External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed concerns over the stagnation of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), attributing its lack of progress to one member’s involvement in “cross-border terrorism.” His comments, made during a lecture in India, come just before his upcoming visit to Pakistan for a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
The SAARC, which comprises India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, has seen little effectiveness since its last summit in Kathmandu in 2014. Jaishankar noted, “At the moment, SAARC is not moving forward. We have not had a meeting of SAARC for a very simple reason: there is one member who is practising cross-border terrorism against at least one other member.”
He highlighted the difficulty of promoting cooperation in the face of ongoing terrorism, stating, “If you are all sitting together and cooperating, and at the same time this kind of terrorism goes on, it poses a challenge. Do you ignore it and proceed, normalising this behaviour? At some point, we decided that we should not do that.”
Jaishankar emphasized that terrorism is “unacceptable” and that ongoing threats from neighbouring countries cannot be overlooked. “There must be a pause to it… it cannot be business as usual in SAARC,” he added, explaining why the regional meetings have been absent in recent years.
Despite the lack of formal meetings, he noted that regional integration in South Asia has continued to advance, particularly in infrastructure and economic cooperation. He remarked, “In the last five to six years, we have seen far more regional integration in the Indian subcontinent than we have since the partition of India.”
Jaishankar cited various projects, such as restored railway lines, rebuilt roads, and electricity grids, as indicators of progress driven by India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy. He mentioned collaborative efforts with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, highlighting increased connectivity and cooperation in areas like medical visas and fertiliser supplies.
During his lecture, Jaishankar also reflected on the political landscape during Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s era, drawing parallels to current geopolitical dynamics. He noted that, similar to the complexities faced during Patel’s time, India and China are at a critical juncture in their relationship today. The lingering border disputes in eastern Ladakh further complicate the situation.
“There is a way forward,” he stated, advocating for the reinstatement of peace and respect for the Line of Actual Control (LAC). He stressed that mutual respect, sensitivity, and shared interests could pave a credible path forward, underscoring that the rise of Asia depends significantly on a positive dynamic between India and China.
Jaishankar praised Sardar Patel’s legacy in dealing with the challenges of post-colonial India and highlighted the complexities of reshaping national identity amidst global changes following World War II. “Reading the big picture right and making our calculations was not easy,” he noted, reflecting on the intricate balance of interests that leaders must navigate in contemporary geopolitics.