Introduction and achievement of SAARC.

 

Introduction and achievement of SAARC

 

2.1.1                Historical review of South Asia

            The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) comprising of eight countries of South Asia namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan admitted in 2007, is a manifestation of the firm determination of the peoples of south Asia to collaborate together towards finding solutions to their common problems in a spirit of fraternity, trust and understanding and to establish an conducive order based on mutual respect, equity and shared benefits. In order to understand the foundation and spirit of SAARC, a peep is essential into the historical background of South Asian sub-continent. South Asian region has an ancient history commencing from the Indus Valley Civilization about 2500 BC. The evidence of this glorious civilization is found in the ruins of Moen -Jo -Daro and Harapa .South Asia is pre-eminently a land of varieties. It has been aptly described as the epitome of the world. South Asian region is composed of seven countries. General (Retd) K.M Arif has described the members of SAARC family as “the seven member constellation of Ursa Minor in South Asia”[i]. These nations occupy almost all of the geographic area, referred to historically as the Indian sub continent. This region is a physiographic mosaic with arid deserts, towering mountains, fertile plains, rivers, rain sodden delta, valleys and dense jungle. The history of South Asia demonstrates that the geographic unity has helped to invest the region with a sense of common destiny.

            The South Asian sub continent is the collective home of various social systems, cultures and religions. Diversity of culture and religion is a character of this area. All the world religions are found here. Religions have shaped the historical contours of South Asia. The ideal of cultural unity is also nothing but a myth. Even we leave aside the Muslims and other races “the Hindus are divided into thousands of mutually exclusive and often hostile sections by the cast system and different social traditions”[ii]. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that “the Hindus and Muslims despite having lived as neighbours for centuries remained distant and separate”[iii]. The Hindus and Muslim social system existed side by side yet they could not work for real integration. Thus this fundamental and inherent social, cultural and religious disunity was ultimately responsible for the creation of two states India and Pakistan. Despite several diversities, “South Asia does share powerful ecological, economical and political mutuality’s”[iv]. All the seven countries have a geographical compactness. The continuity of border imparts economic advantage to the people of the region and helps them to amalgamate to each other. This “closeness gives the region many infrastructural linkage based on colonial legacies, common history, race, religion, language and cultural background which are unique as compared to other regions like West Asia or South East Asia”[v].

  The ethnic composition of the region is even more heterogeneous than its religious and cultural make-up given the diverse geographic origins of the various peoples who settled South Asia. Internal migrations have inspired much interethnic strife that has undermined the sense of unity and replaced it with conflicting loyalties and nationalistic antagonisms.

2.1.2                Geography of South Asia

                        The South Asia has nearly continental dimension and its total area is nearly two million square miles. The distance from west to east is more than 2100 miles and from extreme north to south is approximately the same. The population of South Asia is more than 1.5 billion.  “South Asia, with 21 per cent of world population, has barely 1.5 per cent of the world’s GNP and 3.3 per cent of the world’s total area. Obviously it has the largest concentration of the world’s poverty”[vi]. Thus, it has been ranked as third major concentration of population in the world. South Asia is bounded by China on the north from the rest of Asia by Himalayas and is bounded on the southern side by the Indian Ocean. A narrow arm of Afghanistan (Wakhan Corridor) separates it from Tajikistan, on the west of South Asia lies the Afghanistan and Iran, on the east is Myanmar while on its south lays the Indian Ocean with Bay of Bengal. On the world globe, South Asia lies between “01 degrees south to 37 degrees North latitude and between 62 degrees east to 97 degrees East latitude”[vii].

            Despite a geographical unity, South Asia always lacked political unity. The history reveals that the entire region has hardly remained as one political unit under the sovereignty of one government. South Asia was divided into smaller states, though some of the dynasties rose to prominence and effected a partial unification of the region under one rule, yet no complete political union of the whole region was ever attained. It was the Muslims and lately the British who united the sub continent by providing uniform administrative and some time a single government but it was transitory. The natural division and physical features have always prevailed and manifested in division of sub continent. “The sub continent has itself always been at least two distinct worlds, the truly Indic region comprising the gangetic plains and peninsular India, on the one hand and the Indus region consisting of basin of Indus and its tributaries (i-e Pakistan) on the other”[viii].

  South Asia having seldom-political unity was a conglomeration of sates with their distinctive language and customs, though it had a certain amount of homogeneity because of a common civilization and outlook on life. “The various philosophies and religion that sprang from its bosom were mostly based upon a set of common assumption regarding cosmology and life”[ix].

2.1.3                Geo-Strategic Importance of South Asia

                        The South Asia has always been the focus of world politics due to its strategic location. During the inclement cold war between super powers, it has been centre of stage. India–Russian alliance and Pak-US marriage, the persistent political instability and war between Arab and Israel in the Middle East, the fall of pro US regime of Shah and Islamic revolution in Iran brought the South Asia into world politics. These developments have left indelible impact on the lives of South Asians peoples.  The Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan in December 1979, the outbreak of fratricidal war between Iran and Iraq and Iraq’s occupation of Kuwait had diverted not only the attention of super powers but also the attention of entire world including the United Nations in South Asia. According to Dr. Moonis Ahmar “compounded with these developments, Pakistan’s tilt towards the US in the post 1980s period the deepening of Soviet military presence in Afghanistan and the accentuation of the super power naval military build up in the Indian Ocean further augmented the South Asian prominence in the World Affairs”[x].

