Challenges of South Asian Regional Integrity and Way Forward

Introduction

Regional integration means the agreements among the countries in the same geographic region to reduce and finally remove tariff, para-tariff and nontariff barriers to the free flow of goods, services and factors of production among the countries. South Asian countries, being considered as the promising economies in the twenty first century are not evolving with same shape and indicators. The region is evolving with a blend of inter and intra country differences. 

South Asia at a Glance

Half of the world's population lives in South Asia. South Asia refers to the Indian subcontinent and its adjoining areas to the south of the Asian continent. It is bounded on the west by West Asia or the Middle East, on the north by Central Asia, and on the east by East Asia and Southeast Asia. It is bounded on the north by Himalayas, on the south by Indian Ocean, and on the east and west by tributaries. 1.75 billion people live in this region. South Asia has the highest mountains in the world and the world's oldest civilization has emerged here. This region is the origin of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. South Asia region consists of eight countries; Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Srilanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldeves and Afghanistan.

Geopolitics

Geopolitics or high politics in South Asia is a reality that needs to be properly recognized. This high politics is especially relevant in the relations between Pakistan and India. This has led to many wars and conflicts and has left them in an endless position in the arms race. On the other hand, although China is not a South Asian country, it has direct intervention in South Asian countries. The geopolitics of the region has been changing since China and India became stronger. At present, the politics of the region is of interest to world diplomatic analysts. Recently, relations with India and its neighbors have not been good. India has fallen into disrepair in South Asia, especially after China became stronger. India shares borders with Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Nepal. Apart from Bangladesh, India does not have good relations with any country. The geopolitics of South Asia has taken on a much more complex shape. South Asian geopolitics is also behind Pakistan's deteriorating relations with the United States over the past few years. The friendship between China and Pakistan is based on the India dispute. So the US is not able to break the Sino-Pakistani alliance even if it wants to and the Pakistan-US relations are getting worse day by day. At the same time, the US does not have confidence in Pakistan's counter-terrorism measures. On the other hand, India-US relations are growing day by day. Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka are emerging from Indian influence and building good relations with China. Nepal has always been a friend of India. But recently Nepal passed a new map of Nepal in their parliament which includes the disputed territory claimed by India as its own. India is now America's trump card in dealing with China's growing influence in Asia, especially in Pakistan, Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. America's South Asian policy was to side with Pakistan, but as America's relations with Pakistan deteriorated, America leaned towards India.

Challenges of South Asian Regional Integrity

Economic Perspective: Economic cooperation is essential for any integration. As such, the EU and ASEAN have been able to resolve many conflicts through their economic cooperation. Regional Economic Integration means free flow of goods, services, capital flows and also the movement of people. But South Asian economic cooperation among states is so much disappointing in this matter. The initiative for regional cooperation in South Asia began in 1975 with the formation of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation). Sapta was signed in 1993 with the aim of promoting internal trade and economic cooperation within the SAARC region, which came into force in 1995. Following this, the SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Area) Agreement was signed in 2008 to actively promote and facilitate regional trade among SAARC members. Nevertheless, South Asia is one of the least integrated regions in the world. Regional trade accounts for only 5 percent of the region's total foreign trade. There are many challenges for greater regional cooperation in South Asia. The presence of sensitive product lists, non-tariff barriers, lack of trade infrastructure and strained political relations between the countries are considered to be the main barriers to regional trade and cooperation in South Asia. In addition, foreign direct investment in South Asia is much lower than in other parts of the world, with India receiving the lion's share. In addition, other South Asian countries are still very conservative in regional cooperation. 

Lack of comparative advantage:  

South Asian countries trade little with each other but trade much with other nations of the world particularly with North America and Europe. The composition of each South Asian country’s exports to these regions is almost similar. Textile, readymade garments, leather, agricultural products constitute a chunk of the export items while petroleum and capital intensive goods are mostly imported. Consequently, trade between South Asian countries is likely to be more competitive rather than complementary. All the countries are rich is labor but strapped for cash. No one country has a significant comparative advantage over the other for specific items. India’s economic prevalence and comparative advantage in a wide range of products has resulted in asymmetric trade relations with her neighbors.

