The 18th SAARC Summit held in Nepal concluded on November 27 with the release of the Kathmandu Declaration. Did the summit live up to its expectations? Was concrete progress made, and if so in which areas? Where is SAARC heading now? Gateway House asks and answers five questions on the outcome of the summit
Courtesy: pmindia.nic.in
The 18th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu next week is an opportunity for member countries to start shaking off the shackles of distrust. Instead, SAARC must robustly move forward on such issues as regional connectivity, SAFTA, climate change, and security—and India can be the prime mover in building this renewed cooperation
Courtesy: Wikimedia commons
The 18th SAARC Summit will cover a wide range of issues, including connectivity, climate change, and SAFTA. A number of similar issues were discussed at the last summit—what’s been the progress since then? Given its constraints, does the association have a future? Gateway House asks and answers five questions on SAARC
Courtesy: GoI
Although the Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh was discussed when Narendra Modi and Sheikh Hasina met on the sidelines of the UNGA, a timeline for ratification was not clarified. But both leaders have the numbers in their governments to move forward this critical agreement and must do so with urgency
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The Narendra Modi government has made the North East a developmental and foreign policy priority. Gateway House has conceived a robust regional economic plan called the “Seven Sisters’ Corridor” that can be the template for a new North East.
Courtesy: Kotakkalnet/Flickr
The South Asian region is one of the least integrated in terms of trade and human interaction. The presence of SAARC leaders at the swearing-in ceremony of the new government heralds a step towards removing barriers and integrating the economies of this region
Courtesy: narendramodi.in& independent.ie
By inviting SAARC heads to his swearing-in ceremony, India's new prime minister Narendra Modi has made a good start. However, he must now work to strengthen relations with our neighbours and the first step is to reach out to Bangladesh and its pro-India prime minister Sheikh Hasina
Courtesy: Press Information Bureau/Wikimedia Commons
What are the implications for India of the scaling down of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, the continuing tension with China at the border, and the political turmoil in Bangladesh? How should India address these and other upheavals in its neighbourhood, which are potential challenges to the country’s security?
Courtesy: Ministry of External Affairs
Following Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade’s expulsion, ties between India and the U.S. have hit a new low. This comes at a time when the two countries should be working closely to address the changing security matrix in Asia
Courtesy: Mostaque Chowdhury/Flickr
Come January, Bangladesh will elect its next prime minister. Although it has emerged as a significant player in the region, India and the U.S. are yet to develop a synergy in their policies towards this important nation – even as the deeper struggle for influence and resources in Asia continues