            The South Asia lies on the mid way junction between South East Asia and the Middle East. In the annals of History, both regions are considered quite sensitive and strategic regions of the world. The strategic importance of Indian Ocean bordering South Asia can be appreciated in view of its geographical situation, with major sea routes connecting the gulf and the Red sea and stretching from Africa by way of Suez to the Far East and Australia, it covers an area of about 15 million square kilometres or one third of all the oceans. “The Indian Ocean in recent years has gained a major significance in the global strategic consideration particularly after establishment of US nuclear base at Diego Garcia”.[xi]

South Asia is also situated at the junction of different ideologies, Islam to its west, Hinduism to its East, Communism to its North and by virtue of American and Western European naval presence in Arabian Sea, Christianity to its South. Economically, the shortest land and air route from Russia and central Asia to the Indian Ocean, from China to Indian Ocean, and from Middle East and Iran to India passes through this region. Similarly, the air routes from Europe to the Far East pass over or close to South Asia. “Their individual or collective denial could result in great economic and political advantage to one or the other competitors”[xii].

The fatal terrorist attacks on World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001 propelled South Asia onto the centre-stage of international scene and global war against terrorism was launched from Pakistan, an important state of Saarc. The United States, Japan and Western Europe have strategic and vital interest in South Asia due to its proximity to Central Asia, hub of economic potential and Middle East. The South Asia has become the house of super power and war against terrorism has been launched from the land of SAARC region.

 

2.1.4                Evolution of Regional Organisation in South Asia

                        After the end of world war 11, the United Nations Organisation was established to bring peace in the world. The Indian Sub-Continent struggled to emancipate it from the clutches of British Colonialism and started political struggle. As the Europe was destroyed and was not in a position to perpetuate, its control on the former colonies unwittingly gave freedom to these lands. These newly independent countries of South Asia were deliberately thrown in to inter-regional wars on the political and territorial disputes ignited by former colonial masters to consolidate their control.  After regional wars and destruction, a new wave of cooperative spirit was blowing in the Asia. These warring countries rightly realized that the arrangement of regional cooperation by countries located in geographical closeness having close historical and cultural background and widespread economic problem with capabilities to manage them is sin qua non. The international donors were reluctant to provide aid to these warring countries and exerted pressure to change their priorities and accord utmost attention to human security rather than territorial security. These international organisations compelled South Asian countries to address economic and social issues in their respective countries. They after fighting futile wars and spending billions of dollars realised that regional integration is essential for the survival and resolving political and territorial disputes.

            The third world countries were exerting pressure on both super powers to reduce their confrontation so that the precious resources may not be diverted to unnecessary proxy wars. The Non Aligned era has witnessed the emergence and growing importance of regional economic grouping in many parts of the world to surmount obstacle to trade and to secure an enhanced allocation of resources to regional countries. Regional blocks were formed to benefits from regional cooperation “not only to strengthen gradual economic integration for overcoming barriers of global trade policies but also to exploit the potential of complimentaries for a better allocation of available resources to mutual comparative advantages”[xiii]. Dr. Kleffens explains that a “regional arrangement is a voluntary association of sovereign states within a certain area or having common interest in that area for a joint purpose which should not be of an offensive nature, in relation to that area”[xiv].

 

2.1.5                Europe Inspirator of Regional Integration

                        The process of evolving cooperation on regional basis really started in Western Europe. “It was Western Europe which made the first regional effort in the fifties maturing itself into fully growth oriented regional entity in the subsequent decades and its success came to be replicated elsewhere in the world”[xv].   Maqbool Ahmed Bhatty writes that “Europe has become the model for cooperation for development which is now being adopted in other parts of the world. Military arsenals are being reduced and seemingly intractable disputes being resolved through dialogue and compromise”[xvi].   The success story of ECC countries, now the European community gave inspiration and incentive all over the world to form regional organizations of countries to improve their economic performance and the living standard of their people.

            The European Union is the best example of regional cooperation achieving good and great things. There is scramble for its membership among European powers that were originally not its members. European Union has become a key word for successful economic cooperation among countries of like-minded and which posses affinities of a common civilizational inheritance. It hardly needs to be emphasized regional cooperation amongst the neighbouring countries play a pivotal role in their economic development.

 

2.1.6                Urge for Regional Block in South Asia.

                        The South Asian countries until 1985 have not been able to establish regional group and maintain amicable relations amongst themselves. The obvious result is that today they are classified as the poorest amongst the poor nations of the world. “Impulses toward cooperation in South Asia have been weak historically, primarily because of political discord and the existence of bitter disputes among the states of the region”[xvii].  Neither a common threat perception and maturing of nationalism that actuated states of West Europe to abandon old patterns of conflicts, nor a shared vision of security through cooperation that motivated countries of South East Asia, has been prevalent in South Asia. Unfortunately, in South Asia conflict and disputes has often emanates from within the region. Consequential tension and bitterness over a prolonged period have desiccated the region.

            There were various external and internal factors and pressures, which compelled the regional states to establish regional organization in South Asia. The forward march of communism on the border of South Asia pushed them to unite to save their political, social and economic system. India despite friendship treaty with Former Soviet Union did not supported Soviet invasion of Afghanistan because she wanted to preserve her political, social and economic system. In fact all regional countries have supported the United Nations sponsored peace initiative and demanded immediate withdrawal of Soviet forces.  It was dangerous external pressure, which forced the regional states, hitherto divided to unite under the umbrella of Saarc. The security and peace of South Asia was also under pressure within the region. India’s expansionist foreign policy toward her neighbour has consistently lacked magnanimity expected from a big brother. By pursuing irrational and expansionist foreign policy, she has isolated herself from those countries, which are located on her periphery. In turn, her regional neighbour treats her with suspicion and questions her sincerity and ulterior intentions. All these development in South Asia and the public opinion of South Asian masses forced the rulers of to devise such mechanism that may create a better and conducive environment.

