It is simply because the member-countries could not even agree in holding summit meetings each year in certain countries because of political reasons. What does it demonstrate? It demonstrates that member-nations have different vision and approach to Saarc and do not consider Saarc as a serious regional collaborative forum. Saarc's weakness largely rests on the divergent attitude of member-states.

Why is Saarc limping?
In explaining the weakness of Saarc, it is appropriate to quote the following in part what former India's foreign secretary stated on February 14, 2005 in New Delhi at the India International Centre:

"The fact is that Saarc is still largely a consultative body, which has shied away from undertaking even a single collaborative project in 20 years of existence. In fact, there is deep resistance to doing anything that could be collaborative. On the other hand, some members of Saarc actively seek association with countries outside the region or with regional and international organizations, in a barely disguised effort to counterbalance India with the association or to project Saarc as some kind of a regional dispute settlement mechanism."

The above statement reveals some of the reasons why Saarc has been limping on its path to achieve its stated goal while Asean in South East Asia, is gaining strength to strength every year. Some of the core reasons for Saarc's inability to do anything collaborative in key areas include lack of trust and confidence among member-nations.

The on-going strained Indo-Pakistan relations have adverse impact on Saarc. Pakistan appears to be determined that unless the Kashmir dispute is resolved, no serious cooperation in economic or social areas is possible with India.

On the other hand, India's size within the Saarc countries is asymmetrical and gives the impression of India's dominance over other member-countries. There is a sense that India takes other smaller countries for granted and lacks consideration of their difficulties.

As India is an emerging a global power, its policies do not appear to inspire or instill confidence among member-countries because many of its policies are often targeted for its national interest outside the region.

New Delhi Summit -- Let there be a new beginning
Let the legacy of history affecting relations among member countries be put into back burner. Let not the political relations act as a barrier to economic cooperation. Despite their uneasy political relationship, if India and China, or China and Taiwan, or China and the US, can expand its economic relations in terms of trade, communication and investment, why are not the leaders of Saarc prepared to embark on a new course of action to revitalize Saarc?

It is good to note that on March 23 India's Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, ahead of the Saarc's summit, stated that his country desired to see its neighbours feel secure and confident that in New Delhi, "they have a well wisher."

The statement provides a friendly and reassuring environment to hold the summit in New Delhi. In addition, in recent years, the overall relationship among nations in South Asia has remained much more constructive than before.

The key element should be the understanding of the needs of neighbours, strengthening the ties among them, and making much more effort in consolidating a regional identity.

In Saarc countries, the number one issue is poverty alleviation of million of people. The central message for Saarc leaders is that development must be people-oriented. It calls for not only for better economic performance but also for action to spread the benefits of economic growth more widely among people.

Saarc countries must make greater use of collective resources to move forward, keeping pace with Asean countries. At the summit, many political observers suggest the leaders must consider and decide some concrete steps on the following priority matters:

• Regional food bank.
• South Asian energy grid.
• Transit facilities to third countries & enhanced communication facilities.
• Management and utilization of water resources of common rivers.
• Pooling of natural resources of all member-nations for joint or multi-national projects.

The summit must be a decisive one. It is of no use to discuss from A-Z issues concerning South Asia without any decision.

Saarc leaders must realize that cooperation is a goal oriented action wherein not only goal but also certain resources are shared together by member-nations. One needs to look at aggregate gains if concessions are exchanged across sectors, and not limited to one sector only. It is seldom perceived to have equal gains in cooperation in one sector.

The old mind-set of sharing national resources with other is often taken as a loss of sovereignty or against national interest. This perception has to be dismantled when the time demands a new form of cooperation, sacrifice and contribution from each of the member-nations.

New global trend
South Asia can not be immune to the global trend of economic cooperation. The new era is "global" and not "international." The word "international" regards the country as the basic building block of world affairs so that "international cooperation" means governments working together.

The new global era recognizes that the present world is borderless because of the easy mobility of capital, investment, and industries from one country to another. It is an age of internet and competition, speed, mobility and productivity are the hallmark of the 21st century.

The people of South Asia are industrious, creative and imaginative, and if their talents are pooled together, South Asia can inject a new dynamism in regional cooperation that will have meaningful impact across the world.

It is noted that during the days of economic globalization, it is necessary for Saarc leaders to ensure that Saarc may catch up speedily with the dynamism of Asean and China.

We hope our Saarc leaders may rise to the occasion and make a new endeavor of cooperation among the countries of South Asia so that poverty among more than 515 million people in the region can be put back into "a museum" and a relic of the past. Let us hope the Summit Declaration does not contain only "motherhood statements" but must contain concrete decisions.

Let this 14th summit in New Delhi usher a new era of hope for the 1.3 billion people of South Asia. Active cooperation among the member-nations will make a major contribution to peace, progress and stability in the region. Let the Saarc leaders not fail their people.

Barrister Harun ur Rashid is a former Bangladesh ambassador to the UN, Geneva.