19. "Increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in India and growing interference in the internal affairs of several member-states by Pakistan are not conducive for the future of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation)." Explain with suitable examples.(CSE Mains 2016)GS-II 2016

19. "Increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in India and growing interference in the internal affairs of several member-states by Pakistan are not conducive for the future of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation)." Explain with suitable examples.

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SAARC is a regional Geo political union of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It promotes regional integration by enhancing connectivity, trade, and mutual interaction.

Recently Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, along with India pulled out of the 19th SAARC Summit that was scheduled to be held in Islamabad, Pakistan. The announcement came in the backdrop of Uri attack which claimed the life of 18 soldiers.

India cited the increasing cross-border terrorist attacks and going interference in internal affairs buy one country as the reason for its pull out from the Summit.

Bhutan, the strongest ally of India also pulled out of the Summit stating that the atmosphere was not congenial for such a meeting. Bhutan also condemned the Uri attack.

Afghanistan had cited the inability of which President to attend the Summit because of increased terrorism in the country. It has stated that the commander in chief needs to be available in the nation at this moment of crisis. Pakistan has provided if sanctuaries to Taliban and  Haqqani network which carry out terrorist attacks across the durand line.

Bangladesh also pointed out the increasing interference of one country in its domestic affairs .Bangladesh has been witnessing internal challenges emanating from its war crime trials. Pakistan has made comments about the trials and sentencing of Jamaat leaders. The losses and pain suffered during the 1971 Liberation struggle are still sensitive topics in the Bangladesh.

Pakistan news terrorism as a tool that gives it strategic depth.Pakistan had failed to bring to Justice perpetrators of terror attacks (26/11 ,Pathankot air Base attack,etc ) despite evidences been produced by India. Hafiz Saeed, Mohammed Azhar are allowed to operate freely and propagate their radical vision.

US financial investments and International pressure has not been able to convince Pakistan to check its territory being used for terrorism. The deep entrenchment of military(Rawalpindi) and intelligence(ISI) in the state apparatus has informed policy making. Some commentators have called Rawalpindi as the real power centre in Pakistan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his invitation to SAARC leaders for his swearing in ceremony in 2014 unveiled his neighborhood first policy. However this has not been able to progress because of the intransigence of Pakistan. Pakistan along with China has tried to contain India's hegemonic status in the subcontinent.

India recently projected its vision of SAARC minus Pakistan as the way forward. India has pushed for the motor vehicle agreement as part of BBIN (Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal). Pakistan also stayed away from the SAARC satellite launch by India.

India still remains committed to its vision of regional integration under SAARC.India has also focused its attention on other regional network such as  BBIN , BIMSTEC,ASEAN,etc to compensate for the SAARC vacuum. Even South Asian free trade agreement(SAFTA) after a decade of launch has seen little progress. A change in Pakistan's attitude is necessary for achieving real integration in the region.