            As corollary, the adamant rulers realized and convinced that regional cooperation could play a vital role in their economic and social development. In the best interests of South Asian region, Bangladesh in 1980 proffered to convene a regional summit for establishing a regional organization on the pattern of ASEAN. President Ziaur Rahman in his letter of May 2, 1980 addressed to the head of Governments of the region briefly touched on the underlying factors, which prompted him to take the bold and positive initiative. He mentioned that positive and conducive developments in the region had created a better climate of understanding. Emphasizing a shared historical and a common cultural heritage, the deceased Bangladesh President made an impassioned plea for a summit level meeting of the seven South Asian states. Prof: Shamim Akhtar called it “a bold initiative”[xviii].  The Bangladesh proposal argued that “inherent logic strongly justified regional cooperation, particularly among South Asian countries, because the countries in the region enjoy geographical contiguity, historical, social, cultural and ethnic affinities which would act as centripetal forces and thus, contribute substantively to facilitate coordination and to reducing of transaction costs”[xix].

            The letter diplomacy prevailed and the Foreign Minister at their first meeting in New Delhi on August 2 1983 adopted the declaration on the South Asian Regional Cooperation and formally launched its integrated programme of action. At the First Summit held on December 07 1985, the charter establishing the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation was adopted.

  2.1.7              Charter of the SAARC

                        The Charter of the SAARC consists of ten articles. According to article one the objectives are to promote the welfare of the people of the region and to improve their quality of life, to accelerate economic growth, to promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, and cultural, technical and scientific fields, to strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums and with developing countries, to promote mutual trust and appreciation of one another’s problem and to cooperate with international and regional organizations.  

            The article two of Charter SAARC consists of principles, which say that such cooperation shall be based on respect for the sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference in international affairs of other states and mutual benefit. Such cooperation shall not be as substitute for bilateral and multilateral cooperation but shall complement them. Article three says that heads of states or government shall meet once a year or more often as and when considered necessary. Fifteen summits have been held so far in various capitals of SAARC countries. Article four of charter establishes Council of Ministers, which are responsible for formulating policies ad meets twice a year. Articles five establish standing committees which are entrusted with over all monitoring and coordination of programmes and the modalities of financing and identifying areas of cooperation. Article six establishes technical committee which formulates programmes and prepares projects in their respective fields. Article seven establishes action committee. Article eight establish SAARC secretariat in Nepal on 16 January 1987. Its role is to coordinate and monitor the implementation of SAARC activities. Article nine pertains to financial arrangements and the Article ten contains general provisions that decision at all levels shall be taken on the basis of unanimity and bilateral and contentious issues shall be excluded from the deliberations.

            The Time International commented on the establishment of SAARC in the following words that “since they emerged from British rule following world war 11 many of the countries of South Asia have frequently had uneasy relations with each other. Sabers have been rattled and some time used. Although the leaders of the region have had bilateral summits, they had never met as a group to discuss the areas problem so it was with some scepticism and a good deal of optimism that the leaders met in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, for the first summit. There they founded the SAARC with the aim of reducing and promoting joint endeavours in the area”[xx].    Though no dramatic break through were expected at the first summit, yet “it will be the harbinger of another regional grouping in Asia, housing some 20% of the world population, the new alliance has a formidable potential if only the participating countries sort out their bilateral disputes and ungrudgingly strives for an equitable distribution of the benefits of cooperation assuring that these benefits accrue not merely to the more advanced states in the region but to each states individually”[xxi].

Extremely slow progress in social development stand in sharp contrast to the economic growth during the eighties. The main social problems were poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and limited scope of advancement for women in social and economic activities. In South Asian countries more than 40 per cent of the population lives below the poverty lines, 45 per cent were without access to health care, 55 per cent were exposed to unsanitary conditions, ten children died every minute and hundreds of thousands of women lost their lives during child birth. At the time of formation of Saarc, regional cooperation in Western Europe, South America, Gulf region and South East Asia paid rich dividends. Unfortunately, minimum regional cooperation in South Asia was not visible. These adverse economic conditions were due to lake of regional cooperation.

            These deteriorated political, social and economic conditions urged the South Asian people and leaders to come close to each other, hence the heads of States or Government of SAARC countries reaffirmed during the first SAARC summit in Dhaka that “their fundamental goal was to accelerate the process of economic and social development in their respective countries through the optimum utilization of their human and material resources, so as to promote the welfare and prosperity of their people and to improve their quality of life . They were conscious that peace and security was an essential prerequisite for realization of this objective”[xxii].

 The leaders of South Asia felt the gravity of situation and vehemently strived to “break the barriers and help one another to cease to be stranger. An effective attempt has been taken in this direction in the shape of SAARC to make this region socially united, politically strong and economically prosperous”[xxiii].

 

2.2                   Aims and Objectives of SAARC for the Welfare of People

                        The SAARC was established with the prime objective of bettering the lot of the South Asian people, to accelerate economic, social progress and cultural development. This basic objective is to be achieved by gradual step-by-step collaboration and mutual assistance in unanimously chosen programmes in the economic, social technical and scientific fields. Progress in these non controversial and mutually beneficial areas is expected in turn to contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another s problems. According to the Article 1 of the Charter of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation the “objectives”[xxiv] of the association shall be:

A,    to promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality;

B,     to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in    the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potentials;

C,      to promote and strengthen collective self – reliance among the countries of South Asia;

D,     to contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one   another’s problem;

E,         to promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic and social, cultural, technical and scientific fields;

F,          to strengthen cooperation with other developing countries;

G       to strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common interests; and to cooperate with international and regional organizations with similar aims and purposes.

