India-SAARC: News and Analysis

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 07 Mar 2015 20:29

India's emerging foreign policy for its neighborhood is to give primacy to SAARC. This is seen in PM Modi's invitation to all SAARC countries to attend his inaugural, and his sending the new Foreign Secretary on a SAARC yatra.

So far, Pakistan has acted as a spoiler for SAARC, but SAARC can proceed without Pakistan. SAARC will be the umbrella for joint economic development. Subgroupings in SAARC will work also in conjunction with subgroupings in ASEAN.

The India-SAARC topic in BRF is one more sign that India's obsession with Pakistan is a thing of the past.

Please post all multi-lateral news items and analysis (i.e., affecting more than two SAARC countries) on this thread.

Here is an inaugural news-item from Bangladesh:
http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/b ... 2018-68124

The significance of the below is that the river water disputes that held up development of hydropower in India's east and northeast are now yielding to cooperative agreements where all the riparian countries enjoy the benefits of development. This can be contrasted very favorably, for example, with India-Pakistan situation on the westward flowing Himalayan rivers of the Indus basin.

Besides, the government is trying to import electricity under the Saarc Framework Agreement from Energy Cooperation (Electricity) and Bimstec Trans-Power Exchange and Development project.

The cabinet will soon ratify the Saarc electricity deal to pave the way for electricity exchanges among the Saarc countries by setting up common grid, using which excess power in one region can easily be used to meet deficit elsewhere.

Sources said New Delhi has made a move to facilitate integrated power grid for Saarc member states to begin cross-border trading on the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX).

The move will initially enable short-term buying and selling of power with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan as these countries already have grid connectivity with India.

The IEX has sought consent from the Indian government for cross-border trading of 120MW with Bhutan and 50MW each with Bangladesh and Nepal.

A sub-regional strategic alliance of Nepal, India and Bangladesh have decided to jointly exploit their hydropower sector and use water resources management for mutual advantage, including jointly developing and financing projects in the Ganges river basin.

Similarly, Bhutan, India and Bangladesh have agreed to work in the Brahmaputra basin under a framework named Bhutan, India and Bangladesh (BIB) Initiative.

According to foreign ministry officials, Bimstec member states -- Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand -- are expected to ink a Memorandum of Understanding on Trans-power Exchange.

Dhaka will host the taskforce meeting on March 16 on the Bimstec Trans-power Exchange to sign the MoU, which will enable the member states to share their surplus electricity with each other through their national grids.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 08 Mar 2015 00:13

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/m ... 962219.ece
Modi hopes to counter China influence with SAARC tour

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will offer island nations in the Indian Ocean a broad range of military and civilian assistance next week in a bid to wrest back some of the influence China has gained by spending billions of dollars in the region.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 08 Mar 2015 02:33

Indian Express Editorial on SAARC.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/editori ... 696339.ece

Don’t Let Pakistan Block India’s SAARC Initiatives

Resuming talks after a hiatus of seven months, India and Pakistan on Tuesday discussed each other’s “concerns and interests” with foreign secretary S Jaishankar raising the issue of terror, including the Mumbai attack, during a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart. Jaishankar, who arrived in Islamabad as part of his “SAARC yatra” after visiting Bhutan and Bangladesh, will be visiting Afghanistan on Wednesday to round off the first leg. While in Pakistan he also called on the prime minister’s adviser on foreign affairs and national security, Sartaz Aziz, and his special assistant Tariq Fatemi.

Though bilateral issues did come up during Tuesday’s talks, New Delhi does not seem too inclined to project Indian foreign secretary’s Pakistan visit as a radical shift in the NDA government’s Pakistan policy. There was no talk about the resumption of the disrupted composite dialogue process between the two countries nor was there any hint that a time frame for this had been worked out. After talks with his Pakistan counterparts, Jaishankar was at pains to emphasise that the focus of his discussion was prime minister Narendra Modi’s ideas and initiatives to take SAARC forward. Pakistan will be the next SAARC chair and India would like to work with Pakistan to help SAARC achieve its potential, he said.

The tone and tenor of Pakistan leaders gives a clear indication that not much has changed in their approach since India stopped the composite dialogue process, and New Delhi should not be in a rush to normalise relations without tangible evidence that its concerns were being seriously addressed. The primary objective of Jaishankar’s SAARC yatra is to find out which countries are for and which are against Modi’s SAARC development vision enunciated in his speech in Kathmandu three months ago. New Delhi must let Pakistan know that its age-old policy of stonewalling connectivity efforts within SAARC will no longer be allowed to succeed.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 08 Mar 2015 02:39

PM Modi's SAARC vision - the full text of his speech at the Kathmandu Summit, November 2014.
http://www.narendramodi.in/text-of-prim ... -in-nepal/

There is a new awakening in South Asia; a new recognition of inter-linked destinies; and, a new belief in shared opportunities.

