SAARC: SHALLOW REGIONALISM, POLITICAL ABSTINENCE AND ECONOMIC ADVOCACY

Outline

1. Introduction
2. Postponement of the nth Summit: Justification Galore
3. Parallel Track II Process
4. South Asia in WTO
5. SAARC and Other International Bodies
6. Cooperation in Core Areas
7. Other Initiatives during 1999
8. Some Questions in lieu of a Conclusion

SAARC: SHALLOW REGIONALISM, POLITICAL ABSTINENCE AND ECONOMIC ADVOCACY

Author: Mahendra P. Lama

DOI Link: https://www.doi.org/10.56888/BIISSj2000v21n1a1

ABSTRACT

The sine die postponement of 11!h SAARC Summit was more or less expected given the immediately preceding political developments in Pakistan. This Summit would have for the first time brought the two leaders of India and Pakistan eye-to-eye after the Kargil misadventure. In the past, summits have been postponed without really considering its adverse impact on the institution of SAARC. The summits have been postponed purely because of "bilateral contentious issues" which were supposed to be outside the purview of SAARe. The frequent postponement of SAARC, therefore, questions the very relevance and efficacy of continuing such flagrant! y violated norms as laid down in Article X of the Chaner. But the redeeming fact is that SAARC has not lost its relevance in South Asia. Whatever be the progress made by SAARC since its launching in 1985, it has been perhaps the only forum where the South Asian leaders are brought together despite their intense political inhibitions and insurmountable national reservations on certain political issues. Despite a snail's pace progress, one of the remarkable contributions of SAARC has been the fact that it has been able to trigger off a whole range of activities outside the official SAARC forum. These activities in private sector. in non-governmental organisations and community level activities across the region have in fact withstood all kinds of political ups and downs.

BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

Outline