 

            Introduction of Members of SAARC Countries

                       

See appendix “B”

 

2.4                   Progress in Socio-Economic and Strategic Fields

                        “I have always been optimistic about SAARC, I am optimistic about SAARC and the getting together of seven South Asian nations, is a natural and inevitable process that would have taken place in time… Obviously, we will meet, periodically, as we have met now, obstacles, difficulties, misunderstandings, political problems. That is inevitable in the process of sovereign States forming an association.”[xxv]

 The prime objective of SAARC is to eradicate poverty from South Asia and enhance economic cooperation in various vital fields. The leaders of South Asia acknowledged during the first Summit held in Dhaka on 7-8 December 1985 that “the countries of South Asia who constitute one-fifth of humanity, were faced with the formidable challenges posed by poverty, underdevelopment, low level of production, unemployment and pressure of population compounded by exploitation of the past and other adverse legacies”[xxvi]. The basic goal of poverty eradication is to be achieved by gradual step by step collaboration and mutual assistance in unanimously chosen programmes in the economic, social, technical and scientific fields. Progress in these non-controversial and mutually beneficial areas is expected in turn to contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another’s problems leading to peace and stability in the region. 

            Poverty is no longer contained within national boundaries. It has become globalized. It travels across borders, without a passport, in the form of drugs, diseases, pollution, migration, terrorism and political instability. Poverty is a complex, multidimensional problem that cast adverse shadow over many areas of existence. Poverty is an enormous threat to the political stability, social cohesion and environmental health of SAARC region. The World Health Organization termed it as “the world’s deadliest disease”.[xxvii]

 

            Poverty eradication has been placed high on the social agenda of the SAARC since the Sixth SAARC Summit (Colombo 1991). The Summit accorded highest priority to the noble cause of alleviation of poverty in South Asia. It was decided to establish an independent South Asian commission on poverty alleviation (ISACP) consisting of eminent persons from member states to conduct an in-depth study of the diverse experience of member state sand report their recommendation on the alleviation of poverty to the Seventh Summit. The SAARC leaders have taken various steps to banish the “Himalayan poverty of South Asia”[xxviii].  A consensus on poverty eradication was adopted at the seventh summit (Dhaka April 11, 1993). The summit welcomed the ISCSPA report and expressed its commitment to eradicate poverty from South Asia preferably 2002 through an agenda of action, which would inter alia include a strategy of social mobilization, policy of decentralized agricultural development and small scale labour incentive industrialization and human development.

            The report provided valuable insight and illustrative examples of successful poverty alleviation programmes in individual member states. The SAARC summit also stressed that within the conceptual approach of Dhal-Bhaat, the right to work and primary education should receive priority. It also underscored the critical links between the success of national efforts at poverty eradication and relevant external factors. The summit urged major the major actors in the world economic scene to create an atmosphere supportive of poverty alleviation program’s and expressed the need for a new dialogue with donors for this purpose.

 

2.4.1                Saarc’s Interaction with International Organisations

            The call for a new dialogue with international donors has led important initiatives in this respect, among which was the SAARC-World Bank informal workshop on poverty eradication in South Asia. An agreement for cooperation between SAARC and Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) was signed in February 1994. The agreements provides for cooperation on development issues through joint studies workshops and seminars and exchange of information and documentation in poverty alleviation, human resource development, trade promotion, foreign investment, environmental protection and prevention of drug trafficking and infrastructure development etc. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between SAARC and UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) was signed by the SAARC Secretary General and Administrator UNDP in July 1995.

            The MOU embodies a general agreement for broad collaboration with the aims and purpose of promoting sustainable human development for attaining poverty elimination, preservation and protection of environment, regeneration of natural resources, employment creation and the goal of women in development. Cooperation between SAARC and UNDP has been particularly rewarding in the areas of poverty eradication. The UNDP has initiated programmes in specific locations in six member countries of SAARC to promote social mobilization with a view to eradicate poverty under its programme RAS/96/600. The SAARC has undertaken a series of initiatives to improve the health sector in the South Asian region. In this context, SAARC and WHO have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the realization that “health is central to the process of socio-economic development”[xxix].

The World Summit for Social Development has recognized the need for focusing the attention of International community on the special needs of countries and regions, in which there are substantial concentration of people living in poverty, in particular those in South Asia, and which face serious difficulties in achieving social and economic development. The Heads of States or Governments reiterated their commitment to eradicate poverty and noted with appreciation the outcome of the World Summit for social development, and decided to declare 1995 as the “SAARC year of poverty”.[xxx]

 The heads of States or Government during Eighth SAARC summit (New Delhi) agreed that “the governments of SAARC countries will have to play a lead role in promoting the support structures needed for poverty eradication”[xxxi]. During the Ninth Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation at Male, Maldives on May 14, 1997 the leaders were unequivocal in their commitment to the eradication of poverty by the year 2002. They noted with satisfaction the establishment of a three-tier mechanism on poverty eradication and endorsed the recommendations of the two rounds of meetings under this mechanism hosted by India and Pakistan respectively.

            In consideration of the report of the Ministers of Finance/Planning, the Heads of States or Government agreed that effective implementation of poverty eradication programmes required a focus on greater participation of target groups in the formulation and implementation of such programmes through social mobilization. They therefore, decided to designate 1997 as the “SAARC year of participatory governance”.[xxxii]

            The SAARC has welcomed the successful holding of the Micro Credit Summit in Washington in February 1997. It endorsed its declaration of support to launch a global campaign to reach 100 million of the world’s poorest families, especially women, with credit for self-employment and other financial and business services by the year 2005. Recognizing that Micro Credit programmes have successfully demonstrated their usefulness towards achieving many goals of socio economic upliftment, including the eradication of poverty and empowerment of women, the leaders of SAARC agreed to intensify endeavours in their respective countries so that outreach of these programmes becomes widespread. They urged all donor countries, International institutions and other bodies engaged in eradication of poverty to increase their support and assistance to these efforts. The Heads of States or Governments directed the Council of Ministers to “initiate work on drawing up a Social Charter”.[xxxiii]

 The Social Charter would focus on drawing up targets with a broad range to be achieved across the region in the areas of poverty eradication, population stabilisation, and the empowerment of women, youth mobilization, and human resource development, the promotion of health and nutrition and protection of children. Indeed, it is a tremendous accomplishment of SAARC as a regional organization to eradicate the poverty from our region.

