ANALYZING THE ROLE OF SAARC IN THE KASHMIR DISPUTE
ANALYZING THE ROLE OF SAARC IN THE KASHMIR DISPUTE
Abstract:
Like many regional organizations, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was formed to provide a forum to the people of South Asia where they collectively for peace development and economic cooperation in the region. However, despite having close geographical, cultural, and Historical backgrounds the organization has failed to achieve the desired results. The tension between Pakistan and India over Kashmir hindered the development of the SAARC as a potentially vibrant regional organization and strategic imbalance in the region has been a factor which obstructed the smooth process of the SAARC.
Introduction:
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established to promote peace, development, and economic cooperation among the member states. The member countries of the organisation include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Despite sharing a geographical, cultural, and historical background, SAARC has not achieved its intended outcomes. The primary roadblock to SAARC's success has been the persistent tension between India and Pakistan regarding Kashmir. The lingering conflict has hindered SAARC from flourishing as a regional organization.
SAARC has held several summits at different times and places, several summits have so far been held, and several agreements have been signed.
The 10th summit took place in Colombo, Sri Lanka in July 1998, following India and Pakistan's nuclear tests. This drew global attention and resulted in major Western powers imposing sanctions on both countries. The visible proliferation of nuclear weapons in South Asia has cast doubt on the viability of the SAARC process. In this context, the discussion between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan at the SAARC summit held notable importance. Despite the tensions between India and Pakistan, the summit continued with its usual proceedings. In February 1999, Indian Prime Minister A. B. Vajpayee made a significant move towards “peace” by making an official visit to Lahore on February 20-21.
During this visit, the two nations signed the 'Lahore Declaration,' which included a memorandum of understanding and a joint statement. The declaration emphasized the need for any future conflicts between the two nations to be discussed and resolved under the auspices of SAARC. The Lahore Summit marked the first-ever meeting between the two leaders since the Shimla Agreement of July 1972, and the first bilateral summit in the post-nuclearization scenario India and Pakistan committed to resolving the Kashmir dispute through peaceful means. Nevertheless, there are differing opinions on how to approach this issue. India maintains that the matter of Kashmir is not solely related to Indo-Pak relations and insists on Pakistan's accountability. Islamabad, however, believes that resolving the Kashmir issue is crucial for achieving normalization in other areas.
The Kargil conflict ensued after the Lahore Summit, necessitating US intervention to resolve the crisis. Finally, in May 2001, both countries pledged to find a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir dispute In July of 2001, the former President of Pakistan, Musharraf, accepted an invitation to visit India. Unfortunately, the visit did not bring about the desired success and the Agra Summit was ultimately considered a failure.
The aftermath of the summit was met with increased security tensions between both nations following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The situation was further complicated by the attack on the Indian Parliament in December of that same year, which led to a prolonged standoff between the troops of both countries extending until October 2002. The tension ultimately led to the delay of the SAARC Summit. At the 12th SAARC Summit in Islamabad, President Musharraf introduced a four-point strategy to initiate dialogue with India and pave the way for strengthening relations between the two nations
The four point strategy stressed on;
• Peace and Security
• Economic cooperation and
• Denuclearization of South Asia.
At the summit, India presented diplomatic and economic proposals that were met with positive feedback from all participating nations. The summit produced several significant agreements, including the Islamabad Declaration, a social charter, the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), and an Additional Protocol on blocking the financing of terrorism. All heads of state demonstrated their commitment to the economic progress and stability of the region, with an emphasis on ensuring fair trade benefits through SAFTA.
At the SAARC summit, participating nations showed their commitment to providing special and preferential treatment to small and least-developed countries (LDCs). Despite the limitations of the SAARC Charter, the summit was highly productive and resulted in essential agreements that will benefit the region's economic prosperity and stability. While the charter does not allow for the discussion or resolution of bilateral disputes and regional conflicts with political orientation, the summit marked a significant step forward in promoting peaceful and cooperative relations among the countries in the region.
Following a period of tension, both India and Pakistan engaged in discussions on the sidelines of the SAARC summit to improve the situation. They released a joint press statement in January 2004, emphasizing mutual trust and the need for greater flexibility to normalize relations through composite dialogue on contentious issues, including Kashmir. The SAARC summit facilitated several rounds of composite dialogue, which led to joint statements and declarations on political, diplomatic, economic, and strategic issues. These efforts contributed to a more peaceful environment and reduced the trust deficit between the two countries.
