Integrating South Asia: Conflicts, security concerns hindering connectivity, says experts

Stress greater economic integration for regional uplift, prosperity.


News Desk December 17, 2014

Experts on Wednesday said that political disputes and security threats were hindering connectivity in South Asia.

Speaking at a ‘Workshop on Regional Connectivity’ organised by the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) in collaboration with German Foundation Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, analysts cautioned that future of projects like Silk Route, New Silk Route, CASA-1000 and TAPI depended on peace and stability in the region.

Attended by leading academics, analysts and thinkers, the workshop was held to discuss challenges to regional integration and explore ways for improving regional cooperation and intra- and inter-regional connectivity for greater economic integration for development and prosperity in South Asia.

The speakers emphasised that the deadlock in India-Pakistan ties and deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan were the major roadblocks in the way of integration.

Former foreign secretary ambassador (retired) Shamshad Ahmed said that converting country’s geo-strategic location into an asset instead of a liability should be the motivation for Pakistan’s active involvement in regional integration projects.

He said a legacy of mistrust, hatred and suspicion continues to afflict Pakistan-India ties.

“It was [the] leadership’s responsibility to mitigate that, but no attempt has been made,” he regretted and called for building an “edifice of peace” on the basis of cultural commonalities.

Economist Ashfaq Hassan Khan said that the future of New Silk Route (NSR), being pursued by the US, depended on stability in Afghanistan and the regional countries taking ownership of the project.

The Silk Route Economic Belt (SREB) project, he said, in comparison (to NSR) looked more viable because of support from China.

Speaking about the SREB, Fazlur Rehman, an analyst, said that China would continue to invest in the project despite the security challenge. “The Chinese thinking is that economic progress would address poverty and ultimately fundamentalism and extremism,” he said.

Rehman, however, said that security incidents could slow down the progress on SREB and economic corridor linking Gwadar to Kashgar.

Economic corridor, he noted, was much more than a road project and would promote industrialisation, job opportunities and investment in the country.

Quaid-i-Azam University Vice Chancellor Dr Eitezaz Ahmad said that political and economic implications of the SREB project needed to be studied.

Dr Riffat Hussain maintained that conflict resolution was central to regional connectivity in South Asia.

“Until border disputes are resolved and regimes for regulating borders are in place doubts and suspicions would remain,” he observed.

CISS Executive Director Ambassador (retired) Sarwar Naqvi concluded that Chinese commitment to the planned economic corridor coupled with determination and support of Pakistani government was cause for hope regarding the success of the project.

Analyst Simbal Khan said political disputes played a more pronounced role in hindering connectivity in South Asia than in any other region.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2014.

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