2.4.2                Achievement of SAARC in Economic Field                      

                        The accomplishment of Saarc in the economic field is commendable. It is proven fact that intra regional cooperation is useful in diverse ways.  The economic cooperation among the capitalist countries has made West Europe a stronger force in the world. The weakness of individual countries in the global market had caused South Asian countries to fall into the debt trap of the West. It is a fact that “regional cooperation may release the political tension in South Asia. Almost all the seven countries have the same history, religion, culture, and language. Thus they joined hands to explore the fruits of regional cooperation in South Asia through SAARC”.[xxxiv]

            The SAARC has convinced the leaders of South Asia that regional economic cooperation brings the member countries to share the problem and prospects of one another. Regional economic cooperation as envisaged by Saarc embraced many fields but the thrust is ostensibly on cooperation in the vital economic fields. However the declaration of objectives suggest that the “primary aim was neither political nor economic but human and humanistic”[xxxv]. The Saarc has, to great extent been successful to improve the quality of life and welfare of South Asian people. Hence political and economic and other forms of cooperation contemplated are toward the procurement of lofty objective of poverty eradication and economic cooperation.

            The Saarc as regional organization has prevailed upon the members to make their economies complementary for a balanced interdependence through proper production planning. There is possibility for comparative cost advantage in trading among themselves, rather than with countries outside the region because of their geographical proximity and reduction of cost. The growing maturity of the association was demonstrated by the SAARC leaders’ decision to base their cooperation on a more lasting and long term basis. SAARC had adopted various steps for economic cooperation among the member states, as it would contribute to the generation of employment and increase in member country purchasing power.

            During the sixth SAARC Summit held in Colombo on 21 December 1991, “the Heads of States or Governments were pleased to note the establishment of the committee for economic cooperation as an important outcome of the regional study on trade manufactures and services. They declared their commitment to the liberalisation of trade in the region through a step by step approach in such a manner that all countries in the region share the benefits of trade expansion equitably”[xxxvi].

            It is a great achievement of the SAARC that all countries signed an agreement on SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA) on 7th December 1995. The leaders reiterated their firm belief that the operationalisation of SAPTA will herald the beginning of a new and significant process of regional economic cooperation and would land strength to SAARC as an institution for promoting the welfare of the peoples of South Asia. They have decided to establish SAARC Free Trade Area (SAFTA). Their ultimate goal is to form SAARC Union on the pattern of EU. During Ninth SAARC Summit held in Male on 12 – 14 May 1997 “the heads of States or Government noted with satisfaction the entry into force of agreement on SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA).

            They reiterated the importance of achieving a free trade area and reiterated, “steps toward trade liberalizations must take into account the special needs of the smaller and the least developed countries and those benefits must accrue equitably”[xxxvii]. A Preferential Trading Area is by definition one in which member states brings down tariff on each other’s goods and accord preference to the goods of member state as compared to those of the rest of the world. SAPTA is an agreement among the SAARC states and sets down well-defined framework of rules and modalities for “incremental and gradual liberalization of intra- SAARC trade”[xxxviii]. The documents contains a preamble, 25 articles and 3 annexure including one which contains the nationally agreed schedule of tariff concessions for selected products, the extent of tariff cuts and several additional preferences accorded to least Developed SAARC states with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Maldives falling into the category.

 

2.4.3                Achievements of SAARC in Agreed Areas of Cooperation

                        SAARC has successfully begun to make strides towards achieving benefits of regional integration in the socio-economic and cultural spheres in a structured and organised manner. The Saarc has achieved enormous success through integrated programme of action, which is a vital and important component of the Saarc process and include a number of important areas of cooperation. Technical committees that established under Article VI of the Charter of the SAARC, numbering eleven is performing designated function properly in the identified areas of cooperation. In response to the emphasis accorded by successive summits on the need to further consolidate and streamline IPA, these standing and technical committees have catered tangible benefits to the people of South Asia.

            The successful performances of the areas covered by the Integrated Programme of Action are discussed in each field of cooperation.

Agriculture:

            Agriculture was among the original five areas identified for fostering regional cooperation. The first meeting of Technical committee was held in 1983. Under the work of this Technical committee member counties are sharing their experience in agriculture with each other. In order to achieve progress in the crucial and vital field of agriculture SAARC has established a “SAARC Agricultural Information Centre”[xxxix]  at Dhaka in 1988, “the first SAARC regional institution of its Kind”.[xl]  Two important project namely (i) promotion of the ‘Bio-Villages and (ii) Reaching the million-Training of Farmers and Farm women by 2000 have been successfully completed. Various meetings have been held in SAARC countries in which extensive discussion on the theme “SAARC Agricultural Perspective to the year 2020” were completed.

            In the light of crucial theme, the Technical committee on Agriculture recommended that the member countries should step up efforts to strengthen regional as part of a comprehensive strategy to address the main challenges facing the agricultural sector in the Saarc region. SAIC works as a central information institution having a network with relevant national information centers in each member countries with a view to rapidly exchange regionally generated technical information and there by promoting agricultural research and development activities. Some of the accomplished programmes are; Directory of Agricultural Institutions in Saarc countries; Directory of Agricultural Scientist and Technologies of SAARC countries: Database on Fish diseases in the SAAC region; Database on Potato: Directory of Agricultural Periodicals of the SAARC countries: Bibliography of the Women in Agriculture in the SAARC countries; Bibliography of Agro-forestry in SAARC region.

