Pakistan seeks bigger Saarc to counter India’s influence

[idune]

Pakistan is free to create a new country grouping for South Asia or whatever region without India.

India is busy working on BBIN, BIMSTEC, Iran-AFG-India (+ Central Asia) and India-Iran-Azerbaijan-Russia/Georgia groupings.

no one need to think about bakwas indians like this one. indians talks about BBIN but in reality india does not allow transport, electricity import or even trade through india without hassle. Besides, india does not have anything to offer other then bully under sub regional context. This is perfect example of worthless indian venture good for chest thumping. indian thinks it bully is enough to keep China out of the region. In reality each country in these groupings pursue relationship with China and even Japan for investment, technology and other benefit and most of all to counter indian bully.. Same goes for BIMSTEC.

 

[Nilgiri]

no one need to think about bakwas indians like this one. indians talks about BBIN but in reality india does not allow transport, electricity import or even trade through india without hassle. Besides, india does not have anything to offer other then bully under sub regional context. This is perfect example of worthless indian venture good for chest thumping. indian thinks it bully is enough to keep China out of the region. In reality each country in these groupings pursue relationship with China and even Japan for investment, technology and other benefit and most of all to counter indian bully.. Same goes for BIMSTEC.

BD weakness is from its own inability to develop industries like India has. We own your political leadership, that is just icing on the cake as far as the trade deficit goes.

Now go have a cry about your measly FDI and lack of world interest (past when something like Gulshan happens) somewhere else....while regular BD people lap up our products and we buy next to nothing in return. Make something worthwhile and we will revisit it.

BBIN is definitely going to be a success....on our terms. Praise be to SHW.

 

[wiseone2]

no one need to think about bakwas indians like this one. indians talks about BBIN but in reality india does not allow transport, electricity import or even trade through india without hassle. Besides, india does not have anything to offer other then bully under sub regional context. This is perfect example of worthless indian venture good for chest thumping. indian thinks it bully is enough to keep China out of the region. In reality each country in these groupings pursue relationship with China and even Japan for investment, technology and other benefit and most of all to counter indian bully.. Same goes for BIMSTEC.

I would enforce immigration laws for India in return for allowing Bangladeshi guest workers to work in India. It is the biggest bang for the buck for both countries.

 

[idune]

BBIN is definitely going to be a success....on our terms. Praise be to SHW.

In indian view success means able to bully others; aint we know that? india does not have any other capability that any country can use.

 

[Nilgiri]

In indian view success means able to bully others; aint we know that? india does not have any other capability that any country can use.

Yah tell that to all the countries that use Indian rockets to launch their satellites.

But I guess these are countries that actually matter in the world, not a puny, poor mir zafar land....who's biggest fame is mass produced underwear, floods and sweatshops collapsing.

Now seriously take your butthurt about BBIN and SHW elsewhere (maybe a RAW sheesha cafe or something). Shoo jamati.

 

[illuminatidinesh]

In indian view success means able to bully others; aint we know that? india does not have any other capability that any country can use.

Funny a Bangladeshi says that, U are not even landlocked like Afghans yet U failed to capitalize on that rather point finger at Indians. Lol build the infrastructure , work hard then come we will have discussion.
Oh and go to bed with China who is stopping u?

 

[danger007]

no one need to think about bakwas indians like this one. indians talks about BBIN but in reality india does not allow transport, electricity import or even trade through india without hassle. Besides, india does not have anything to offer other then bully under sub regional context. This is perfect example of worthless indian venture good for chest thumping. indian thinks it bully is enough to keep China out of the region. In reality each country in these groupings pursue relationship with China and even Japan for investment, technology and other benefit and most of all to counter indian bully.. Same goes for BIMSTEC.

I must admit BD can offer plenty from Under garment to pole vaulting... definitely in under wear world BD rules, It is not insignificant country..

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

India pleaded for Afghanistan to join SAARC, even though its not part of South Asia. Probably you forgot what South Asia means.

Afghanistan especially the South and East is considered a part of South Asia.

 

[Nilgiri]

India pleaded for Afghanistan to join SAARC, even though its not part of South Asia. Probably you forgot what South Asia means.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asia

Official United Nations cartographic map of South Asia.

http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/english/htmain.htm

 

[SleepingLion]

I have never seen our Diplomatic & Political machinery so active and that too doing some good stuff. I don't know what's the reason behind this.

China wants to play Saarc Saarc too

 

[Gibbs]

I do not think Pakistan is interested in SAARC or any other grouping where India is a member. They are happy with CPEC and have rejected Indian requests to join CPEC. Pakistan wants to cut-off all ties and links with India - Economical, Political and Cultural

Well Pakistan is a vital cog in what is South Asia, So what ever manifestations this grouping will take Pakistan has to be a part of it, And you cant just blame one side of the equation for the failure of SAARC, India isn't far off using it's weight to undermine the organization as well when it fits her geo political agenda.. I happen to agree with what @Max mentioned, For a multilateral and especially a geographically specific organization to work there need to be parity at least at some level, SAARC is basically a grouping dominated overwhelmingly by India geographically, demographically and economically, It will never see it's potential as a grouping one way or the other because of that

 

[wiseone2]

Pakistan is not interested in trade with India. there is not much India can do.

