India-Pakistan conflict prevented South Asian integration – CBK
The conflict between India and Pakistan has for long prevented integration between the South Asian countries, former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga said here on Tuesday.
Speaking at the inauguration of the three-day Raisina Dialogue, a global conclave on geo-politics and geo-economics here, Kumaratunga said that while cooperation and economic integration proceeded very fast in the rest of the world, economic integration in South Asia was very slow.
“The India-Pakistan conflict prevented regional integration,” she said.
However, she said things were likely to change now with the rise of the post-Partition generation.
“This generation has left behind the baggage of conflict,” Kumaratunga said.
Calling for a pragmatic action plan for regional integration, she said South Asia stood to gain from such an integration as the region has the largest number of poor people.
The former Sri Lankan president called for a paradigm shift from the old attitude of the South Asian countries towards each other.
“Mutual understanding and cooperation will strengthen democracy in the region,” she said.
“In the emerging regional environment, national security concerns should compel us to cooperate with each other.”
Reducing regional trading costs, moving beyond the differences between India and Pakistan, more travel by people between the South Asian countries and large investments in infrastructure were among the steps she suggested for regional integration.
Kumaratunga said that Sri Lanka could be a bridge for all South Asian nations as it has good relations with all of them.
She also called for developing of soft power through tourism and people-to-people contact.
With the theme of “Connecting Asia” this year, the flagship conference called Raisina Dialogue 2016, organised by the external affairs ministry and the Observer Research Foundation, is designed to explore and examine the prospects and opportunities for Asian integration as well as Asia’s integration with the larger world.
Over 450 participants from around 40 countries are participating in this year’s conference, IANS reports.
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Chandrika is the former President. How come she knows so much now. She made a mess of the country when she was in power. Her use by date is up so she needs to be put in a home for the aged and let her ponder on what she did not do when she had the chance. This is a classic example of greedy politicians who do not know when to let go.
It seems according to Madam Chandrika SL is still a sovereign nation due to India Pak war! Same line of thoughts some say Common Wealth countries (former colonies of GB) got independence owing to Second World War and they are thanking Hitler for that. It seems wars have byproducts.
Chandrikas statements are nothing more than platitudes. India ought to assert its leadership within itself before India could provide the leadership to South Asia. Since `independence’ India has been struggling to unify the billion odd population. The Ghandhi dynasty lasted for more than four decades during which time they failed to resolve any sectarian issues the Punjabi right to self determination was put down by force, the indo pakistani war is a perennial problem and so far the government has failed to come to terms with the naxalites. In addition the Indian economy with a population of more than a billion is weak to exert any influence and is hard pressed to meet the challenge of China or the USA.
Pakistan is no better position and is preoccupied with Kashmir!
CBK is talking about a shift in the paradigm. CBK ought to realise that any shift in policy would be determined by the politically. Modi if he is to stay in power then he ought to work hard to alleviate poverty failiure.
What is important is not the rhetoric but some action plan to trigger this abstract idea of regional integration
Modi will be gone, pretty soon.
India will become a hindu state under BJP and flourish in the international arena.