SAARC Revival: India flags security concerns
Staff reporter :
India has cautioned Bangladesh on the issue of terrorism in the context of reviving the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
The matter of SAARC was raised by Bangladesh during a recent meeting between External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar and Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain in Muscat.
This was confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday.
Addressing the weekly media briefing, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “Yes, the matter was raised by the Bangladesh side in the external affairs meeting.
Everyone in South Asia is aware of which country and what activities are responsible for stalling SAARC. The EAM conveyed that it is important for Bangladesh not to normalise terrorism.”
Since the terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, in September 2016, SAARC summits have lost momentum.
Blaming Pakistan for the attack, India had asserted that terrorism and dialogue cannot go hand in hand.
Recently, however, the revival of SAARC has become a priority for Bangladesh’s Interim Government, headed by Professor Muhammad Yunus, who has been discussing the matter in various forums with member states.
Dr Yunus views SAARC as a crucial platform for overcoming regional challenges and fostering mutual cooperation and benefits.
He had even expressed a desire to take a photograph with all SAARC member heads during the UN General Assembly in September last year, but this has yet to materialise.
While SAARC discussions are gaining momentum, India continues to focus on terrorism-related concerns rather than addressing the issue through collective dialogue and cooperation within the forum.
In response to a query regarding certain remarks by advisers of Bangladesh’s Interim Government, which were reportedly aggressive towards India, Jaiswal said, “Yes, we have obviously taken note of such remarks, which are, of course, not helpful.
It is for the concerned individuals to reflect on the implications for their particular domain.”
When questioned about allegations of atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh, which the Directorate General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has denied, Jaiswal reaffirmed India’s concerns.
“We are all aware of what has happened in the last several months.
There have been issues regarding the security and safety of minorities in Bangladesh.
In fact, this was a matter discussed during the Prime Minister’s visit to Washington, and we continue to relay our concerns regarding developments in Bangladesh.”
India’s remarks come amid ongoing diplomatic tensions and regional challenges, with SAARC’s future remaining uncertain due to geopolitical disputes.