Communications:

            Technical committee on Telecommunication and Postal Service were amalgamated into a single Technical committee in 1993. Within the overall objective of providing telecommunication services to majority of the population of South Asia by the year 2000, the committee has achieved its target of promoting technological and human development and management. There has been substantial progress in implementing the recommendations for the establishment of ISD, automatic telex, and bureau- fax facilities improvement of inter-country links, operation and maintenance of communications links, etc. Efforts are being adopted to further promote cooperation in improving transit facilities. An initiative has been taken to establish an information Network among the member countries. While recognizing the need for better and cheaper links between SAARC countries the Council of Minister had discussed various possibilities, including a SAARC satellite, updating expansion and harmonization of telecom hardware in the region.

            A high level Expert Group on Telecommunication has been set up by the Secretary General to address these issues, as well as to examine the possibility of bringing telecommunication tariffs between SAARC countries as close to domestic rate as possible.  The Heads of States or Government welcomed the results of the First Conference of SAARC Communication Ministers held in Colombo in May 1998. They noted that “technological advances were making telecommunications an important medium for socio-economic development and developing commercial and business relations as well as promotion of people-to-contact. They called for speedy implementation of the Plan of Action adopted by the First Meeting of the SAARC Communication Ministers”[xli].

Education, Culture and Sports:

            The SAARC has achieved positive result in these important areas. The heads of States or Governments recognized that illiteracy was a major impediment to economic development and social emancipation and that the eradication of illiteracy in the region including through co-operative endeavours within SAARC must continue to be pursued resolutely. Therefore, it established Technical Committee on Education, Culture and Sports. SAARC has made progress in these vital and important fields by identifying themes pertaining to Education.

            The priority themes for cooperation in the field of education are Women and Education: Universal Primary Education; Literacy, Post Literacy and continuing education; Educational Research: Science and Technical Education. SAARC has made progress by conducting workshops/seminars on the priority themes: Modernization of curriculum: environmental education including population education, planning and management of education of education, teacher training, higher education and book production and marketing publication of an Anthology of South Asia poetry. The SAARC has designated the year 1996 as the “SAARC year of Literacy”[xlii].

Environment and Meteorology:

            The Saarc had identified environment as an area for urgent attention. The Technical committees on Environment and on Meteorology were merged as single committee in January 1996. The SAARC in 1987 established a commission to study on “Causes and Consequences of Natural Disasters and the Protection and preservation of the Environment”. Following this decision at the Third SAARC Summit in Katmandu in 1987, National Studies were undertaken and subsequently amalgamated into a Regional Study which was approved by the Sixth SAARC Summit held in Colombo in 1991. The SAARC instituted other regional study on the “Greenhouse Effect and its Impact on the Region”. This study was completed in 1992 and approved by the Seventh SAARC Summit held in 1993 in Dhaka. The Heads of States or Government during Eighth Summit held in New Delhi in 1995 stressed the importance of effective and speedy implementation of the recommendation of the two studies on Environment.

            Further, at their Tenth Summit they called for the effective and early implementation of the SAARC Environment Action Plan. In this context, they welcomed the offer of Maldives to prepare a feasibility study on the establishment of a coastal Zone Management Centre. The SAARC has been successfully prevailed upon the member countries to prepare National Environmental Action Plans. It is, indeed a great achievement on the part of SAARC that the member countries adopted a common position prior to the third session of the Conference of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Kyoto, Japan. The Heads of States or Government urged all industrial countries to ratify the Protocol and to undertake urgent and effective steps to implement the commitments undertaking by them to reduce their emission of green-house gasses”[xliii].  The SAARC has designated 1992 as the “SAARC year of Environment”.[xliv]

.           The SAARC has established a SAARC Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC) in Dhaka on 2 January 1995.The centre is functioning successfully and concentrating primarily on the research aspect of weather forecasting. In the field of Meteorology, a number of productive seminars / workshops have been organized to share the experiences of each other. An Annual Regional award is given to a young scientist or group of scientist for a research paper on meteorological topics to encourage research in the field of Meteorology. Another Award has been introduced since 1995 for senior scientists to encourage research work in the field of Meteorology. Indeed this is a great service by the SAARC.

Health, Population Activities and Child Welfare:

            The SAARC has achieved tremendous accomplishments in these important areas of cooperation. Health and population activities were one of the original five areas of cooperation identified by the member states. The first meeting of the Technical committee assigned these subjects was held in 1984 and since then sixteen meetings have been held so far. The primary focus of SAARC has been on children, population welfare and policy, maternal and child health, primary health care, disabled and handicapped persons, control and eradication of fatal diseases from the region such as malaria, leprosy, tuberculosis, diarrhoea, rabies, AIDS, iodine deficiency disorder and very recently SARS. Important health issues have also been at the centre of Saarc’s social agenda.

            The SAARC has been successful to initiate several key issues relating to population control, serious problem in the area of health care and disease control. The SAARC has been quite successful those members countries have adopted inter country coordination and cooperation to fight collectively the menace of fatal diseases. Accordingly, the member states have also identified Centre such as the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, New Delhi and the National institute of Malaria Training and Research, Lahore Pakistan to act as focal points on the different diseases. The SAARC has rendered a meritorious service to the people of South Asia by establishing a “SAARC Tuberculosis Centre” at Bhaktapur Nepal in July 1992.

            The Centre’s lofty objectives are to work towards the prevention of tuberculosis in the SAARC region through better coordination of efforts of the member states, especially their tuberculosis programs. Since its inception, The Centre has undertaken a number of initiatives for the prevention and control of tuberculosis in the region. The centre is actively engaged in collation and distribution of information on national tuberculosis programs in SAARC countries. The development and well-being of children is another principal area of cooperation identified by SAARC from its inception. The Eleventh SAARC Summit has further accorded impetus to cooperation among the member states in tackling the important issues relating to women and children. Among many others, the Heads of States or Government resolved to implement appropriate policies at the national level to achieve the targets and objectives set out in Rawalpindi Resolution adopted at the end of Third SAARC Ministerial Conference on Children of South Asia held in August 1996, including the call to eliminate the evil of child labour by the year 2010.