 

[hassan zohaib]

Pakistan seeks bigger Saarc to counter India’s influence
ANWAR IQBAL — UPDATED ABOUT 3 HOURS AGO
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WASHINGTON: Pakistan is exploring the possibility of creating a greater South Asian economic alliance to counter India’s controlling hold on the eight-member South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), diplomatic observers say.

A parliamentary delegation from Pakistan, which is now in New York, pitched this idea during its five-day visit to Washington last week.

“A greater South Asia is already emerging,” said Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, in one of his interactions with the media. “This greater South Asia includes China, Iran and the neighbouring Central Asian republics.”

Examine: How Pakistan should respond to a dangerous time

He described the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as the key economic route linking South Asia with Central Asia. The Gwadar port, he pointed out, would be the nearest warm water port, not only for China but also for the land-locked Central Asian states.

“We want India to join this arrangement as well,” said Mr Hussain, an offer Indians are unlikely to accept as they are comfortable with the advantage that Saarc provides them.

Last month, India used its influence in Saarc to isolate Pakistan when it announced that it would not attend the regional group’s 19th summit, scheduled in Islamabad on Nov 15 and 16.

India cited Pakistan’s alleged involvement in the Sept 18 terrorist attack in Uri as the reason for its decision to boycott the summit. Pakistan strongly denies the Indian allegation and India has provided no evidence to support its claim so far. Yet three other Saarc nations — Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan — joined the boycott.

Editorial: Undermining Saarc

The boycott led to an indefinite postponement of the summit and exposed Pakistan’s isolation within the group where it once played a key role.

Among the eight Saarc nations, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are India’s strong allies while Bhutan, surrounded by India from all sides, is too small to resist any move from New Delhi.

The Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka have good ties with Pakistan, but they are not large enough to take on India.

“Apparently, the showdown forced Pakistan to conclude that in its present shape, Saarc will always be dominated by India. That’s why they are now talking about a greater South Asia,” said a senior diplomat while confirming reports that Pakistan is actively seeking a new regional arrangement.

“Pakistan hopes that this new arrangement will give it more room to manoeuvre when India tries to force a decision on it,” said another diplomat.

Diplomatic observers in Washington say that the proposed arrangement also suits China as it is also worried about India’s rapidly growing influence in the region. They argue that China can play an important role in persuading Central Asian republics and Iran to join the new arrangement.

But the observers warn that Saarc members will have little interest in supporting the idea. There is not much benefit for Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka in joining a land route far from their borders and Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have their own ports.

The member that is likely to get the most benefits from a greater South Asian alliance is Afghanistan, which is technically a land-locked Central Asian nation. Any trade route that links South and Central Asian regions is good for Afghanistan.

But observers believe that Afghanistan is too closely linked to India to join any arrangement that hurts India’s interests.

Afghanistan’s presence in Saarc, however, justifies Pakistan’s argument that Central Asian nations can be included in a greater South Asia.

Afghanistan applied for Saarc membership in 2006, generating an interesting debate on the definition of South Asian identity because Afghanistan is a Central Asian country.

Saarc member states imposed a stipulation for Afghanistan to hold general elections, which were held in late 2005, enabling the country to join the group as its eighth member in April 2007.

But, as a South Asian diplomat pointed out, even if a greater South Asia became reality, there’s no guarantee that its members would support Pakistan in its disputes with India.

“Many Central Asian states have strong ties with India and Iran too has problems with Pakistan,” the diplomat added.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2016


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no alliance can be successful until and unless there are more converged interests of member countries.

 

[ThaniOruvan]

well we should work on Economic corporation organization (ECO) no need of any saarc ...moreover saarc is just useless and waste of time

Yeah, because Pakistan was insulted and isolated recently by SAARC it is useless and a total waste.

Pakistan does not have the capability to initiate a new trade body or co-operation organization.
It just have to try to join in any other body with the help of its master (China) after insulted and isolated by SAARC.
With or without Pakistan SAARC will proceed or India might dump SAARC to increase co-operation with other countries and totally isolate Pakistan.
Pakistan and China are the only two countries in the world now which have disputes or conflicts with most of its neighbors.
Good luck !

 

[Allen Iverson]

The EU has been a success because at the top it has got several nations of a similar economic stature i.e Germany, France, Italy. In SAARC only Pakistan can act as some kind of a balancing act to India, and the latter uses all of its weight and influence to prevent this from happening (as was made evident in the latest postponed SAARC conference). In essence it becomes a one man show, which is why SAARC is bound to fail. ASEAN again has been a success because at its top it has similar sized nations i.e. Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam. It was the balance of power in the Italian city states that allowed the Renaissance to emerge and flourish. Parity ensures stability and security. Unfortunately that is too much to ask from SAARC.

Agree to the most part of your comment.. Except India undermining Pakistan's Economic advancement.. Big No.. inspite of all the hiccups in our relationships Pakistan still is a Most favoured Nation.. Economically stronger Pakistan is in our better interest only.. But our only concern is that it shouldn't use all its economic clout to support insurgency and create instability in India.. Unless that is happening, we are all for a stronger Economic growth in pakistan..

Stop derailing the thread dude and stay on topic.

There are 100s of other threads about "SirGKal" strikes, feel free to take your fantasies there.

It applies toyou too.. You are the one who brought in surgical strikes issue here.. Both of you stop derailing the thread..