the
two states occurred in the border sector of Jammu & Kashmir.
Not only Pakistan, but also Bangladesh has
a history marked by tensions with the “giant” of the SAARC. Starting with the
alliance of both countries during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, India
and Bangladesh share common cultural and linguistic aspects, as well as borders,
since Bangladesh is linked to the Indian territory by three out of four sides.
Nevertheless, the pacific relations changed when Bangladesh started to
empathise more with the Islamic states, and they were later severely damaged
when the the two South Asian countries joined different alliances during the
Cold War. Terrorist activities, water provision issues and border killings of
civilians by Indian soldiers led to more contemporary agreements between the
two parts, such as a major accord in border demarcation signed in 2011, or the
citizenship definition of the inhabitants living in 162 ambiguous enclaves.
Trade conflicts with Nepal or fishing
issues with Sri Lanka , are some examples of other tensions between India and
other SAARC countries. Altogether with the conflicts mentioned above, this
historic background is crucial to understand the lack of trust and the concerns
of the minor countries within the organisation, which fear a growing
interference of India in their internal affairs. The Indo-centric perception of
the association, which is shared by major global diplomatic figures as
well, increases the sense of vulnerability of these countries, which see their
autonomy threatened by the growing Indian influence.
As a result, the concept of “ regionalism”
promoted by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation it has not yet
been achieved, being the main causes the different perception of the concept of
“regional cooperation” , which varies greatly among nations due to its ambiguity,
and the inter-state conflicts between the members. Nevertheless, The Association of Southeast Asian Nations,
or ASEAN, has been highly effective in promoting peace and cooperation among
South Asian states, minimizing the inefficiency of SAARC’s functioning. Indeed,
this regional intergovernmental organisation formed by 10 members is known for
enhancing the relations not only between Asian countries, but also between
other international actors through the establishment of treaties and
agreements.
To sum up, the well-functioning of SAARC
currently depends greatly on India’s actions and decisions, since its role in
the global context is becoming more and more crucial, the country being the 6th
biggest world’s economy according to GDP. To enhance not only the state’s
development, but also that of all SAARC’s members, it is time for India to take
action and promote peace and cooperation through the association, standing up
for multilateral trade agreements and the cessation of military conflicts
through peace treaties.
References
·
(ICFAI), Prableen Bajpai CFA. “The World's Top 10 Economies.” Investopedia, Investopedia, 20 Apr.
2018, www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/022415/worlds-top-10-economies.asp.
·
Wang, Yong, Early steps towards regionalism in South Asia: SAARC and
Other Arrangements, Asian Development Bank,December 2010 https://aric.adb.org/pdf/workingpaper/WP68_Wang_Evolving_Asian_Power_Balances.pdf
·
“India–Nepal Relations.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 7 Mar.
2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India%E2%80%93Nepal_relations#2015_Madhesi_crisis_and_Nepal
·
Sun, The Daily. “Bangladesh-India Relations: Past, Present and Future.” Daily
Sun, www.daily-sun.com/post/284667/BangladeshIndia-Relations:-Past-Present-and-Future.
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Sengupta, Dr. A.K. “MAGAZINE.” SAARC and India - Why India Needs a Strong SAARC, www.thedollarbusiness.com/magazine/saarc-and-india-why-india-needs-a-strong-saarc/7278.
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Yahya, F., Pakistan,
SAARC and ASEAN Relations. Contemporary Southeast Asia, https://doi.org/10.1355/CS26-2H
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Rahman,Syada
Sana , “Same but Different?”: Comparing the ASEAN and SAARC Frameworks,
Institute of South Asian Studies, https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/127525/Working_Paper_123-Email-Same_But_Different-Comparing_the_ASEAN_&_SAARC_Frameworks_07032011201128.pdf
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