SAARC: The formation of Gang of Three
N.P.Upadhyaya
The Indian establishment must have begun feeling the heat.
To the utter chagrin of the self proclaimed regional big-brother, India, perhaps have had not expected that the gang of three, e.g. Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh would conspire against her right being in New Delhi itself for the grand inclusion of Indias declared number one enemy, as was said by George Fernandes while he was the defense minister a couple of years back, in the Group of the SAARC regional body.
In effect, Nepal, Bangladesh and understandably Pakistan lobbied for the inclusion of China as a respected and honored member of the regional body concluding that Chinas entry into SAARC would mean much to them.
To recall, it is these countries who have time and again been subjected to Indian hegemony in the past under one pretext or the other.
Nepal is the number one victims of Indian hegemony, by all standards, say Kathmandu intellectuals.
However, how come Bangladesh, a country for whose birth itself have had Indias overt and covert support, too advocating Chinas inclusion in the SAARC? And for what reasons?
Perhaps Bangladesh too has begun feeling what India meant to it.
As for Pakistan, it is understandable and thus desirable that Pakistan as a sovereign country would want the inclusion of China solely to neutralize and minimize the Indian dictates as it stands today not only in the regional politics but also whose impact is visibly seen in the bilateral relations.
But then how come Nepals Prime Minister Koirala could collect this courage? How he could lobby in favor of China from just an observer to a full member of the regional body? This is mind boggling indeed.
Perhaps Koiralas days are over, analysts say. To recall, it was King Gyanendra whose personal contribution made during the SAARC Summit held in Dhaka last year in favor of granting an observer status to China that not only irritated India-the arch rival of China-but the entire Indian establishment came heavily down against the Nepal King to the extent that King Gyanendra now has been, in the words of Nepal PM Koirala stands as a mere public.
Be that as it may, the formation of the Gang of three in the SAARC paraphernalia is an indication that the smaller neighbors of India would very much appreciate if Chinas entry into the SAARC scheme as a full member materialized. This has ample political connotation. While this is good news for Indias small neighbors, for India itself this news is a bomb-shell-no less than that.
The meaning lay underneath.
Yet another political landmine for India: Nepals prime minister is shortly visiting Peoples Republic of China.
This news perhaps gives some more meaning to the formation of the Gang of three which is yet to take a formal shape. (April 6, 07)
Telegraph Nepal : SAARC: The formation of Gang of Three
))......... But apart from SAARC also Indians and BD should go for more trade as well as with more with SAARC nations. Each others investments into regions will only lower down the possiblity of war or equivalent situations with each others assets at stake. This can lay the very first brick for the peace in south Asia.
