SATELLITE launch sans PAKISTAN

Another challenge for SAARC to work as effective body

The launch of the South Asia Satellite without Pakistan on Friday once again reflected the challenges the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) faces in functioning as an effective regional body.

The idea of this satellite was floated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 18th summit of the SAARC in the Nepalese capital of Katmandu in late November, 2014. The name of the satellite was fixed as SAARC Satellite. Later, the satellite was renamed as the South Asia Satellite after Pakistan disassociated from this project.
Some say that Pakistan, which has its own such project, withdrew from this project out of fear of espionage by India.
Nafees Zakaria, the spokesperson of the Pakistan foreign ministry, however, dismissed the espionage speculation as ‘unfounded’.
Saying that Islamabad was initially ‘keen’ to participate in the project, he shifted the blame on India for his country’s disassociation.
"As India was not willing to develop the project on a collaborative basis, it was not possible for Pakistan to support it as a regional project under the umbrella of the SAARC," Zakaria added.
Whatever the spokesperson says, there have been elements of suspicion and doubt between New Delhi and Islamabad regarding the India-funded project from which other SAARC nations – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka – can receive ‘services related to communications and disaster management’.
It is expected that should Bangladesh decide to receive the ‘service’ of the launched-satellite, it will do so ensuring the interest of the country.
It is not a secret that the relationship between India and Pakistan has been tense for quite a while and that the 19th SAARC summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad in November, last year could not be held due to the animosity between the two countries. And, no one knows when the next summit will take place.
With regard to the functioning of the SAARC, this satellite launch without Pakistan is another example of challenges faced by the regional body, which was established in Dhaka 32 years ago aiming to promoting the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and improving their quality of life, accelerating economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region. 
Even after more than three decades, the SAARC could not even reach near to fulfilling the objectives based on which it was established.
All the leaders of the SARRC member states admit that the regional body has yet to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people of the region.
There are many reasons including lack of political will, understanding and seriousness, and mistrust among the member states.
Apart from the tensed relationship between India and Pakistan, the two biggest members of the forum, there are also bilateral problems amongst other member states.

For instance, India has some issues with Nepal, the Maldives and Sri Lanka and on rare occasions with Bhutan too. Bhutan and Nepal have some problems as well. The relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan becomes hostile from time to time and the relationship between Bangladesh and Pakistan is at the ‘lowest level’. If the bilateral relations between the member states are not cordial and trustworthy, then it is valid for people to ask how they will positively cooperate multilaterally.
At every summit, the leaders recognise the potentials of the SAARC and place emphasis on working together to better the lives of people of the region that houses nearly one-fifth of the population of the globe. And, many agreements have also been signed. But, the leaders appear to forget what they say after the summits and there is hardly any productive follow-ups on the agreements signed between the member states.
The SAARC will only be successful when the member states will truly work to tap the potentials of this forum and work in the spirit of unity burying the bitterness amongst them.
Otherwise, it will remain in the manner it has been since 1985 and at some point of time it will be a history.

 

SATELLITE launch sans PAKISTAN

Another challenge for SAARC to work as effective body

The launch of the South Asia Satellite without Pakistan on Friday once again reflected the challenges the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) faces in functioning as an effective regional body. The idea of this satellite was floated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 18th summit of the SAARC in the Nepalese capital of Katmandu in late November, 2014. The name of the satellite was fixed as SAARC Satellite. Later, the satellite was renamed as the South Asia Satellite after Pakistan disassociated from this project. Some say that Pakistan, which has its own such project, withdrew from this project out of fear of espionage by India. Nafees Zakaria, the spokesperson of the Pakistan foreign ministry, however, dismissed the espionage speculation as unfounded. Saying that Islamabad was initially keen to participate in the project, he shifted the blame on India for his countrys disassociation. As India was not willing to develop the project on a collaborative basis, it was not possible for Pakistan to support it as a regional project under the umbrella of the SAARC, Zakaria added. Whatever the spokesperson says, there have been elements of suspicion and doubt between New Delhi and Islamabad regarding the India-funded project from which other SAARC nations Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka can receive services related to communications and disaster management. It is expected that should Bangladesh decide to receive the service of the launched-satellite, it will do so ensuring the interest of the country. It is not a secret that the relationship between India and Pakistan has been tense for quite a while and that the 19th SAARC summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad in November, last year could not be held due to the animosity between the two countries. And, no one knows when the next summit will take place. With regard to the functioning of the SAARC, this satellite launch without Pakistan is another example of challenges faced by the regional body, which was established in Dhaka 32 years ago aiming to promoting the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and improving their quality of life, accelerating economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region. Even after more than three decades, the SAARC could not even reach near to fulfilling the objectives based on which it was established. All the leaders of the SARRC member states admit that the regional body has yet to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people of the region. There are many reasons including lack of political will, understanding and seriousness, and mistrust among the member states. Apart from the tensed relationship between India andPakistan, the two biggest members of the forum, there are also bilateral problems amongst other member states. For instance, India has some issues with Nepal, the Maldives and Sri Lanka and on rare occasions with Bhutan too. Bhutan and Nepal have some problems as well. The relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan becomes hostile from time to time and the relationship between Bangladesh and Pakistan is at the lowest level. If the bilateral relations between the member states are not cordial and trustworthy, then it is valid for people to ask how they will positively cooperate multilaterally. At every summit, the leaders recognise the potentials of the SAARC and place emphasis on working together to better the lives of people of the region that houses nearly one-fifth of the population of the globe. And, many agreements have also been signed. But, the leaders appear to forget what they say after the summits and there is hardly any productive follow-ups on the agreements signed between the member states. The SAARC will only be successful when the member states will truly work to tap the potentials of this forum and work in the spirit of unity burying the bitterness amongst them. Otherwise, it will remain in the manner it has been since 1985 and at some point of time it will be a history.