            The SAARC has realised that the problem faced by children are inextricably linked to the prevailing socio- economic conditions and problems of the region, therefore, adopted holistic approach to rectify them. The SAARC has formulated a Convention on Regional Arrangements on the promotion of child Welfare in South Asia in January 2002.The SAARC has designated 1990 as the “SAARC year of the Girl Child.” The SAARC also designated 1993 as the “SAARC year of the Disabled persons”. In addition, 1991 – 2000 had been designated as the “SAARC Decade of the Girl Child”. In the area of child development, SAARC has been very closely cooperating with International agencies such as UNICEF with which SAARC has signed MOU in December 1993. The SAARC – UNICEF MOU envisages the relevant SAARC decisions relating to Children through an annual agenda, which include joint studies, exchange of documents, and monitoring of implementation.

Prevention of Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse:

            Since its inception in 85 SAARC has implemented a number of programmes in law enforcement, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation as essential elements of a coordinated regional strategy in combating drug trafficking and drug abuse. The SAARC Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, which was signed in Male during fifth SAARC Summit in November 1990, came into force on 15 September 1993, following ratification by all member states. The SAARC has designated 1989 as the “SAARC Year for Combating Drug Abuse and Drug Trafficking.” Cooperation among Drug Law Enforcement Agencies and officers is being developed through short-term activities such as Seminars and Training courses. Nodal Agencies in member states have been nominated to exchange information and intelligence on drug offences. The SAARC has established Drug Offences Monitoring Desk (SDOMD) in Colombo to collate analyze and disseminate information on drug offences. The SAARC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP).

Rural Development:

            The Saarc has identified rural development as one of the five original areas for cooperation under IPA. The technical committee has identified a set of priority areas on which activities under its aegis would be carried out. These priority areas focus on income and employment generation on a sustained basis, human resources development in the rural areas and development and maintenance of rural infrastructure.

Science and Technology:

            The Saarc has established a Technical Committee in 1983 with a wide variety of programme, which include short-term activities such as Seminars/meetings of experts, training programmes, and joint research projects, preparation of state-of-the Art reports and compilation of directories. Special attention of Saarc had been directed at the wide and effective dissemination of information technology, as well as the popularization of science.

Tourism:

            The Saarc has established a technical committee in 1991 to promote cooperation in the field of tourism. The Heads of states or Government recognized that further efforts are required for South Asia to effectively tap the economic potential afforded by the global tourist industry as well as to encourage intra- SAARC tourism. They welcomed the convening of the First Saarc Tourism Ministers Meeting in Colombo as a step towards this end and called for the effective implementation of its decisions.

Transport:

            The Saarc has established Technical committee on Transport, which covers three major segments of transport, i.e. land transport, sea transport and air transport. The activities held under the transport sector have helped in fostering better cooperation among member countries and resulted in the dissemination and exchange of data, expertise, information and experiences. Transport has been recognized by the Saarc as a vital area in providing access to products and markets and opening up new areas of productivity, particularly with the operationalisation of SAPTA.

Women in development:

            The Saarc has included Women in Development as an area of cooperation under the IPA in 1986. The Heads of States or Government noted that “many groups of women and girl children in South Asia continue to be in disadvantaged position and lack equal opportunities for economic and social development”[xlv].97  Specific issues taken up by the committee include preparation of Regional Plan of Action for women, effective dissemination of technical information relating to women in development generated by member states. The Saarc has designated 1990 as the SAARC year of the Girl Child and 1991 –200 as the SAARC decade of the Girl child. The SAARC in order to curb the trafficking of Women and Children within and between countries pledged to coordinate efforts of member countries to adopt effective measures. The SAARC has established The Regional Convention on Combating the Crime of Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution on 5th January 2002. This convention would be a vital instrument in dealing with this menace. The SAARC has recommended establishing a Regional Fund for Rehabilitation of Victim of Trafficking in Women and Children for prostitution on voluntary basis.

            The SAARC has also been at the forefront of these issues with their commitment to address the issues of gender equality and to bring women into the mainstream of development. Two ministerial Conferences have been held one in 1986 in India and the other in Pakistan during 1990. A Regional plan of Action has been drawn which has identified areas of concern and goals set for them. The Technical committee on Women in Development is mandated with the task of reviewing progress every year on the implementation of the Plan of Action on Women. The SAARC had formulated collective position on issue of women before the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in September 1995.

            The above-mentioned accomplishment reveals that SAARC as a Regional Organization is performing a tremendous job since its inception in 85. In its nineteen-year life she has done more than its counter part organization European Union, ASEAN or NAFTA. As both have no internal problem to settle, while SAARC has a wound which is still profusely bleeding. Like The United Nations, SAARC as a regional organization cannot be termed as failure but the members of it are unable to make it effective, result oriented and dynamic organization.  SAARC with plenty of natural and human resources could procure a profound rate of economic development and even become economic power to be reckoned with European Union, NAFTA and ASEAN provided member countries pool their energies and resources for the collective benefit of each other. SAARC is capable of emerging as a dominating bloc in the world politics.

Unfortunately, bilateral tensions are preventing SAARC from adopting a politico-security role. Indo-Pak bilateral has played a detrimental role in the socio-economic progress of SAARC.  Former President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf said, “Jammu and Kashmir has been described as the most dangerous dispute in the world. A just solution to this dispute holds the key to peace and security in South Asia”[xlvi].98

Prof Dr Abdul Qayum Mangi

It was second Chapter of my thesis of PHD

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[i]   53 Arif K. M Gen (Retd), ‘Regional Pressures on SAARC’. DAWN Karachi, October 10, 1989.

