Indo-Pak dilly-dallying holds Saarc hostage

Some called it a ‘tango’, some ‘cha-cha’, while others a ‘slow waltz’, but India and Pakistan’s dance moves did not amuse the other six members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc).

According to Pakistani media reports, Indo-Pak dilly-dallying has held the regional body hostage since its inception.

Quoting Yashwant Sinha, India’s former external affairs minister, Daily Times said on Monday Saarc was no longer a vibrant regional organisation.

“We would not go so far as saying that the experiment has failed, but we would concede that as is the norm with any Saarc event, the third Saarc interior ministers’ conference was overshadowed by the two nuclear powers’ bilateral talks.

It is a harsh reality that unless and until these two settle their disputes, Saarc would remain a rubber-stamp organisation.

It is time the two neighbours realised what a letdown they have become for the region. It is because of them that Saarc has not been able to tap its full potential,” the paper said.