Both India and Pakistan have taken diplomatic measures and implemented confidence-building measures (CBMs) to improve their relations. Renewed links have benefited people across borders, and the ceasefire agreement along the line of control near Siachen Glacier in November 2003 provided an opportunity for composite dialogue to address mutual differences. The opening of five bus routes on LoC on November 7, 2005, following the devastating earthquake that hit Pakistan on October 8, 2005, was a significant milestone in India-Pakistan relations. These measures have resulted in political, social, and economic benefits for people on both sides of the border.
While significant challenges remain unaddressed, these measures provide an opportunity to reunite divided families and facilitate CBMs that the two governments have been putting in place to reduce hostility and promote peaceful relations. The SAARC summit marked a significant step forward in promoting cooperation and peace in the region, and more efforts should be made to build on these positive developments. Contrary to the past, a new element of tolerance has also dominated the current situation.
Apart from the objectives and principles, there is a general provision in the SAARC Charter that decisions on all matters would be taken unanimously but contentious and bilateral issues are excluded from the consideration of the association. This clause prevents Pakistan from getting the support of the regional countries in its disputes with India.
The tension between India and Pakistan and their stand on Kashmir are rooted deeply in the principle of the Two-Nation Theory. India considers the area an integral part of the Indian Union and none of the accords has solved the Kashmir issue yet. Diversity of opinion prevails in both countries regarding this particular issue and the region is facing security threats. In this scenario, SAARC is required to evolve such a security framework in regional terms that the majority of states tend to be guided by it on intra-regional rivalries and fear perception.
Indian Pakistan engagement in SAARC:
SAARC Summits: a collaborative platform for India and Pakistan to engage in bilateral cooperation and peace intuitively. SAARC Summits have given India and Pakistan a chance to work together even though they've had problems in the past. These meetings let the leaders of both countries talk about issuesThe first summit in 1985 was in Dhaka, shortly after India controlled Siachen Glacier this summit helped the leaders talk and discuss the matter, from the Pakistani side President Zia ul Haq and the Indian side was led by Rajiv Gandhi.
The second summit in 1986, in Bangalore, made things better when there were soldiers near the Pakistan border. The leaders agreed to talk and not attack each other's nuclear weapons during this meeting Junjeo and Gandhi initiated dialogues to normalize relations.
The third summit in 1987, in Kathmandu, talked about Siachen Glacier and Sir Creek. They decided to stop illegal border crossings and improve trade.The fourth summit in 1988, in Islamabad, was when the Indian PM visited Pakistan. They talked about Kashmir, nuclear worries, and ways to work together and also discussed the problem of the Sikh uprising in India.
The fifth summit in 1990, in Maldives, reopened communication and looked at more than just Kashmir. Both countries' leaders agreed to open bilateral peace talks at this summit. It was a great initiative taken by both leaders, which led to formation of a WORKING GROUP. The sixth summit in 1991, in Colombo, made things better, and they talked about preventing problems. It was attended by Nawaz Sharif from Pakistan and Narasimha Rao from India later on another meeting was held in Davos Switzerland to discuss regional peace. During the 11th summit in 2002, president Musharraf’s dramatic handshake with Indian PM improved things briefly. However, owing to very strong opposition Vajpave took a hard stance on Pakistan and the relationship deteriorated soon.
The 12th summit in 2004, in Islamabad, talked about a whole gamut of issues concerning to both the countries including peace and security, Kashmir, Siachin, Sir Creek, Talbul navigation project, terrorism and drugs trafficking, economic cooperation and friendly visits of people on both sides.The 13th summit in 2005, in Dhaka, talked about projects including the Iran –Pakistan –India pipeline, and let China and Japan become observers.
The 14th summit in 2007, in New Delhi, talked about continuing conversations, a gas pipeline project, and more connections.The 16th summit in 2010, after the Mumbai attacks was attended by PM Gilani from Pakistan and Manmohan Singh from India restarted conversations and looked at terrorism.The 17th summit in 2011, in the Maldives, improved things and led to trade agreements and better visa rules. Summit 2020 was held on a virtual platform due to the viral outbreak in this virtual summit. During the summit covid emergency fund was established and SAARC e-platform was proposed to exchange the information.
Prominent Challenges Faced by SAARC ;Indo-Pak Friction Points: The Kashmir Issue:
The SAARC members, notably India and Pakistan, face complex conflicts that stem from their historical division based on the Two Nations Theory. The partition and subsequent independence have only served to exacerbate their ideological differences. Regrettably, the long-standing Kashmir dispute remains unresolved, and it has resulted in several wars and conflicts, including the wars of 1948, 1965, 1971, and the Kargil conflict of 1998. Despite the existence of agreements like the Indus Water Treaty, a lasting solution remains elusive. While SAARC's accomplishments have been modest, such as conventions aimed at combating terrorism and drug-related issues, agreements like the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and SAARC Preferential Trading Agreement (SAPTA) have shown potential, but their practical success has been limited. The organization's decision to exclude political issues from its summits has impeded its effectiveness..