The bonds will flow.

Through SAARC or outside it.

Among us all or some of us.

Video:

Analysis: 11 most important things PM Modi said:
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/modi ... 03770.html

1. The future I wish for India is the same future I wish for the entire region.

2. Today, as we remember the horror of the terror attack in Mumbai in 2008, we feel the endless pain of lost lives. Let us work together to fulfill the pledge we have taken to combat terrorism and transnational crimes.

3. Nowhere in the world are collective efforts more urgent than in South Asia; and, nowhere else is it so modest.

4. How much have we done in SAARC to turn our natural wealth into shared prosperity or our borders into bridgeheads to a shared future?"

5. South Asia is slowly coming together. India and Bangladesh have deepened their links through rail, road, power and transit. India and Nepal have started a new era of cooperation in energy and, India and Bhutan are making those ties stronger by the day. With Sri Lanka we have transformed trade through a Free Trade Agreement. We will soon launch a new arrangement to meet Maldives' need for oil.

6. Infrastructure my greatest priority in India.

7. Let's expand ease of doing business to entire region. Let's all make our procedures simple, our facilities better, our standards common and our paper work less burdensome. We must shrink the distance between our producers and consumers and use the most direct routes of trade.

8. India will now give business visa for 3-5 years for SAARC countries. India has huge trade surplus with SAARC countries. I believe that this is neither right nor sustainable.

9. I also believe that if we can light up each other's towns and villages, we can build a brighter tomorrow for our region. We should also think with ambition to use solar energy and micro grids to quickly provide clean power to villages across the region.

10. India is prepared to connect our South Asian students through online course and e-libraries. India's gift of a satellite for the SAARC region will benefit us.

11.There is a new awakening in South Asia, a new recognition of inter-linked destinies and a new belief in shared opportunities."

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 09 Mar 2015 21:33

Via Bloomberg: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... dkari-says

(Bloomberg) -- India’s national road-building agency may undertake projects abroad for the first time in Afghanistan and Nepal, Road Minister Nitin Gadkari said.

The Afghan and Nepali governments have approached India about having the National Highways Authority of India build roads in their countries, Gadkari said in New Delhi today. India is considering the requests, he said.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 09 Mar 2015 21:37

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article- ... ernational

"Indian PM Modi will ‘certainly’ visit Pakistan for SAARC Summit: Sartaj Aziz"

Islamabad – Prime Minister Narendra Modi will “certainly” visit Pakistan next year to attend the SAARC Summit, Pakistan's Premier Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz has said.

“Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will certainly visit Pakistan next year,” Aziz told reporters after attending a two-day conference at the 6th Think Tank Forum of Islamic Countries here yesterday.

Pakistan will host the SAARC summit in 2016 and leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) — which comprises of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka — would be invited.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 09 Mar 2015 21:45

http://www.niticentral.com/2015/03/09/i ... 06029.html

In Seychelles, Modi will inaugurate the first of the eight Coastal Surveillance Radar (CSR) system India is setting up there.

In Mauritius, Modi will also attend a programme to mark the commissioning of MCGS Barracuda, an offshore patrol vessel which India exported for use of that country's National Coast Guard.

India has already set up eight CSRs in Mauritius in 2012. India is also assisting Mauritius in the hydro-graphic survey of her ports, islands and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The same help is also being extended to Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Seychelles.

India has also set up six AIS-capable radars in Sri Lanka.

Another country that India is planning to set up CSRs is the Maldives, defence sources said adding that an MoU for 10 such systems is yet to be signed.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 09 Mar 2015 21:48

http://www.ekantipur.com/2015/03/09/bus ... 02588.html

KATHMANDU, MAR 09 - Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Saarc-CCI) has announced it is coming up with a number of initiatives to enhance regional trade and investment in the South Asian region in line with promises made in the 18th Saarc Summit.

Among the plans are forming a CEOs’ forum, South Asian Investment Caucus, measures to address transit and trade issues in South Asian and sub-regional level, private sector engagement under Saarc Framework Agreement on Energy, and public private discourse on regional issues.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 15 Mar 2015 03:34

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/World/20 ... in-prison/
U.S., India concerned over 13-year jail sentence for Maldives' ex-president Nasheed

MALE/COLOMBO (Reuters) - The United States, India and rights groups said on Saturday they were troubled by the trial of former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison after being found guilty of terrorism for ordering the arrest of a judge.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 19 Mar 2015 05:33

Not sure where to put this, so putting it here.
A point-of-view on the Maldives, note where it is published.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=37699

Rather than taking sides with the imprisoned former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed or with the current President Abdulla Yameen, the people of the Maldives and the peoples of entire southern South Asia should carefully understand the larger anti-people designs of New Delhi, Washington and Beijing, and vigilantly act in unison against the larger security threat that is being caused by the powers to the peoples of the region, commented Tamil activists for alternative politics. Nasheed, who is often highlighted in the Western and Indian media as the first democratically elected president of the archipelago, was also the first in involving the country in genocide in the neighbourhood, the activists cited.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 25 Mar 2015 16:35

https://in.newshub.org/rbi-signs-400-mn ... 38834.html

RBI on Wednesday signed a USD 400 million currency swap agreement with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka for three years that will allow the island nation to draw the amount in dollars or euros in multiple tranches.

