Pakistan blames India for SAARC failure

Pakistan stands for boosting cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organisations in maintaining world peace and security, a top Pakistani diplomat has said, while also stressing that no state should be allowed to dominate regional organisations.

“We must strive for a collective vision that benefits all,” Ambassador Munir Akram told the UN Security Council which held a debate on Friday under the chairmanship of Russia, the 15-nation body’s president for the month of July.

In this regard, the Pakistani envoy underscored that the particular national interests of member states do not hinder regional integration.

“The quest for regional hegemony by one large state has undermined the potential of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC),” the Pakistani said in an obvious reference to India.

Established in 1985, SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) comprises: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.But India has all along been an obstacle in promoting regional cooperation through SAARC, a body established to bring prosperity to the peoples of South Asian region. In his remarks, Ambassador Akram said, “Regional integration represents the next phase of institutional development in international relations — particularly in the realms of trade and industry.

He therefore recognized the crucial role of three bodies — the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) — in fostering economic growth and cooperation across borders, as well as in combating terrorism and drug-trafficking.

Highlighting SCO’s “immense promise and potential”, the Pakistani envoy said that with some of the world’s largest emerging economies as its members, this organization is poised to advance integrated regional cooperation, especially by enhancing trade and investment opportunities.

“This was evident at the recent SCO plus Summit meeting in Astana, in which Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif participated actively,” Ambassador Akram said.

In addition, he said that CSTO can enhance connectivity between the East and West, fostering a more secure region.

Ambassador Akram also said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a flagship project, noting that Pakistan will expand this effort — including to Afghanistan, to reaalize its full potential for investment.

Pakistan, he said, also believes that other regional organizations such as the African Union (AU), the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), and ASEAN should also work towards expanding global integration. APP