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CO-OPERATION AMONG SOUTH ASIAN NATIONS

Developments and Changes Foster New Climate

by Prof. Kabir Chowdhury and Dr. Selim Jahan
***In the decade of the 90s, we are witnessing strong winds of change sweeping through the entire world. The dramatic changes embrace political, social and economic fields The winds of change are generally exerting a positive influence but not in every case and everywhere
J- N the decade of the 90s. we are witnesting strong . winds of change sweeping rough the entire world The dramatic changes embrace po lit teal. social and economic fields The winds of change are generally exerting a positive Influence but not In every case and everywhere
Spectacular developments tn the field of science and technology and major changes in the political philosophy and structure in many parts of the world have produced a new climate conducive to the foe tering of positive social values that stress peace, stability and development However, the picture Is not one of roses all the way For one thing, we no Uce tn some places the rise of narrow aggressive nationalism, growth of commo rial and fun damentalist thinking and a tendency to use religion for Ignoble political purposes For another, we see that while mutual dependence among dif ferent economic systems Is appreciably increasing, the disparity between the devel oped and the undeveloped world is hardly decreasing.
Today many feel that the developed world Is trying to extend Its sphere of Influence and power by means of techno logical imperialism while the undeveloped and developing nations are trying to take a united stand tn order to break through that suffocating and crippling net. Already the newly industrialised countries like South Korea. Taiwan. Hong Kong and Singapore are viewed as threats to the developed western world, while countries like Thailand. Malaysia and Indonesia arc try ing to pursue the path taken by thetr neighbours. There is, however, another side to coin. In the drought ravaged parts of Africa, thousands of people are dally dying. In many parts of Asia. Africa and Latin America millions are tiling a sub human existence and many healthy social and national environ ments are being systematically undermined in the name of economic development
When w examine the post tion of the South Asian countries in the above world context, we see a mixed picture. The disharmonious situation prevailing tn many parts of the world 1s clearly reflected In the countries of South Asia. Almost each country of this re glun suffers from a certain lack of political stability Various political problems with thetr neighbours plague many of them The traditional enmity between India and Pakistan has lessened but not been eliminated Bangladesh has problems with India over the sharing of walers with Pakistan over receiving its legitimate share of assets and over the return of the non Bengali population who had opted for Pakistan at the end of the Liberation War
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Nepal and India have prob terns over trade and commerce which are In the process of settlement. The unauthorised entry of large numbers of Nepalese Into the southern region of Bhutan Is causing some problems to the latter country. In spile of a peace treaty being signed between India and Sri Lanka the rcla tionship between the two countries cannot yet be termed as particularly cordial When some time back a con tingent of hired mercenaries sailed from Sri lanka and in vaded the Maldives and made an abortive bld to occupy the Island, the relationship between the two countries greatly deteriorated and the atmosphere of distrust then generated has not yet cleared If the countries are taken sep aralely, one finds many dis turhlng tilings there loo. India Is bedeviled by problems in Kashmir. Assam and the Punjab: it has serious problems over terroristic activities and the resurgence of fundamentalism and communal feelings. In Pakistan, too. there are problems of inter sectarian differences and also devious political monouverings In Sri Lanka there Is the resistant quarrel between the famll and the Sinhalese in addition to the wave of killings and destruction perpetuated by the Tamil liberation fighters In Bangladesh, after the collapse of a long dictatorial regime that bled the country while, a healthy democratic process Is trying to get a foot hold While all this Is going on. we also notice a number of disbursing things as well
From the social angle, we find that In many countries of South Asia the traditional val ues of the East of liberal hu manism. tolerance, harmonious co-existence of peoples of diverse religions and of intellectual freedom are being corroded Sharp polarizations are taking place In the social structures, the young are being Increasingly drawn to the un savory aspects of the affluent acestern civilization, drug ad dietfon has become a major problem; violent unrests on the campuses have become a routine affair
In the economic arena we see that all the South Aslan countries are not on the same level nor do they pursue a uni form path or policy of economic development Pakistan and Bangladesh believe in the economy of open market, free enterprise, unbridled competl tlon and capitalist development Srl Lanka s economic philosophy emphasizes Its commitment of fulfilling the minimum basic human needs India by and large, pursued till recently, an Inward looking welfare oriented economic policy directed towards attaining economic self sufficiency, but some time ago. the new government of India Indicated a shift favouring a more open economic policy, more in time with the path of capitalist growth and development It is clear that India has already become an economic power demanding and getting respectful treatment The growth rate of Pakistan is also fairly remarkable But In comparison Bangladesh Nepal. Bhutan and the Maldives have long way to Ifo
Rich Traditions
All the countries of South Asia share in very rich traditions which come from the same sources The same roots There was clear homogeneity in their social, cultural and economic life. In course of time yielding to the logic of circumstances and historical realities they drifted apart New nation states were born, different economic approaches were followed socio-cultural activities took different routes Yet there still runs an underlying thread of unity arhich external powers often try to weaken and disrupt in order to further their own Interests We must, on our part, try to strengthen these bonds of unity for it is In the collective Interest of us all
In the social sphere the seif sufficient rural society was at the heart of their social struc tures There was a relationship of inter dependence between the villages and the cities and not of exploitation. In the economic sphere too there was close cooperation and Interac tlon through trade and commerce among the countries of this region Agriculture and vll lage based cottage Industries were the mainspring of all their economic activities From very ancient times trade and commerce Involving rloth. crops, spices and various handicrafts went on among lire countries of this region enriching the economy of all concerned.