"The Central Bank of Sri Lanka can make drawals of US Dollar or Euro in multiple tranches up to a maximum of USD 400 million or its equivalent," RBI said in a statement.

The agreement, which will be valid for three years, is expected to further economic co-operation between the two countries, it added.

The arrangement will also further financial stability in the region, RBI said.

The swap arrangement is intended to provide a backstop line of funding for the SAARC member countries to meet any balance of payments and liquidity crises till long-term arrangements are made.

In May 2012, Reserve Bank of India had announced in the SAARCFINANCE Governor's meeting, held in Nepal, that it would offer swap facilities aggregating USD 2 billion, both in foreign currency and rupee to SAARC member countries.

The facility is available to all South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member countries. Besides India, other members of SAARC are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 25 Mar 2015 20:54

http://bharatpress.com/2015/03/25/india ... -in-april/

Kathmandu, March 25 (IANS) Indian Foreign Secretary J. Jaishankar is scheduled to arrive in Nepal on April 2 on a 3-day visit as a part of his SAARC yatra.
....
This is the second part of Jaishankar’s visit to SAARC member nations. He visited Bhutan on March 1, Pakistan on March 3 and Afghanistan on March 4.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 26 Mar 2015 01:16

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ ... ran-kumar/

In a clear reference to the growing demand for Chinese space services in India’s neighbourhood, ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar has said that the proposal to launch the SAARC satellite was a direct result of “other players” offering their services to countries in the region.

In an interview to The Indian Express, Kiran Kumar said there were commercial as well as strategic reasons behind launching the SAARC satellite. “But more than these, in this region you also have a large number of other players trying to come in and get into operations,” he said, without naming China.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 26 Mar 2015 16:02

In the process, China was grabbing the geosynchronous slots and building another string of pearls up there.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 29 Mar 2015 20:01

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/new ... 045653.ece

Ahmedabad, Mar 29:

Eyeing a sustainable rural livelihood through traditional skills and cultural diversity, experts, grass-root workers and artisans from South-Asian nations discuss cross-culture collaboration to boost self-reliance.

At the first South-Asian Festival, titled the SASSIAN Journey, which began on Saturday in New Delhi, leaders from different social background congregated to explore ways of sustainable rural livelihood by using traditional skills and exchange of knowledge among South Asian community.

At the 4-day event, representatives from the 9 South Asian countries- India, Pakistan, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Burma, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan focused on issues of livelihood, rural innovations, employment and regional collaboration.

"This is a good initiative to sensitize people about the traditional knowledge, which is slowly fading away. This is more sustainable than the current economic model, which revolves around the urban economy," said Ela Bhatt, founder of Self-Employed Women's Association of India (SEWA).

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 29 Mar 2015 20:28

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/ ... 735438.ece

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's exhortation to get a SAARC satellite project on the road, seems to have galvanised the ISRO. According to the Chairman A S Kiran Kumar, the configuration of the SAARC satellite will be finalised soon and the satellite itself could be up in orbit in 18 months.

The SAARC satellite project is a vaguely veiled attempt by India to engage the interest of its neighbouring countries in making use of the capabilities of ISRO, even as several of them, including Pakistan and Sri Lanka have used China's space organisation to launch communication satellites.

"There are talks going on and the final configuration of the satellite is set to be finalised soon. Within 18 months, the satellite is set to be launched," said Kumar.

If successfully completed, the SAARC satellite project should help ISRO begin making inroads into a region that has largely ignored it, even as many in the developed world have begun soliciting its services. It was in this backdrop that PM Modi had suggested that ISRO come up with a SAARC satellite. “Today I ask you, the space community, to take up the challenge of developing a SAARC satellite that we can dedicate to our neighbourhood as a gift from India,” he had said in June last year.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 02 Apr 2015 17:59

http://www.menafn.com/1094149080/India- ... alue-Chain

(MENAFN - KNN India) Promoting regional integration in South Asia is a must for countries in the bloc to become part of the global value chain, Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit has said.

"Politics often trumps economics in the region," Basit said hinting at the turbulent relations between India and Pakistan. To get out of it we need to be more realistic, he added.

The Pakistan High Commissioner was speaking at an interactive session organised by industry body Assocham on Monday.

