Amid summit meet freeze, PM Modi hopes for SAARC strategy to fight Coronavirus

With the coronavirus pandemic reigning terror across the globe, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has attempted to use it as a chance to bridge the difference between SAARC countries by a humanitarian approach to collectively find ways to deal with it. In this article, senior journalist Smita Sharma says that even though several countries have come to appreciate PM Modi for his approach, it is yet to be seen if the strategy gains success in the long run.

New Delhi:As SAARC remains in a deep freeze, can the coronavirus pandemic provide an opportunity in crisis for the south asian regional grouping? The SAARC summit meeting which was scheduled to be hosted by Islamabad in 2016, saw a collective boycott led by India in the wake of the URI terror strikes. Since then while countries like Srilanka, Nepal and Maldives have sought a a resumption of the highest political level dialogue, India maintained that the atmosphere is not conducive for dialogue and Pakistan must crack down on terrorism emanating from its soil. But as India takes decisive steps to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Modi today brought focus back to SAARC hoping for a collective regional strategy to fight the global public health challenge.

"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," tweeted PM Modi today.

While no further steps have been taken as per the Ministry of External Affairs Sources yet to convene a video conferencing meet as proposed in the PM’s tweet, the idea though has been welcomed by regional leaders.

"Thank you PM @narendramodi for taking the initiative on this important endeavor. Covid 19 requires collective effort to defeat it. Maldives welcomes this proposal and would fully support such a regional effort," wrote Maldivian President Ibrahim Solih in response.

"Thank you for the great initiative Shri @narendramodi - #LKA 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," tweeted Srilankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

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Incidentally a Srilankan diplomat this year takes over as the SAARC general secretary but India has hardly shown any enthusiasm towards revival of the grouping in recent official talks with Colombo. PM Modi who stressed on the need for sub-regionalism moving forward during the Kathmandu SAARC summit in November 2014 has been more keenly pushing BIMSTEC as an alternate regional forum. The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation or BIMSTEC has seven members including Thailand and all SAARC members of Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Srilanka, Nepal and Bhutan except for Pakistan and Afghanistan.

While a response from Bangladesh and Afghanistan is yet awaited to Modi’s proposal, Nepal and Bhutan too welcomed it.

"I welcome the idea advanced by Prime Minister Modiji @narendramodi for chalking out a strong strategy by the leadership of the SAARC nations to fight Coronavirus. My government is ready to work closely with SAARC Member States to protect our citizens from this deadly disease," wrote Nepalese PM K P Sharma Oli.

"This is what we call leadership. As members of this region, we must come together in such times. Smaller economies are hit harder, so we must coordinate. With your leadership, I have no doubt we will see immediate and impactful outcome. Looking forward to the video conference," tweeted the Bhutanese Prime Minister.

"HPM Sheikh Hasina welcomes the proposal and look forward to a constructive dialogue with @narendramodi @ibusolih @PM_Nepal @PMBhutan @GotabayaR n others HOSs/HOGs who already consented to discuss way forward at this testing time for the region and the world,” wrote Md.Shahriar Alam, the Bangladeshi junior foreign minister on twitter.

The SAARC charter that works on consensus can allow for the next summit meet venue to be shifted only if Pakistan is willing to give up its right to host the next dialogue. PM Modi’s tweet stressing on the need for a collective response comes on a day when representatives of 130 plus countries and international organisations including 100 Heads of Mission today attended a joint briefing by officials from Ministry of External Affairs, Home and Family Welfare and Health on steps taken by the Indian government to combat Covid-19.

Welcoming Prime Minister Modi’s SAARC proposal, Samir Saran President of Observer Research Foundation tweeted, "Very significant ... a reach out to #SAARC .... solidarity, supply side constraints and experience sharing will be very useful. Also communities that abound across borders need approaches that are not limited by this distinction. #CoronaOutbreak."

It remains to be seen if differences of politics in SAARC can be bridged by a humanitarian approach to collectively find ways to deal with Corina Virus which has already claimed scores of lives across the globe.

Meanwhile, Pakistan also responded positively to Modi's proposal, saying it was ready to participate in the conference, acknowledging that coordinated efforts were needed to minimise the threat posed by the deadly coronavirus.

Pakistan has said it will participate in a video conference of SAARC member countries proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to combat the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic that has killed over 5,000 people globally.

"We have communicated that SAPM (Special Assistant to Pakistani Prime Minister) on Health (Zafar Mirza) will be available to participate in the video conference of SAARC member countries on the issue," Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said in a tweet on Friday.

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