Politically we all know that the Indian subcontinent was once a unified geo-political entity. As a result of various historical processes that uni fled entity no longer exists. Now India. Pakistan Bangladesh Nepal and Bhutan exist as separate and Indepen dent nation slates Nevertheless we are bound to each other by geography and history and while pursuing our separate paths of progress and development, we must not for get our Identical roots The divisive trends and narrow aggressive nationalistic activities must not be encouraged In particular, we must not make the mistake of making religion the kingpin of our nationalism. It should always be remembered that we are really made of many peoples, speaking various languages, following different religions and yet our strength lies tn our feelings of unity based on democratic values on our belief tn the efficacy of friendship and cooperation, and on the unavoidable need for peace and economic well-being.
Colonies
For hundreds of years the countries of South Asia existed only as a colony for various foreign powers During that period the former served both as a rich stone house of raw materials and as a market for the finished products. The colonial masters for thetr own administrative purposes created here a class of middlemen whose main task was to safeguard the Interest of thetr for etgn masters and to obtain the benefits of the Intermediary for themselves
The seed of distrust and ri valry among the countries of thia subcontinent largely lay In the manner of Its partition In 1947 and the philosophy un derlylng that action. Taking advantage of the atmosphere of distrust and rivalry the Imperl allstlc powers started to exploit this region for their own political purposes
For US Imperialism and Its colleagues. the Importance of South Asia Is mainly centered around India and the Indian ocean When In the 5Os India. Egypt. Yogoslavla and Indonesia took the Initiative to start the non aligned movement. the US super power did not like It. Later, when India began to build up ctoaer cooperation with USSR that. too. displeased the US The US s concern was on two counts Firstly, as a result of India * rote the region might go under the sphere of influence of USSR, and secondly India herself might become a kind of regional super power This concern ted to the presence of UN nuctearship and military set up in this area and the plans to set up Pakistan as a counter power against India. During the 5Os when military alliances like SEATO and CENTO came into existence here. Pakistan was the only country of this region to join them The US went on giving large scale military aid to Pakistan justifying its action by maintaining that It was necessary for preserving the balance of power tn the subcontinent.
The presence of nuclear war heads In the Indian ocean and the establishment of permanent US military base In Diogo Garcia Island are perms nent threats to the peace and security of this region.
One may also recall In this context that as a result of tm periallstlc machinations war broke out between India and Pakistan In the forties and the sixties. Later In 1971. India was again attacked by Pakistan, the latter receiving encouragement from the open support given by the US and China to the military Junta of Pakistan during the Liberation War of the Bengalees. However, after the emergence of Bangladesh as a sovereign and Independent nation, the presence of India as a sort of regional power was Indirectly recognized by the US But to wards the end of the 70s as a result of the happenings in Afghanistan the presence of the US 1n the Indian ocean zone again become an Impor tanl Issue for the US ad mln Is tratlon as It wanted to main tain uninterrupted oil supplm to Its alites In East Asia, and also check probable Intrusion of USSR In the oil rich countries of West Asia Even after the withdrawal of the Soviet army from Afghanistan the anxiety and fears of the US tn this regard has not completely x unished
(To be concluded tomorrow)