To promote SAARC agenda, it is important to create level playing fields and interdependencies, he said.

A few bilateral development agencies are also actively promoting Intra-SAARC trade. Under the aegis of SAARC Tarde Promotion Network based in Nepal, GIZ- the German development agency, is supporting interventions in SAARC value chains.

FISME the leading federation of micro, small and medium enterprises of India has initiated a project to develop the intra SAARC value chain of two important regional products, Fruit Juices and Textiles. Under the project, Juice producers of the SAARC region will be linked to the Indian market and textiles suppliers from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be supported to link with the value chain for Readymade Garments of Bangladesh.

Commenting on the project, Dr D Gandhikumar, President, FISME, mentioned that such initiatives will force open the trade barriers within the two large nations of the region, India and Pakistan and help in developing the regional value chains as a major player in the global value chain.(KNN/DB)

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 02 Apr 2015 18:08

http://www.newkerala.com/news/2015/fullnews-39579.html

Cultural troupes of eight SAARC nations participated in a four-day-long fair aimed at empowering artisans and performers. The South Asian Festival titled the 'SASIAN Journey' was held in Delhi.
The fair was organized by the Heritage Foundation and Self Employed Women's Organisation (SEWA), in collaboration with prominent NGOs of the region in engagement with the Smithsonian Institution, USA.

The festival aimed at connecting artisans with the South Asian countries to generate fund for skill development and regional integration.

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 02 Apr 2015 18:51

"Bloomberg) -- India’s national road-building agency may undertake projects abroad for the first time in Afghanistan and Nepal, Road Minister Nitin Gadkari said.

The Afghan and Nepali governments have approached India about having the National Highways Authority of India build roads in their countries, Gadkari said in New Delhi today. India is considering the requests, he said."

Indian concerns have definitely built roads in these countries, we know that there is major road leading to the Iranian border, which India built, at great cost to the people, mostly Afghans, who constructed it. Any idea what the current status of this road is?

It seems it is the first time an Indian public sector company is being approached for building a road in Afghanistan.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 02 Apr 2015 19:57

A_Gupta thanks for the thread....

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 05 Apr 2015 05:48

^^ You're welcome!

--
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/150405/sports ... 43418.html

For the first time in the annals of Sepaktakraw in Sri Lanka three foreign teams are expected to participate at this year’s Sepaktakraw Championship to be held on May 2 and 3 at the Indoor Sports Complex of St. Joseph’s College Colombo.

Sepaktakraw is a game played with a rattan ball on the size of a badminton court displaying acrobatic skills without the use of hands. It is extremely popular in countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar and Germany and is now catching up in the United States.

The events to be held in Colombo are the Doubles Event and the Regu Event for men and women. India and Pakistan are expected to participate in both men and women’s categories while Nepal will field only a men’s team. They will compete with 15 local men’s teams and their women’s teams will face off with six local women’s teams.

The participation of foreign teams will no doubt give a big boost to the local teams of facing tougher and stronger opposition than what they would face locally.

The Secretary General of the South Asian Sepaktakraw Federation Yogendra Singh Dahiya of India had first made the request to the President of the Amateur Sepaktakraw Association of Sri Lanka T. Nizam Hajireen, who is also the Deputy President South Asian Sepaktakraw Federation to include the SARCC member countries India, Pakistan and Nepal in the Sri Lankan championships to gauge the success of such a move, as a fore-runner to have the game included as an event at the next SARCC Games to be held in November this year in India.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 05 Apr 2015 05:54

http://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.co ... n/46803759

NEW DELHI: The commerce department is working on a five-year plan towards regional integration, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts of building close ties with South Asian countries.

The plan is to focus on sectors relevant to the region, such as textiles, leather, tourism, auto components, chemicals and health care, the government said in its foreign trade policy statement released by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman this week. It will aim to identify specific value chains that run through different countries, besides stepping up infrastructure development along the borders. The South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation includes eight nations: India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal.

The commerce department has laid down an eight-point strategy to engage with the Saarc members. Besides intensifying efforts at infrastructure development, India will also promote multimodal connectivity, including inland waterways, towards the vision of a seamless South Asia. "It is commendable that India is creating a vision for the region and integrating it into the national plan. While 60-80% of exports for these countries is just textiles, auto components is where India could be the driver," said Nisha Taneja, professor, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations.

"We should be investing in these countries and import products back. Sri Lanka has a very good rubber or tyre industry, which can be harnessed into the global value chain." The eight-member region has a South Asia Free Trade Agreement (Safta) in place since 2006. It required the developing countries in South Asia (India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) to bring their customs duties down to 20% in the first phase ended in 2007 and to zero by 2016.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 06 Apr 2015 16:26

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 813753.cms

NEW DELHI: India will host the fifth meeting of SAARC health ministers next week to deliberate on key issues including HIV/AIDS, prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases and to strengthen collaborations amongst the nations.

