PM Modi urges Saarc members to join forces
NEWDELHI:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday suggested the Saarc grouping should frame a strategy to counter coronavirus (Covid-19), a rare outreach involving Pakistan that drew a positive response from the six other members of the bloc.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) has been moribund since a summit scheduled to be held in Pakistan in 2016 was called off after a terror attack on an army camp at Uri in Kashmir. Since then, India has expended more diplomatic capital in shoring up alternative groupings such as Bay of Bengal
Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec).
Modi caused a flutter in diplomatic circles by suggesting that Saarc could work jointly to counter Covid-19, and even calling for a discussion through video conferencing by the leadership of the eight member states.
“I would like to propose that the leadership of SAARC nations chalk out a strong strategy to fight coronavirus. We could discuss, via video conferencing, ways to keep our citizens healthy. Together, we can set an example to the world, and contribute to a healthier planet,” he tweeted. A person familiar with developments said the message from India was that regional countries could set aside differences and set an example by working on a global challenge.
Pakistan’s health minister Zafar Mirza told a briefing in Islamabad that Modi’s proposal wasn’t discussed at the National Security Committee meeting chaired on Friday by Prime Minister Imran Khan and attended by the military leadership.
The proposal was welcomed by the leaders of other Saarc states. It is understood the Indian side could go ahead with the move because of the support from a majority of members. Bhutan was the first Saarc state to endorse the move, with Prime Minister Lotay Tshering tweeting: “This is what we call leadership... we must come together in such times...”
Afghan president Ashraf Ghani’s spokesperson Sediq Sediqqi tweeted his government “strongly welcomes” the proposal. Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih thanked Modi “for taking the initiative on this important endeavour”. He added, “Maldives welcomes this proposal.” Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli tweeted: “My government is ready to work closely with SAARC Member States to protect our citizens.”
Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa tweeted his country “is ready to join the discussion & share our learnings & best practices and to learn from other #SAARC members. Let’s unite in solidarity during these trying times and keep our citizens safe.”
Bangladesh minister of state for foreign affairs Mohammad Shahriar Alam tweeted that PM Sheikh Hasina looked forward to a constructive dialogue.