SAARC Revival Unlikely Due to Pakistans Terrorism: Jaishankar

Indias External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has ruled out the immediate revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) due to Pakistans continued use of terrorism against other members.

In light of Pakistan's persistent use of terrorism against other members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has ruled out any immediate possibility of reviving the regional grouping. During an interactive session at a think-tank, Jaishankar highlighted the challenges faced by SAARC due to the actions of one of its member nations, without explicitly naming Pakistan.

Pakistan's Destabilizing Role in SAARC

Jaishankar emphasized that SAARC is in trouble because one of its members continues to relentlessly support terrorism. He questioned the viability of a regional organization when one member openly engages in violent actions against other members. Jaishankar criticized the obfuscation of this issue for too long and called for clarity on whether SAARC should proceed despite the presence of a member that harbors and supports terrorist activities.

India's Positive Role in the Region

In response to the perception of India as a bully in the region, Jaishankar countered by pointing to India's substantial assistance to its neighbors during times of crisis. He highlighted India's provision of financial aid, vaccines, and essential supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating India's commitment to regional cooperation and support.

SAARC's Challenges and BIMSTEC's Progress

Jaishankar acknowledged that SAARC has been ineffective since 2016 due to the lack of biennial summits. He attributed the cancellation of the 2016 SAARC Summit in Islamabad to Pakistan's involvement in a terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri. Jaishankar contrasted the challenges in SAARC with the progress achieved under the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

Jaishankar expressed optimism about the growing appetite for cooperation within BIMSTEC, despite challenges such as the situation in Myanmar. He emphasized the willingness and desire among BIMSTEC members to move forward and cooperate, which stands in contrast to the issues faced within SAARC.

India's decision to rule out the immediate revival of SAARC reflects the ongoing challenges posed by Pakistan's support for terrorism. While SAARC remains troubled by the actions of one of its members, India's positive contributions to the region and the progress achieved under BIMSTEC offer alternative avenues for regional cooperation and development.