Farewell to South Asia

Farewell to South Asia

News:

1. India needs to reimagine its economic and political geography in the backdrop of deepening crisis in South Asia region.

Important Facts:

2. Recent developments during United Nations General Assembly suggests the deepening crisis in South Asia region.
3. In the backdrop of functioning of SAARC and challenges deepen into South Asia region, India must find alternatives beyond geographical and political boundaries of South Asia.
4. Challenges in front of South Asia:

• Instability in SAARC functioning and deteriorated relation between India and Pakistan.
• Lack of India’s interest to involve in constructive dialogue with Pakistan unless Islamabad addresses its concerns on cross-border terrorism.
• Pakistan has also pulled off from regional connectivity agreement at Kathmandu SAARC Summit in 2014.
• Pakistan’s resistance to engage with India on Commercial front but deeply committed to comprehensive economic integration with China.
• Apart from India, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are also having problems with Pakistan.
• Nepal too wants to “escape” from South Asia into the vast folds of the Chinese arms.
• India may oppose the increasing influence of China, whose Belt and Road Initiative is connecting different parts of South Asia to the adjoining provinces of China

5. Alternative to India in the backdrop of SAARC:

• Focus on the so-called BBIN forum that brings together four countries of South Asia — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal
• Reactivate the BIMSTEC forum that brings the BBIN countries as well as Sri Lanka with Myanmar and Thailand.

6. “Political South Asia” was an invention of the 1980s and it has not survived the test of time.
7. India need not worry about failures of SAARC and passing away from South Asia. It must reimagine its economic and political geography to bring the changes according to circumstances.