 

[ii]  54 A.B.M. Habibullah, ‘The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India’, Allah bad, 1961, p-5.

 

[iii] 55 Hussain, Ishtiaq Qureshi, ‘Struggle for Pakistan’, University of Karachi, 1965, p-5.

 

[iv]  56 Malik, Newsline, Karachi August 1997.

 

[v]  57 Smith E Donald, ‘South Asian Politics and Religion’, New Jersey University press, USA, 1966, P-3.

 

[vi] 58 Kalam. Abul, DR ‘Challenges of the age of globalization’, Regional Studies, Vol.XIX, no.4. Autumn 2001, P-41.

 

[vii] 59 Afzal Bushra Abbasi. ‘Geography of South Asia’,  Sang-e-Meel publication Lahore. 1997,  P-19.

 

[viii]  60 Ahsan Aitzaz,  ‘The Indus Saga and the Making of Pakistan’. Oxford University Press Karachi, 1996, p-8.

 

[ix]  61 Hussain, Ishtiaq Qureshi.  ‘The Muslim Community of Indo-Pakistan sub-continent’.  The Hague, 1962, P-61.

 

[x] 62 Ahmar Moonis.  ‘The Soviet Role in South Asia 1969-1987’.   Area Study Centre for Europe, University of Karachi, 1990, P-17

 

[xi]  63 Umar Ghulam, ‘SAARC (Analytical survey)’, Pakistan Institute of International Affairs, Karachi, 1988, P-15.

 

[xii]  64 Qadir Iqbal, Vice Admiral (Retd), ‘Pakistan’s Geopolitical position and external threat’, DAWN Karachi January 18, 1987.

 

[xiii]  65 Das Debendra k, ‘SAARC: Regional co-operation and Development, perspective, problem, and policies’. Deep & Deep publication New Delhi, 1995, P-15.

 

[xiv] 66 Kleffens Van, G.N, ‘Regionalism and Political Pacts’   The American Journal of International Law.  43:4 (October 1949),  P-669.

 

[xv] 67Regional Studies, Vol, xv, no 4, Autumn 1997, Institute of Regional Studies Islamabad, P-4.

 

[xvi]  68Ahmed Maqbool Bhatty, ‘Great Powers and South Asia, Post Cold War trends’, Institute of Regional Studies Islamabad, 1996, P-4.

 

[xvii] 69Raza Rafi, ‘Pakistan in Perspective 1947 – 1997’.  Oxford   University Press Karachi,  1998, P-132

[xviii]  70Akhtar Shamim, ‘Worlds largest regional organization’, DAWN Karachi December 29, 1988.

 

[xix] 71  www.saarc-sec.org

 

[xx]  72The TIME International 23rd December 1985.

 

[xxi] 73 The Third World International December 1985.

 

[xxii]  74The Dhaka Declaration of the Heads of States or Government of the member states of SAARC issued on December 8, 1985, Para -4.

 

[xxiii] 75 Das Debendra K, Opcit, P-56.

 

[xxiv]  76 Charter of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, Article 1, P-4.

 

[xxv]  77 Lakshman Kadirgamar, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka speaking at the Inaugural Session of the Conference of the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) on 3 August 2000, Colombo.

 

[xxvi] 78 The Dhaka Declaration of the Heads of State or Government of the member states of South Asian Association for Regional cooperation issued on 8 December 1985.para 7.

[xxvii]  79 World Health Organization Annual Report 2002. www.who.org/report

 

[xxviii] 80‘Spectrum’, August 1997, SAARC Secretariat Katmandu, Nepal, P-16.

 

[xxix]  81 SAARC NEWS letter August 2000

[xxx]  82 The Delhi Declaration of the Eighth summit issued on 4th May 1995, Para-7.

 

[xxxi]  83 Ibid,  Para-12.

 

[xxxii]  84 The Male Declaration of Ninth SAARC Summit issued on 14th May 1997, Para-10.

 

[xxxiii]  85 The Declaration of the Tenth SAARC Summit Colombo issued on 31 July 1998, Para-45.

 

[xxxiv] 86 Das Debendra K, Opcit, P-101.

 

[xxxv]  87Adiseshiah Malcolm, ‘The Economic Rationale of SAARC’, South Asia Journal, Vol: 1, July-September 1987, p – 15.

 

[xxxvi]  88 The Colombo Declaration of the Sixth SAARC Summit issued on 21st December 1991, Para-20.

 

[xxxvii]  89 The Male Declaration of Ninth SAARC Summit issued on 14th May 1997, Para-14.

 

[xxxviii]  90 Charan D Wadhan, ‘Assessing The Saarc Preferential Trade Arrangement’, eds. Eric Gonslaves and Nancy Jetly. ‘The Dynamics of South Asia’, (New Delhi: Sage Publication, 1999), P-194.

 

[xxxix]  91 SAARC at a Glance SAARC Secretariat,  Kathmandu Nepal,2002, P-8.

 

[xl] 92 SAARC-A Profile, SAARC Secretariat Kathmandu, Nepal 1999, P-14.

 

[xli]  93 The Colombo Declaration of the Tenth SAARC summit issued on 31 July 1998. Para 46.

 

[xlii] 94 SAARC at a Glance, SAARC Secretariat Kathmandu, Nepal, 2002.

 

[xliii]  95 The Colombo Declaration of the Tenth Summit, Opcit, Para-53.

 

[xliv]  96 SAARC at a Glance. Opcit, P-8.

 

[xlv] 97 The Colombo Declaration of the Tenth SAARC summit issued on 31 July 1998, Para-60.

[xlvi]  98 Former President’s Address to the United Nations General Assembly’s special session 2003, cited in DAWN  September25, 2003.