SAARC in a Globalised Era—Imperatives and Opportunities

Arguably, SAARC so far has not been able to meaningfully respond to the aspirations of the people of South Asia. Many believe that it is a story of missed opportunities, compounded by the absence of political cohesion and a shared vision. Being excessively government driven, it has substantially failed to impact positively on the life of the common man. Yet, South Asia is perceived by many to be a region of hope and opportunity if meaningful and pragmatic regional cooperation initiatives could be implemented, purely on economic considerations. What SAARC needs most is to circumvent the entrenched mindsets of the past and to reinvent itself so as to become a purposeful instrument of regional cooperation and change. For this to happen a fresh approach is needed, premised on the socio–economic imperative of the region and driven by the ground reality. Sound economics can never be bad politics. An integrated South Asia, with India as the pivot, offers the best hope for win–win partnership benefiting all members of SAARC. All encompassing connectivity, it is believed, will unleash the forces of development and prosperity and create a vested interested in it. Intra-regional trade, though important, cannot be the sole propellant of growth; trade is not the only cause of regional cooperation but rather its consequence. A much broader approach is needed for success to be achieved and to optimise opportunities in a globalised era. This essay endeavours to outline such an approach.