Sunday Times 2
SAARC: Panel discussion points to impediments and the way forward
View(s):A panel discussion on “SAARC: Its Impediments and Way Forward”, was held by the High Commission of Pakistan in Sri Lanka and the premier national security think tank, Institute of National Security Studies Sri Lanka (INSSSL) at Hotel Galadari on February 6.
The event was addressed by several experts from Sri Lanka and Pakistan. They included Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi, Former SAARC Secretary General Nihal Rodrigo, INSSSL Director General Asanga Abeyagoonasekera, Dr. Syed Rifaat Hussain, Ikram Sehgal and Pakistan’s High Commissioner Syed Shakeel Hussain.
The speakers said that in an increasingly developed world, the objectives of peace, freedom, social justice and economic prosperity are best achieved in the South Asian region by fostering mutual understanding, good neighbourly relations and meaningful cooperation among the member states which are bound by ties of history and culture.
In his opening remarks, High Commissioner Shakeel Hussain said that unless strong commitment was shown by all nations in the region towards respecting and honouring sovereign equality, the progress of SAARC will keep getting hampered. It is imperative that India and Pakistan being the biggest economies must solve their bilateral issues, he added. He emphasised that “the road to peace and prosperity in SAARC lies through Srinagar”.
Defence Secretary Hettiarachchi, in his keynote address, stated that as one of the poorest regions in the world, with the number of people below the poverty line rising every year, “we are a long way from reaching the target of poverty alleviation.”
It is imperative for member states to cooperate and prioritise the Sustainable Development Goals and further the development agenda, he said.
Mr. Hettiarachchi said that in South Asia, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan were the worst victims of terrorism and given the severity of this issue, it was important to continue and strengthen the relationships among the member states of SAARC to combat terrorism.
SAARC needs to expand its vision and be more inclusive and open to establish new linkages with interactions among private and informal sectors being important, he stated. Nihal Rodrigo, a former SAARC Secretary General, said it was unfortunate that the SAARC Summit which was scheduled to be held in Islamabad in 2016 was first delayed and then cancelled due to bilateral issues between Pakistan and India although, it is mentioned in the SAARC Charter that the organisation should not be hostage to bilateral problems.
He stated that SAARC should adopt a global approach and should focus on a wide range of activities like poverty alleviation, improvement of the health sector, trade and commerce in the region.
INSSSL Director General Asanga Abeyagoonasekera began his presentation with a quote from the Late Lakshman Kadiragamar whose foresight is evident in the unfolding of recent events in the region.
He said the first challenge facing South Asia is apprehending the volatile global order. Bringing to the fore a novel concept, technocracy, he said, can be argued to be a viable model in resolving the issues besetting the region as liberal democracy has proven to be a model that does not deliver efficient results.
Asia could drift towards a technocracy – a model operated by technical experts and expert government servants who would deliver quick results, he said.
Dr. Syed Rifaat Hussain. Head of Department of Government Policy and Public Administration NUST University Pakistan, while elaborating on the Indus Water Treaty between Pakistan and India, said that in spite of the 1960 treaty, the issue of water distribution between the two countries remains contentious. He highlighted that South Asia is a water scarce region and it could be the cause of future conflicts with a possible nuclear war between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue itself. Therefore, SAARC countries should cooperate with each other to ensure equitable and efficient utilization of water.
Ikram Sehgal, Senior Analyst and Chairman Pathfinder Group, Pakistan, in his presentation, underscored that among the unresolved problems in the region, the core issue of Kashmir must be addressed to ensure the smooth functioning of SAARC and prosperity of the whole region. He stressed that we have to look at the positivities and emerging economic opportunities in the region and beyond.