BackEnhanced connectivity, power on Saarc agenda
Two pacts on rail and road connectivity, and a third on setting up a power grid for the region will be up for discussion
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New Delhi: South Asian heads of state and government are to gather in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu this week for their 18th summit-level meet—often dismissed as talk-shop—to discuss development and ways to increase trade and to sign two pacts on rail and road connectivity, and a third on setting up a power grid for the populous region.
This will be Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first appearance at the eight-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) meeting, on 26-27 November.
Also expected to make his summit debut is Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai who took office in September as Afghanistan’s second democratically elected president since 2001.
However for Modi, this will be the second meeting with many of the heads of government from the Saarc countries.
“You would notice that the prime minister has always emphasized since taking office that ‘neighbours first’ for him is a major focus. Exactly six months after he was sworn in on 26 May, he will again be with all South Asian leaders in Kathmandu," said Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin at a press briefing on Sunday.
He was referring to the out-of-the-box initiative by the Indian prime minister to send out invitations to the leaders of all South Asian countries to attend his oath-taking ceremony in New Delhi.
The gesture was seen by analysts as an effort to redefine India’s foreign policy towards South Asia at the beginning of his five-year term after a spectacular election victory. In his meetings with Saarc leaders on 27 May, Modi “shared his vision of a Saarc region built on partnerships for development and mutual prosperity," foreign secretary Sujatha Singh had said.
India’s focus at the Saarc Summit beginning Wednesday will be on the enhancement of connectivity and people-to-people contact, said Akbaruddin, adding that there were some agreements ready for signature.
“These are in the areas of transport and energy, especially electricity. Of course, whether these will be signed will be dependent on the recommendations of the (Saarc) council of ministers (meeting in Kathmandu on Tuesday) and the agreement of all Saarc countries. On our part, India stands ready to engage and sign these agreements should there be consensus in the Saarc," Akbaruddin said referring to the practice among member states to defer to regional consensus.
India’s cabinet, last week, gave its approval to the Saarc Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity), Saarc Motor Vehicles Agreement and the Saarc Regional Railways Agreement. The last two are expected to improve connectivity, people-to-people contact and trade among the eight member-states: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The energy pact “is expected to improve the power availability in the entire Saarc region..facilitating the integrated operation of a regional power grid," an Indian government statement said.
“All three are very good and are most welcome agreements. But their impact will only be felt after the gaps are filled in. For example, the motor vehicle act. Today, if I want to drive through to Afghanistan, it will not be possible. Likewise, if a Pakistan national wants to go to Dhaka, it may not be possible" given security concerns, said S.D. Muni, former professor of South Asian studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University.
“Then there is the condition of roads in the region. So, as I said, these are good first steps."
Hinting at the possible content of Modi’s speech to the Saarc opening session on Wednesday, Akbaruddin said, “India sees Saarc as a regional cooperative framework for promoting active collaboration in economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields so as to accelerate regional growth and development.... Prime minister (Modi) will lay out his vision of what he sees as the regional cooperation in South Asia and India’s approach to harnessing the development potential of the region as a whole."
Modi is also expected to meet the leaders of the Saarc countries on the sidelines of the meet, with the most anticipated interaction being with the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Since their first face-to-face interaction in New Delhi on 26-27 May, India and Pakistan have put their talks on hold after Pakistan decided to engage with Kashmiri separatists ahead of a meeting of their foreign secretaries in Islamabad on 25 August.
Pakistan has said it will continue to talk to the separatists while New Delhi insists that the dispute over Kashmir be discussed bilaterally between the two countries.
Both Akbaruddin on Sunday and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Saturday remained non-committal when asked whether Modi would meet Sharif on the sidelines of the Saarc summit.
The prime minister is keen “to have meaningful dialogues with as many south Asian colleagues as possible," Akbaruddin said. “This would mean taking into account all aspects of relationships," he said, adding that the schedule of the bilateral meetings is being finalized and that India’s “intent is to have meaningful dialogues".
Besides Saarc, Modi is expected to focus on further improving ties with hosts Nepal, with development assistance, defence and security cooperation, energy, connectivity and tourism being key points for discussion and action, said Akbaruddin.
Saarc was formed in 1985 and, other than eight member-nations, countries like the US, China and Japan, besides the European Union, have observer status.
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