"The meeting will deliberate on a road map for strengthening collaboration among SAARC countries on a number of issues and challenges faced by them.

"Some of the prominent health issues to be discussed include prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases, disease surveillance network, health infrastructure, human resources for health, immunisation for vaccine preventable diseases, HIV/AIDS, mental health and others," an official statement said.
...
...
Firozuddin Feroz, Public Health Minister, Afghanistan, Zahid Maleque, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Bangladesh, Lyonpo Tandin Wangchuk, Minister of Health, Bhutan, Ahmed Zuhoor, Health Minister, Maldives, Khaga Raj Adhikari, Health and Population Minister, Nepal, Saira Afzal Tarar, Federal Minister of State for National Health Services, Pakistan and Rajitha Senaratne, Health Minister Sri Lanka will participate in the meeting, the statement said.

...
...
The meeting also signals India's commitment to promote health cooperation in a more effective manner through the SAARC platform in keeping with the new policy of the Government to promote cooperation among the neighbouring countries, the statement added.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 08 Apr 2015 15:59

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 849869.cms

NEW DELHI: India extended its assistance to SAARC nations on Wednesday, in making the region polio-free and said that it will share its best practices to help the countries achieve this goal.

Chairing the fifth meeting of health ministers of SAARC nations, Health Minister J P Nadda stressed on the need for this group of nations to work together in promoting public health, prevent disease and making coverage of healthcare universal.

"Have resolved to make the region polio-free. India ready to extend all assistance. SAARC region to work together to promote public health, prevent disease, universalise health coverage," Nadda said according to the Health Ministry's posts on microblogging site Twitter.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 19 Apr 2015 03:41

Editorial:
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2015/04/19/89305

An agreement on the movement of motor vehicles between four SAARC nations is expected to be signed in next June. It will be a sub-regional deal involving Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal, to be finalised in Thimpu, the Bhutanese capital. The upcoming arrangement has been termed complementary. As a cross-border road connection arrangement, it is going to be compatible with the proposed and broader SAARC Motor Vehicles Agreement. Observers predict the 4-nation motor vehicles agreement will see remarkable economic and tourism prospects for the SAARC sub-region. Worth mentioning, the Agreement for the Regulation of Passenger and Cargo Vehicular Traffic involving the 8-member SAARC is set to be finalised in late June in Kathmandu, the Nepalese capital. Had not it hit snags, the 4-nation sub-regional motor vehicles agreement would have been finalised at the 18th SAARC summit at the Nepalese capital last year. Pakistan reportedly disagreed with some points in the draft agreement. It has not joined the deal.

With two complementary vehicle movement agreements put to full operation, the SAARC countries are expected to be benefited in many ways. These will cover sectors ranging from economy to travel and tourism, apart from expediting people-to-people contact. This will, undoubtedly, be a fillip to the concept of connectivity and openness. The areas of integration and inclusiveness are also going to receive a boost with the two agreements put to work. Facilitating freer movement of vehicles with minimum restrictive barriers may also be interpreted as a regional-level contribution to the 'global village'.

Coming to the 4-nation sub-regional vehicles deal, it will be open to other SAARC countries as well. Primarily, it is regarded as an instrument for enhancing cross-border trade. The new deal throws ample focus on cargo-carriers. But at the same time, it keeps the provision for allowing smooth entry as well as exit of private motor transports from one country to another country. Thus vehicles passing through a neighbouring country to reach yet another may one day become a common sight in the area.

It is mainly due to their geographical proximity that the four countries pin much hope on the sub-regional motor vehicles agreement. As the arrangement earmarks designated routes, the cross-border vehicular movement will see remarkable cuts in cost and time. The issue of hassle-free customs clearance and other types of checking at borders should also be considered with utmost importance.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 21 Apr 2015 16:43

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/ ... 775201.ece

VISAKHAPATNAM: “Over the last two decades most of the SAARC members experienced relatively rapid GDP growth but this is not always translated into significant improvements in food security,” opined Venkatesh B Atreya, advisor on food security to MS Swaminathan Foundation, Chennai. Atreya delivered a guest lecture on ‘The Challenge of Food and Nutrition Security in SAARC Region’, conducted by the SAARC Centre of Andhra University. He spoke on the three dimensions of food security - availability, accessibility and absorption.

Venkatesh said that over the last decade, the per capita availability of foodgrains in India had been declining significantly. He also mentioned that India’s record in terms of nutritional outcomes was poor, adding: “The last countrywide survey showed that nearly half of the children in India aged below 10 are underweight.”

