India’s Efforts to Boost Regional Cooperation Amid SAARC Challenges
India is keen on enhancing regional cooperation, but one country’s actions are hindering the progress of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), according to Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs. During a media briefing, Jaiswal emphasized India’s commitment to regional connectivity and cooperation, highlighting the importance of platforms like BIMSTEC.
SAARC, an organization comprising eight South Asian countries, has faced challenges due to one member’s approach, which has stalled its progress. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has previously pointed out that India cannot participate in SAARC meetings as long as one member continues to engage in terrorism. He stressed that India will not tolerate a situation where terrorism occurs at night and trade happens during the day.
Jaishankar has consistently attributed the inactivity of SAARC to Pakistan’s actions, stating that the organization cannot function effectively when one member does not adhere to the basic requirements of good membership. He urged for recognition of the seriousness of these issues and the need to address them.
Doubts Revealed
SAARC -: SAARC stands for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. It is a group of countries in South Asia that work together to improve the region by cooperating on various issues like trade, health, and education.
BIMSTEC -: BIMSTEC stands for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. It is a group of countries around the Bay of Bengal that work together to improve economic and technical cooperation.
Ministry of External Affairs -: The Ministry of External Affairs is a part of the Indian government that handles India’s relationships with other countries. They work on things like diplomacy, international trade, and foreign policy.
Randhir Jaiswal -: Randhir Jaiswal is a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs in India. A spokesperson is someone who speaks on behalf of an organization or government to share information with the public.
S Jaishankar -: S Jaishankar is the External Affairs Minister of India. He is responsible for managing India’s foreign relations and representing India in international matters.
Regional connectivity -: Regional connectivity refers to the ways countries in a region are connected, such as through roads, railways, and communication networks. It helps countries work together more easily and improve trade and cooperation.
Terrorism -: Terrorism is when people use violence and fear to try to achieve their goals, often for political reasons. It is a serious issue that affects many countries around the world.