Conflict Among States: 

Today, on the brink of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, South Asia has not emerged from the vicious circle of war. India-Pakistan relations, important countries in South Asia, have repeatedly turned into an invisible vicious circle. There is tension between the two countries over terrorism, the share of river water, the conflict on the border. Most of the time, any regional initiative fails because of the conflict between the two countries. Nepal's parliament has passed a bill to amend the constitution to adopt a new map of the country, which includes three regions of India, Limpiyadhura, Lipulek and Kalapani. The bitterness between India and Nepal is growing day by day. That bitterness doesn't seem to go away easily. India’s long-standing policy of bilateralism to resolve disputes within South Asian states and insistence on non-involvement of a third party or the UN is not conducive to peaceful settlement of outstanding bilateral disputes. The policy may suit India but not other states.

Big Power Factor: 

The most important countries in South Asia are India and Pakistan. There are also Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh. The US and China continue to try to keep these countries, and especially Pakistan and India, in their sphere of influence. Asia's geopolitical landscape is changing due to significant economic changes in China over the past few decades. China has now challenged the US leadership to build a regional political order or foundation to create a new equation as a major power. China, a large neighbor, is a direct and indirect factor in every tension in South Asia. China has had a great influence on the countries of the region, which is why the countries of the region are now divided into two blocs..China or India but it seems china remains at safe and favorable area where even Bangladesh, known as India's friends, is also leaning towards China slowly. The more mistrust is born between the countries, the more China will benefit.

The new police academy in Kathmandu is a visible proof of the growing Chinese presence in Nepal, The construction cost 350 million, all of which was donated by China. India's hopes that China's influence will diminish with the end of the monarchy's authoritarian rule in Sri Lanka cannot be said to have been fulfilled; Control of the Sri Lankan port of Hambantota has now passed into the hands of China. It is undeniable that China's power is strong in terms of economy therefore, India's treatment of its neighbors and India's role in the internal politics of those countries need to be taken into consideration. The way India is accustomed to treating its neighbors does not reassure its neighbors.

Steps Should be Taken for increasing regional integration

There are multiple steps sould be taken for South Asian countries to make efforts to increase integration. Benefits of integration vary depending on the stage in development and political position of each country. Following steps are given below…

Effective Leadership and Acceptance of Leadership:

The most crucial challenge is integration in South Asia is the massive trust deficit. Since the most powerful state is the region is India, India has been unable to build enough confidence among its neighbor states in its promise to non-interference, to solve bilateral matters and to provide generous hearted leadership. For these reasons, neighbor countries faith on India's leadership role is too less. So, as leading country in this region, India has to be more open with its neighbor states. To create integration task, the leading nations need to be enough motivated. Inadequate leadership has been taken yo be major reason for the failure of regional integration as well as it doesn't help regional organization to work properly. The great example that affected SAARC for insufficient financial commitment by India. 

Rising Above Political Differences

Mutual mistrust or suspicion are common issue in almost all regional affairs and so in South Asia. In both ASEAN & EU, their long standing political differences were kept aside and their efforts towards regional integration were made and this led them to peace and sustainability in the region. So, South Asian countries must have to realize it that untill they come under one umbrella by forgetting political differences, regional stability and progress will not happen anytime soon.

Institutional Support

South Asian integration action needs to be backed by an meaningful institutional set up. This will help the process by closer connections between regional centers. Lack of political will of the countries, the SAARC Secretariat less adequate funds to provide the type of support they needed.

 Economic Integration is Essential

 Most probably economic Integration is the only option for resolving, preserved intrastate tensions in South Asia. We know the bitter experience of Europe during 18th, 19th to early 20th where the aim of zero-sum foreign policies and Military competition led to utter destruction of this continent but after world war-2, they woke up, worked together on regional integration by prioritize economic field. Now we can see the EU's position at world stage. South Asian countries do not enjoy free flow of goods and services, they face Tariff & non-tariff barriers which are main barriers for a strong economic Integration. All countries in this region need to realize that if they want a stable region, they must work on it. Here SAARC could play the main role in negotiating with its member countries.

Conclusion

South Asian regional integration is facing many challenges. Though regional integration in South Asia has adopted a kind of institutionalization, it is yet to deliver any concrete results. High-politics and the not-so-conducive regional economic structures hinder any effectual culmination. Without compromise regional integration isn’t possible and a strong institutional support like EU, is much needed for it. SAARC could play that role but it needs pro-active initiatives from all nations of South Asia, specially India can play leading role in this context.

By: Kaniz Fatima Kanon

MSS, International Relations 

Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh. 

Bibliography

Haidari, M. A. (2019, November 6). Securing South Asia Through Regional Economic Integration. The diplomat.

রিয়াজ, আ. (২০১৮, ফেব্রুয়ারী ২৮). ভারতের 'দক্ষিণ এশিয়া সমস্যা. Retrieved from প্রথম আলো: https://www.prothomalo.com/