Pak-Afghan Border Tensions and Regional Stability:
The Pakistan-Afghanistan relationship is fraught with mutual distrust and historical disputes, dating back to Afghanistan's opposition to Pakistan's United Nations membership. Contentions over the Durand Line, seen by Afghanistan as an imposed border, further fuel hostilities. The post-9/11 era exacerbated tensions as the US-led War on Terror unfolded, with Pakistan supporting the effort. Accusations of cross-border terrorism persist, with Afghanistan blaming Pakistan for harboring extremist elements. Both countries need to prioritize peaceful ties for a stable South Asian region, acknowledging the significance of fostering normalcy and cooperation between them.
These challenges underscore the complex dynamics within SAARC and the broader South Asian region, necessitating nuanced diplomatic efforts to overcome historical enmities and establish lasting peace and cooperation.
progress.
Border Disputes and Territorial Claims: Many SAARC nations have unresolved border disputes and territorial claims including India-Pakistan –Nepal-India are the dominant leading tensions and potential conflict.
Lack of Connectivity: Insufficient physical and digital connectivity among South Asian member countries hampers economic integration and intra-regional trade. Poor infrastructure and connectivity networks limit the potential benefits of cooperative initiatives.
Limited Institutional Capacity: SAARC's institutional capacity may be insufficient to address complex regional challenges effectively. Strengthening organizational structures, and decision-making processes.
Security Concerns and Terrorism: Ongoing security concerns and the presence of terrorist groups in the region pose significant challenges specifically border terrorism and insurgence between India and Pakistan ensuring regional security and countering terrorism requires coordinated efforts.
Climate change: South Asia especially India and Pakistan is confronted with a number of environmental challenges, including climate change, natural disasters, and pollution. collective efforts are made to address these issues collaboratively within SAARC.
Complex Bilateral Relations:Very complex bilateral relations between India and Pakistan are one of the biggest problems that hampered the SAARC role in the region.
RECOMANDTIONS FOR SAARC:
Confidence Building Measures (CBMs):
Prioritize CBMs between Pakistan and India in SAARC to build trust, drawing from successful examples like the Indus Water Treaty. The significance of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) holds immense importance in fostering cooperation between Pakistan and India within the SAARC framework. Historical evidence, particularly the success of CBMs like the Indus Water Treaty, underscores their vital role in promoting peace and collaboration. Presently, it is imperative to collectively endorse such CBMs to alleviate tensions between these longstanding adversaries. Regular monitoring and periodic review of these measures are essential to ensure their effectiveness over time.
Include Bilateral Issues in the SAARC Charter: Modify the SAARC charter to allow discussions on bilateral problems, fostering cooperation and trust among member states.
Address Kashmir Issue: SAARC must help India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir dispute for regional stability and cooperation.
Establish a Zone of Peace: Collaborate on counterterrorism, especially India and Pakistan's efforts to make the South Asian region a peaceful zone.
Frequent Summits: Organize regular SAARC summits to enhance cooperation and reduce hostilities, as seen in past successes.
Conflict Conciliation Groups (CCGs): Create CCGs for resolving disputes when all involved member states seek SAARC's assistance.
Boost Trade: Promote trade within SAARC to foster economic interdependence, reducing tensions and promoting peace.
Enhance Relationship Coherence: Address disharmony among member nations, especially in the India-Pakistan case, to ensure SAARC's progress and success.
CONCLUSION:
The prospects of SAARC do not seem bright in the overall scenario at least in the immediate future it may continue to provide opportunities for mutual contact yet in the existence of key disputes and the ongoing conflicts in the region and the involvement and influence of the extra-regional forces in the region, With a renewed focus on shared goals and objectives, SAARC can unlock its true potential and create new opportunities for growth and development in the region.
References:
Regional integration in South Asia by Niaz Muhammad Tariq
Role of core state in a regional organization Muhammad Ajmal Abbasi and Muhammad Khan
Pakistan-India relations via SAARC BY IPRIPAK.ORG
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation BY Eeas. Europa. EU
Role of SAARC in Kashmir conflict by ResaerchGate
Pakistan-India clash over Kashmir issue at Saarc virtual meet by The Express Tribune
SAARC and Regional politics by JSTOR
Written By :ISLAM
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