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 21 Apr 2015 16:50

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/islamabad/ ... onvocation

ISLAMABAD: Indian High Commissioner Dr TCA Raghavan called on Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman, Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Monday to discuss South Asian University (SAU) activities.

The high commissioner invited the HEC chairman to attend the first-ever convocation of SAU going to be held on June 7. The South Asian University is an international university established in New Delhi by the eight member nations of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) viz. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. SAU started its operations from the academic year 2010. The University now offers postgraduate and doctoral programmes in various disciplines that include Development Economics, Computer Science, Biotechnology, Mathematics, Sociology, International Relations and Law. It will ultimately have 11 postgraduate faculties and a faculty of undergraduate studies. SAU attracts students from all the member nations and its degrees are recognised by all the eight SAARC countries.

Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed discussed issues pertaining to higher education sector and visa policy of SAU students. Direct exchange of information between universities and research centres of both countries was also discussed as well as promotion of academic cooperation between universities in SAARC countries. The Chairman HEC informed the High Commissioner that Pakistan has ratified the Agreement for establishment of South Asian University.[/quote]

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 23 Apr 2015 02:07

In 1996, we were visiting Kanyakumari and saw some lorries with Bangladesh motifs. Asked the driver what was it all about. He said they were prepared for when SAARC opens up the lorry permits to Bangla Desh.

Looks like finally after ~20 years its getting there.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 27 Apr 2015 10:58

Disaster monitoring system for Saarc soon - ToI

India is taking a leadership role in implementing an agreement signed by all South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) states on rapid response to natural disasters -- visible in the humanitarian and technical assistance India extended to Nepal immediately after an earthquake struck the Himalayan nation on Saturday.

India is helping in setting up a Saarc monitoring system that involves developing tools for early warning system and risk mitigation in member states. An agreement has been signed by all Saarc states - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and India.

Early warning system will include information sharing on cyclones, floods, tsunami etc. India is committed to provide technical assistance to all member states, besides manpower and financial support. New Delhi had also ratified a UN protocol in Sendai, Japan, recently which commits the Asian giant towards extending financial and technical assistance to smaller countries in the region.

"New Delhi was signatory to an agreement in Jakarta this January to develop a standard operating procedure for the region," Santosh Kumar, director of Saarc Disaster Management Centre and executive director of the National Institute of Disaster Management, said.

The initiative will include setting up a regional monitoring system, assessment and early warning systems and standby arrangements for disaster relief, the kind India has deployed in Nepal.

The Jakarta meeting was to bring together the stakeholders of Saarc's member states for having a time-bound roadmap for implementation of the Saarc agreement on rapid response to natural disasters in the region.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 30 Apr 2015 18:23

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 105811.cms

Modi said that he suggested to Sharif that "SAARC nations should conduct regular joint exercises on disaster relief and rescue".

"SAARC nations can come together and hold annual exercises of rescue teams, doctors etc on how we can minimise damage during natural disasters," he added.

Sharif appreciated the idea and "told me that we should take up such an initiative".

K Mehta · Post by **K Mehta** » 01 May 2015 21:47

With the agreement below, India would have an agreement for motor vehicle with 4 Saarc nations
This is circumventing the paki obstruction. The other 2 countries are Srilanka and Maldives.

India and Afghanistan) will sign the motor vehicles agreement within three month

Is there a timeline on these? Because similarly, the motor vehicles agreement will need access through Pakistan…

Not on the APTTA, but yes, we (India and Afghanistan) will sign the motor vehicles agreement within three months.

PS shastaang pranam to A Gupta Ji for this thread and other look east policy threads.

Time for making BRF primers for the countries.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 02 May 2015 13:45

Post Nepal Eartquake, there is a need for setting up of SAARC Regional Disaster Management Centre. This is important as most of the disasters span more than one SAARC countries. Take for example Tsunami: Srilanka and India was affected requiring massive efforts. Earthquake: India and Nepal are affected in current crisis. There will be huge exodus of Nepalis to India post earthquake in search of better living and work opportunities. Floods affect Bangladesh Pakistan and India and are often occur in these countries together. Cyclones affect Bangladesh and India , many times together or within same season. All these needs monitoring, mounting of rescue and relief efforts and agencies are often found wanting. inadequate capabilities, training, fore warning, lack of critical data needed in disaster planning and lack of coordination among agencies and countries involved make the task difficult. Resources are often inadequate. For example Nepal needs something in order of tents for 4 lakh internally displaced people. They have got about 30000 tents . There is huge shortage or inability to mobilise quickly required number of tents. Similarly medicines, food supply water etc. Lack of heavy machinery, rescue equipments make task difficult. Regional centre can keep database, provide training and build up capacity to handle disaster. And it will require financial resources which can be pooled.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 04 May 2015 15:55

