Syed Yousif Raza Gillani, Prime Minister of Pakistan, addressing the 16th SAARC Summit, which was attended by Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh and leaders of six other countries, in Thimphu, Bhutan on 28 April, 2010, said the disputes between SAARC countries had stalled its progress and sincere efforts were needed to "build trust, resolve disputes and bridge perceptions" to ensure that the grouping unleashes its "latent potential", DnaIndia reported. His speech clearly reflected that SAARC was not obviously achieving what it was created for.

Gilani said SAARC could effectively address the common challenges of "our common neighbourhood" by synergising capabilities and creating partnerships. "For many years, real progress remained stalled due in part to hesitancy borne from historical legacies, differences and disputes. However, the past could not obfuscate the promise of a glorious future," he said.

SAARC Comprises Eight Countries of South Asia

The SAARC, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, comprises eight countries of South Asia, i.e. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. The association is based on the consciousness that peace, freedom, social justice and economic prosperity are best achieved by fostering mutual understanding and productive cooperation among its member states that are bound by mutual history and culture. Afghanistan is a late entrant. At its 14th conference Afghanistan attended its first meeting of SAARC in India in April 2007.

SAARC Comes into Being After a Long Consultation

The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first mooted in May 1980. After consultations, the Foreign Secretaries of the seven countries met for the first time in Colombo in April 1981. This was followed by a meeting of the Committee of the Whole in Colombo in August-September 1981, which identified five broad areas for regional cooperation.

The Foreign Ministers of South Asia, at their first meeting in New Delhi in August 1983, adopted the Declaration on South Asian Regional Cooperation (SARC) and formally launched the Integrated Programme of Action (IPA). Initially the SAARC earmarked five areas of cooperation that included Agriculture; Rural Development; Telecommunications; Meteorology; and Health and Population Activities. The Heads of State or Government at their First SAARC Summit held in Dhaka on 7-8 December 1985 adopted the Charter formally establishing the SAARC.

SAARC Objectives

According to the founding members of the organisation the SAARC, as defined in its Charter, is to promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and is to improve their quality of life. It is 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 realise their full potential. Further, it is to promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia and contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one anothers problems.

SAARC is to promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields and strengthen cooperation with other developing countries to strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common interests. Finally it is to cooperate with international and regional organisations with similar aims and purposes.

SAARC has not Made Great Progress

India Pakistan relations have always befogged any optimism SAARC has ever generated at its summit meetings. Even though it is celebrating its 25th year of existence in Thimphu SAARC, according to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has not achieved much. Dissatisfied, the PM added, declarations at summits and official-level meetings do not amount to regional cooperation or integration,Business Standard reported on 28 April, 2010. In looking back at these two and a half decades, we can claim the glass is half full and compliment ourselves, or, we can admit the glass is half empty and challenge ourselves, he said.

SAARC Still Offers Hope to 1.5 Billion People

Analysts in unison believe there is no alternative to cooperation for South East Asian Countries as fate of 1.5 billion people living on this side of the globe depends on this. All leaders at 16th Summit in Thimphu, Bhutan also agreed that the small work which the SAARC had done so far could be built upon. According to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, 'SAARC has opened new windows of cooperation, including the development fund, the Food Bank, South Asian Free Trade Area and the South Asian University,' Business Standard reported on 28 April, 2010.

Information

Disputes between SAARC countries had stalled its progress and sincere efforts were needed to "build trust, resolve disputes and bridge perceptions."

First appeared in the Suite101 on Apr 28, 2010