KARACHI, March 30 At a two-day workshop on 'Restructuring of Saarc' held at Karachi University, the overwhelming view expressed by regional experts was that failure to realise its full potential has rendered the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) redundant.

The workshop's aim is to devise ways to make the 25-year-old organisation that was established in 1985 more functional by suggesting certain changes in its charter and structure.

“South Asian regionalism centres around the three Cs of regionalism consultative, cooperative and connectivity. Only by actually materialising the three Cs of regionalism can there be a genuine resurrection of Saarc.”

These views were expressed by Ambassador Nihal Rodrigo, former secretary general of Saarc and adviser on foreign affairs to the government of Sri Lanka.

Regionalism refers to a situation where inhabitants of a region despite being separated by borders are aware of their similarities. Evolution and growth of regionalism is a 20th century phenomenon that was generated by issues of refugees, displaced persons scarcity of food and energy, outbreak of inter- and intra-state conflicts and environmental degradation that were faced by states collectively. The birth of Saarc too aimed at addressing fundamental issues. According to Dr Shaheen Akhtar, senior research analyst, The Institute of Regional Studies, “A similar regional body for South Asia was established and aimed to promote the well-being of its people, accelerate economic growth and social progress.” This organisation also sought to strengthen collective self-reliance and mutual trust amongst its member states, she added.

“But the birth of Saarc was a difficult one,” revealed Ambassador Rodrigo. This can be attributed to many of its failures as even after 25 years Saarc has failed to achieve most of its objectives. Comprising 20 per cent of the global population Saarc states are home to 50 per cent of the world's poor and five of its member states — Afghanistan, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan — belong to the UN's category of least developed countries with a share in global trade of a mere one per cent and 1.5per cent GDP. A sorry state, when compared to other regional organisations such as the EU, Nato and Asean whose share in global trade is 45, 65 and 35 per cent respectively.

According to Dr Moonis Ahmar, chairperson department of international relations, University of Karachi, many reasons such as the region's asymmetric power structure (a dominant India in this case), lack of far-sighted political leadership, enemy images of neighbouring states, poverty, underdevelopment and hard borders can be attributed to this. He asserted that for any progress to be made it is essential that Saarc member states “undo past baggage”.

But Shamshad Ahmed Khan, Pakistan's former ambassador, disagreed. He believes that the geopolitical situation that most Saarc states face due to Indian hegemony of the region is the only factor that “continues to hamper meaningful progress towards regional integration.” He added that India dominates 67 per cent of the entire trade of the region and 80 per cent of the GDP. Also the fact that India shares a border with all member states except Afghanistan inhibits trade and economic growth of other member states. “This centrality of India has given rise to major conflicts and water disputes in the region.”

He asserted that enabling an environment free of mistrust and hostility is imperative “without which no regional arrangement anywhere in the world has worked.” He also emphasised the role of political commitment and deeper engagement on the part of member states to achieve this goal.