Bilateral ties need to improve too

OPINION/ Pranab Mukherjee

We talk of connectivity all the time. How will we achieve it?

Pranab Mukherjee: First of all, we have to recognise the need for it and I am now satisfied that all member countries recognise the need for building up connectivity. Connectivity does not merely include physical connectivity but also connectivity by expanding knowledge, trade, experiences and sharing perceptions.

Bandula Jayasekara, Daily News, Sri Lanka: We have a lot of ceremonial talk in Saarc, but in terms of implementation, nothing much happens. Is this due to lack of political commitment?

Mukherjee: I don't say it is due to lack of political commitment but we could not, or rather, we have not been able to pursue certain issues that we have decided to do.

Ejaz Haider, Friday Times, Pakistan: Even if you try and keep bilateral issues away from the Saarc forum, it casts its shadow over Saarc. How do you suggest that shadow can be removed?

Mukherjee: If bilateral issues overshadow the collective decisions taken during the Saarc summit, we have to improve bilateral relations also.

Narayan Wagle, Kantipur Daily, Nepal: What difference can the observers make to this conference, according to you?

Mukherjee: This is the first time we are having observers and one full new member. Afghanistan is the full member, the eighth member of the Saarc family and three other observers are from Asia. China, Japan and South Korea all have very high growth. The other two are the European Union and the US. From the connectivity point of view, through Afghanistan, Saarc countries can have a link to Central Asia. Through already existing relations and links via India and Bangladesh, (Saarc countries can have a link) with Myanmar, which is part of Asean. So, we will have physical contact with Asean, a powerful bloc, and we also have access to Central Asia and West Asia. But apart from that physical contact, culturally, we do feel that Afghanistan is a part of the subcontinent. So its membership as the eighth member of Saarc is justified.

Rinzig Wangchuk, Kuensel, Bhutan: India is a major global player. How will it help Saarc move forward?

Mukherjee: India will play its own role as a large country within the Saarc family. What we do believe, and we have articulated this on earlier occasions also, is that it is not necessary that we should emphasise reciprocity.

Ejaz Haider, Friday Times, Pakistan: My understanding is that Pakistan is not willing to give overland transit facility to India. Is there any advancement on that?

Mukherjee: We will discuss it, find out if there is any difficulty and remove it. After all, we have to proceed on the basis of discussions and planning.

Narayan Wagle, Kantipur Daily, Nepal: Is India interested in helping countries in the neighbourhood?

Mukherjee: Perhaps you can change your friends but you cannot change your neighbours. Therefore, it is desirable that we have a peaceful and stable neighbourhood. We would like to have stability in the region.

(Excerpts from the transcript of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's conversation with editors from Saarc countries on March 29, 2007)

Farida Nekzad, Pajwhok Afghan News Agency, Afghanistan: Will there be further expansion of Saarc? Will China join?

Mukherjee: China is an observer, as I had mentioned. Japan and South Korea are observers apart from the European Union, but membership of Afghanistan was considered directly because of the geographical proximity and continuity and also because of cultural and civilizational links with many Saarc countries.

(Excerpts from the transcript of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's conversation with editors from Saarc countries on March 29, 2007)