^^^ K Mehta, thank PM Modiji for showing the light.
----

chaanakya:

http://thediplomat.com/2015/05/does-saa ... ssistance/

Last week, speaking just days after the earthquake struck Nepal, Modi suggested that SAARC states increase their cooperation in the areas of humanitarian assistance, search-and-rescue, and disaster relief, by conducting regular exercises. “SAARC Nations can come together and hold annual exercises of rescue teams, doctors etc on how we can minimise damage during natural disasters,” Modi tweeted after reportedly speaking to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Historically, one of the primary inhibitors to SAARC’s maturation as an institution has been the long-standing enmity and rivalry between its two largest member states: India and Pakistan.” PM Nawaz Sharif appreciated India’s efforts in the rescue operations in Nepal. I thank him for his kind words,” Modi added, suggesting that Pakistan was on board for the proposal.

Of course, Modi’s ideas remain far from being implemented. Apart from a few tweets, there is little concrete reason to credibly expect SAARC states to begin multilateral exercises to better coordinate a regional response to future natural disasters and crises. In December 2004, after the major Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami disaster, the region failed to coalesce multilaterally, through SAARC or otherwise. At the time, though individual SAARC member states dispatched their militaries and announced aid packages to assist with disaster relief efforts, there was little regional coordination.

In the wake of Nepal’s earthquake and the experience of states like India and Pakistan in responding, it is likely that humanitarian assistance and disaster relief cooperation will feature more prominently on the agenda of the next SAARC summit. It is also encouraging that the Indian prime minister envisages a more active role for SAARC within the region. Without Indian interest and leadership, the institution faces the prospect of languishing in a state of irrelevance.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 04 May 2015 16:13

Considering the scope of this news-item, I thought it appropriate to put it on the SAARC thread.
http://indianexpress.com/article/world/ ... vijit-roy/

Asim Umar, the Indian-born head of al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, has claimed responsibility for a string of attacks that killed several secular writers and intellectuals in Bangladesh and Pakistan, including Avijit Roy who was hacked to death on a Dhaka street in February.

“Like the companions of the Prophet who defended him with their lives,” Umar said in a statement that was released online over the weekend, “the mujahideen of al-Qaeda have despatched to hell many who blasphemed against God, and insulted the Prophet.”

In addition to Roy, Umar named slain Bangladeshi intellectual Ahmad Rajib Haidar and Rajshahi University scholar AKM Shaiful Islam as victims of al-Qaeda hit squads. His statement also claimed the killing of Karachi University Islamic Studies scholar Shakeel Auj, assassinated last year while on his way to a meeting with Iranian diplomats. Auj had been condemned by Islamist clerics in Karachi for is purportedly blasphemous views.

The statement also mentioned an Urdu blogger Aneeka Naz as a victim. Naz, an academic, was reported killed in a 2012 car traffic accident, in which her husband was injured. Naz is not known to have held contentious political views.

“From Waziristan to Charlie Hebdo, this war is one,” Umar said, “whether it is waged upon us with drones or with Charlie Hebdo’s pen, with the International Monetary Fund or World Bank’s policies, or with the satanic conspiracy of Kerry-Lugar bill, which sought to humiliate the believers, or whether it is waged with the hate-filled words of Narendra Modi, which call for Muslims to be burned live.”

https://in.news.yahoo.com/al-qaeda-indi ... 26102.html

NEW DELHI: For the first time, terror organization Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) has directly mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a video message released by its publicity wing As-Sahab.

AQIS chief Maulana Asim Umar, who is said to be an Indian, in a video titled 'From France to Bangladesh: The Dust Will Never Settle Down', has referred to Narendra Modi in relation to what he claims to be is a war against Muslims.

Umar talked about attack on Muslims "through World Bank and IMF policies, drone attacks, Charlie Hebdo's writings, UN charter, official sermons by muftis and Narendra Modi’s utterances which call for Muslims to be burnt alive."

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 04 May 2015 16:41

^ The reference to Kerry-Lugar bill by AQIS and claiming it to have 'humiliated the Believers' is a dead giveaway that AQIS and the Pakistani Army have coalesced.

A_Gupta, can you please cross post this in the Pakistani thread for the above reason ?

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 23 May 2015 18:47

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-new ... 50187.aspx
"India to go ahead with South Asia road link plan without Pakistan"

With Pakistan remaining noncommittal about a motor vehicles agreement connecting Saarc countries, India is firming up a slew of sub-regional and bilateral pacts on road connectivity.

India is likely to skip the Saarc regional transport officials meet to be held soon on account of it being unsure of Pakistan’s plan regarding the proposal connecting South Asian countries, sources told HT.

For long, the India-Pakistan tussle has come in the way of regional integration of the 8-member Saarc grouping, with Islamabad scuttling three connectivity-related agreements — an electricity grid, rail and road connectivity agreements — in last year’s summit in Nepal.

