India and SAARC Discussion - Report

The  Interim Committee organized a discussion on the topic 'India and SAARC' on 08 November 2020 at 5pm.

○ Minutes of the discussion on 'India and SAARC', held on 08th November 2020. ○

Moderator: Soham Joshi

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION:

• A brief introduction about SAARC and its history.

• Discussion on its current status and why it has become dormant?

1. Conflict in national interest and lack of cooperation among the member nations.

2. Lack of a ‘South Asian Identity’ like in the case of ASEAN.

3. SAARC has some structural and fundamental problems within itself. 

• Discussion on the launch of the “South Asia Satellite” and how Pakistan backed away from it.

• Will SAARC eventually become obsolete?

• India and Pakistan are 2 of the major players in SAARC yet they often have conflicting opinions.

• India often plays a hegemonic role over the other countries and also has a geographical advantage.

• Can the member nations of SAARC unite and fight against China?

Probably not because a country like Pakistan is heavily dependent on China for various reasons. 

E.g.: the recent construction of Gwadar Port in Pakistan.

• Crisis faced by Maldives due to the rising sea levels and its attempt to gain the world’s attention.

• How can SAARC help to deal with Climate Change?

• Influence and power of the Military in Pakistan as well as its impact on civilians, economy and the education system.

(Books to refer: 

1. “The Pakistan Paradox: Instability and         resilience” by Christophe Jaffrelot.

2. “Military Inc.” by Ayesha Siddiqa)

• Increase of nationalism as well as lack of communication between the member countries since 2016.

• IS SAARC really necessary?

• Does the form of government in a member nation affect its involvement in SAARC?

• Should they be mindful of the internal problems faced by the member nations?

• Involvement of India and Pakistan as the two biggest member nations of SAARC and the impact of their personal conflict.

• Should we increase/decrease the number of member countries to help with better working of SAARC?

• Impact of extremely stringent security on the borders of member countries and how it displays the lack of trust between them.

• How can we blur these borders and introduce open trade practices in spite of the conflicting ideologies of member nations?

(Book to refer: “Divided” by Tim Marshall)

• How can India and Pakistan separate the issue of Kashmir and prevent it from interfering with SAARC proceedings?

• Issue of the TAPI pipeline as well as the Teesta river project.

• Operation Maitri and the eventual downfall of India-Nepal relations.

• Concluding remarks on the future of SAARC and its role in the upcoming years.

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Minutes taken and drafted by Fiona Francis, FYBA.