SEPTEMBER 24
Forging Cooperation in South Asia
Problems and Prospects
South Asia is that part of the globe which is situated south of the Himalayas. There are seven independent countries in this region—India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan. If you look at the map you will realize they are seven sisters of the same geographical entity.
Had there been an atmosphere of cooperation among these countries, they would have become a very strong group of nations. The benefit of this unity would certainly have been shared by each unit of this entity. However, an atmosphere of rivalry on one score or another has unfortunately become a permanent feature of this region. It is these very countries which pursue the developed countries of Europe and America to seek their help and cooperation, but are hardly willing to cooperate amongst themselves. This is the most important problem of this part of the world. That is why each part is paying a heavy price of one kind or the other.
Mutual cooperation would benefit all. For instance, Pakistan has natural gas which India is in need of, while India has coal which Pakistan is in need of. But neither is able to benefit from the other’s resources. Similarly, Bangladesh is in need of Ganga water, while India requires a road or railway link passing through Bangladesh in order to join West Bengal to the eastern part of the country, but due to their inability to reach an agreement both suffer consequently.
As a permanent solution to this problem one suggestion comes to mind. It may appear a utopian suggestion, but no other solution appears to be in sight. That is, to form a confederation of all the seven South Asian states which are economically and geographically interdependent.
To realize this most beneficial suggestion, India would have to play the role of a partner instead of a big brother, while the other states would have to avoid minor differences for the sake of a greater cause.
If this system of confederation were to be established in South Asia, a new spirit would immediately be awakened in this region, which as a geographical entity, would come to assume great importance on the world map. Without losing anything, each of its parts would share the strength of the others, hence emerging strong and indomitable.