Saarc remains one of the least integrated groupings in the world, with intra-regional trade in goods accounting for just 5% of the total trade, compared with the 26% among ASEAN countries.

Sources said India cannot afford to wait until Pakistan decides to come on board. “Pakistan may join the connectivity plans when it feels like. That shouldn’t stop India’s plan on connectivity,” said a government official.

India is set to sign a multilateral agreement to roll-out the BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal) corridor in Thimpu on June 15.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 26 May 2015 20:47

"India, three neighbours to ink road pact to boost trade
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal are set to sign an agreement next month to connect their countries by road and boost trade and economic activity "

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/ljFyne ... trade.html

New Delhi: Four South Asian neighbours—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal —are set to sign an agreement next month to connect their countries by road and boost trade and economic activity.

A notable exclusion is Pakistan, which has refused to sign a similar pact with other South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) members.

The bloc comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who traded goods and services worth $20 billion in 2013-14 among themselves, a 12.36% rise over the previous year.

Transport ministers of the four so-called BBIN countries are expected to finalise and sign the motor vehicles agreement at Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, on 15 June to facilitate the seamless movement of vehicles within the region, three Indian government officials said.

The BBIN pact was proposed at the Saarc summit held in Kathmandu in November.

The summit was to witness three key pacts being inked—the Saarc Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation, the Saarc Motor Vehicles Agreement and the Saarc Regional Railways Agreement. However, only one agreement—the regional electricity pact—was signed after Pakistan blocked the other two.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 04 Jun 2015 00:07

"South Asian University owes its genesis to Dhaka summit, says Sushma Swaraj"
http://bdnews24.com/neighbours/2015/06/ ... hma-swaraj

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday laid the foundation of the South Asian University campus in New Delhi, saying it owes its genesis to India’s initiative at the 13th SAARC Summit in Dhaka.

“It gives me great pleasure to be associated with this auspicious and memorable event in the history of the South Asian University.

“Whether it is an individual or an institution, owning your own house is always a proud moment.

“So it is today. I am happy that the South Asian University will have its permanent abode on this land very soon,” said Swaraj.

The university is currently functioning from the Akbar Bhawan Campus in Chanakyapuri before it eventually moves in to its 100-acre campus in Maidan Garhi, South Delhi.

And, with the foundation laying ceremony over, the construction of the university campus will start soon.

The establishment of the university is one of the most visible signs of transformation of SAARC from declaration to implementation. Incidentally, it is also the first international university in India.

India will bear 100 percent of the capital cost of US$ 198 million towards the establishment of the institution.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 05 Jun 2015 20:59

"Call for China’s inclusion in SAARC"
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat ... tle=125954

From Shamindra Ferdinando in Islamabad

An international conference jointly organised by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) and Hanns Seidal Foundation (HSF) of Germany was told yesterday that the dormant South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) needed China as a full member without further delay.

IPRI President Ambassador Sohail Amin and Chief Guest on the opening-day of the two-day conference declared that China had the wherewithal to transform the SAARC into a vibrant organisation.

Typical Paki logic - by virtue of which US, EU, etc., should also be members of SAARC.

Ambassador Amin said that China had the strength to change the destiny of South Asia. "Therefore, in order to get benefits of globalization and to achieve the objectives of SAARC, South Asian countries need to grant China full membership of SAARC. China has envisioned several win-win co-operation projects for the region such as China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and BCIM (Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Forum for Regional Cooperation) that could unleash benefits for all SAARC countries."

The conference was told that Dr. Patricia Oberoi, Vice Chairperson of the Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi and Dr. Subha Chandran, Director at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi indicated their inability to participate at the 11th hour.

I hope the absence of Oberoi and Chandran was deliberate.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 15 Jun 2015 16:18

http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2015/06/ ... -agreement

Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) have signed a regional motor vehicle agreement, paving the way of free movement of both people and goods among the four SAARC member countries.

BBIN motor vehicle pact set to roll

2015-06-14 20:53:27.0

The signing on Monday at the Bhutanese capital Thimphu contrasts the SAARC’s collective failure to ink such a deal in last year’s Nov summit, blamed mainly on Pakistan’s reservations.

Transport ministers of the four countries signed the agreement, Chargé d'affaires of Bangladesh embassy in Bhutan Md Anisur Rahman told bdnews24.com.

With the signing of the agreement, sub-regional connectivity will receive a boost.

The agreement has three components—movements of individual vehicle, passenger vehicles and cargo.

It is expected that after the signing Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay will flag off a vehicle that will run on the Thimphu- Bhutan-Gowahati-Shillong-Sylhet-Benapole-Kolkata route.

Bangladesh’s Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader before leaving for Bhutan said it would take few months to prepare the protocols before the pact could be implemented.

He hoped it would begin early next year on a limited scale.