An event organized by SAARC Secretariat on the occasion of the 39th SAARC Charter Day. (Photo: SAARC Secretariat)
Nepal, as the current SAARC chair, has pushed for revitalizing the regional cooperation body after a prolonged period of inactivity.
Nepal has proposed reviving the annual informal meetings of SAARC foreign ministers, traditionally held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, as a step towards revitalizing the regional bloc.
Senior Joint Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, who is also the spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that as SAARC chair country, Nepal proposed the meeting through the Nepal-based SAARC Secretariat.
"We, as the chair country, have proposed the meeting," Rai told Nepalkhabar, "We have proposed a minister-level meeting."
The meeting of the foreign ministers of SAARC member countries has been proposed on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly slated for upcoming September 26.
Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba on Tuesday discussed this issue in a meeting with SAARC General Secretary Md. Golam Sarwar. The meeting had decided to send a proposal for the ministerial level meeting of SAARC member nations.
The 19th SAARC Summit, scheduled for Pakistan in 2016, was canceled due to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. Nepal has being serving as the SAARC Chair since 2014.
Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba held a meeting with Md. Golam Sarwar on Tuesday. (Photo: SAARC Secretariat)
In the minister-level meeting convened on sidelines of the 74th UN General Assembly in 2019, the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan boycotted each other’s speeches. The virtual meeting was held next year. No meetings have taken place since then.
Afghanistan not invited
Established in 1985, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives are the founder member states. Afghanistan is the youngest SAARC member state. According to the officials at the Foreign Ministry, Afghanistan has not been invited. Taliban has been running the government in Afghanistan since August 15, 2021.
The international community has not recognized it so far. This is the reason why Afghanistan has not been invited.
“Afghanistan has not been invited,” the official said, “No government has given recognition to the Taliban government. That is why Afghanistan has not been invited.”
The UN has also not given recognition to the Taliban government.
Response from India and Pakistan awaited
India and Pakistan who appear as a stumbling bloc in the operation of the SAARC, have not responded to the proposal for resuming the minister-level meeting. The meeting is held only when all the member states agree to it, according to the SAARC provision.
Foreign Minister Rana is flying to India next week. She will discuss this issue in a meeting with her Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar.
Border tensions between India and Pakistan have led to animosity, resulting in the suspension of SAARC Summits and regular ministerial meetings.
Despite agreement from other member states, the SAARC Summit cannot proceed if either India or Pakistan is absent. However, Nepal is hopeful of the presence of both Pakistan and India in the summit.
“We are optimistic about their attendance,” Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Rai said, “But, it’s early to say what will happen.”
The SAARC Summit can be revitalized if discussions were held in the minister-level meeting. The agenda items are set for the SAARC Summit through the minister-level meetings.
