brahmdeep alune
The countries of South Asia need to understand that their need is not weapons, but the livelihood of crores of people. There is a need for a joint effort to keep the superpowers away from the region and to overcome the humanitarian crisis.
South Asia, one of the most vulnerable regions affected by hunger, malnutrition, unemployment, political instability and terrorism, has also been raising challenges to world peace. The largest and most densely populated geographic region is home to about two billion people, which is a quarter of the world’s population. The impact of any global economic crisis is the most on this region and the crisis of hunger deepens. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) had already warned that 100 million people in South Asia could face a bread crisis. Now this number has increased tremendously.
In the latest report of the Global Hunger Index, the condition of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka has been described as very poor. Climate change and the COVID pandemic have not only exacerbated the hunger crisis, but also exacerbated the problems of education, health and employment. India’s neighboring countries are facing political turmoil. Significantly, SAARC was established in 1985 for mutual cooperation among the countries of South Asia. The purpose of this organization was to achieve peace and progress in South Asia through mutual cooperation. But disputes between different countries dominated the organization and as a result, this regional organization with a large population of the world failed to solve the economic problems.
Actually, the economy of Sri Lanka, Nepal and Maldives is mainly based on tourism. The havoc of the COVID epidemic devastated the economy of these countries. Again, rising crude oil prices in the international market due to the Russo-Ukraine war have also wreaked havoc on inflation. How the shortage of foreign exchange can affect the economy of a country, it is clear from the situation in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. It is generally believed that a country’s foreign exchange reserves should be sufficient for at least seven months of imports.
But many countries of South Asia are on the verge of bankruptcy. With the amount of foreign exchange left with Nepal, only six months’ import bill can be filled. The government has banned the import of foreign goods. Citizens of Nepal are protesting on the streets. On the other hand, Sri Lanka has come to the brink of poverty. He is now seeking help from the International Monetary Fund. Countries like India and China are also helping him. Similarly, Pakistan is also seen pleading before the International Monetary Fund. At the same time, Maldives is also looking to India for help.
If we talk about Nepal, then this country, situated in the foothills of the Himalayas, does about sixty two percent of the foreign trade with India and about fourteen percent from China. The biggest problem of Nepal is political instability there. Taking advantage of this, China has trapped him in the debt trap. Countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives are also deeply indebted to China. The economies of Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan are facing huge trade deficits. Along with this, rising oil prices and a strengthening dollar have depressed the currency of these countries. Too much dependence on China has made Pakistan an economic hollow. It has no foreign deposits left to pay the import bills. The situation is more or less the same in Nepal and Sri Lanka.
The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is no less serious. After the Taliban came to power, the crisis of poverty and hunger in this country has been continuously deepening. After the Taliban came to power, global financial aid has stopped, America has also imposed many sanctions on it. Due to this the economy has faltered. The effect of this financial crisis is beginning to be seen in the country. To avoid this crisis, the Taliban can promote drug trafficking. If the power of Taliban promotes the illegal business of heroin, then there is a big threat to India.
Criminals have been helping terrorists in sensitive matters ranging from drug smuggling, arms smuggling, human trafficking, counterfeit currency, cyber crimes to inciting riots, spreading communal hatred and leaking strategic information. The nexus of criminals with drug smugglers flourishes and then smuggling and illegal arms trade link them to terrorism.
Along with drug trafficking, the manufacture of toxic chemicals and the triad of links with terrorists could spell widespread devastation. The problem is that the geographical position of India is very favorable to this triangle. Myanmar, Thailand and Laos spread its business around the world and it is considered the Golden Triangle for drug traffickers. Many areas of the North-Eastern states of the country have become big centers of smuggling. India is connected by the Golden Crescent of Pakistan-Afghanistan and Iran.
The issue of Sri Lanka has become far more serious. This peninsular country is currently in double trouble. Along with the economic crisis, the political crisis has also deepened in this country. With the weakening of the government, the Tamil problem may once again emerge. A decade after the end of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Tamils living there may move to India. Any escalation of the Tamil problem can increase the difficulties for India’s strategic and internal security. Anti-India protests are taking place in Maldives connected with the Indian Ocean.
Actually, the internal situation of many countries of South Asia is very worrying at this time. The level of inequality continues to rise due to rising inflation and poverty. Health services are expensive and away from the general public. These countries have neither money nor any long term plan for public welfare schemes. Children are constantly getting away from school. Resources for e-learning are not available in most of the countries of South Asia.
Because of this the standard of education is falling. Rising crime and religious fanaticism have also become a serious challenge. The need of the hour is that the countries of SAARC enhance cooperation by improving mutual relations. However, China’s increasing interference in SAARC countries seems to be proving fatal for South Asia. China is following debt diplomacy to increase its influence in the region.
However, the countries of South Asia need to understand that their need is not weapons, but the livelihood of crores of people. There is a need for a joint effort to keep the superpowers away from the region and to overcome the humanitarian crisis. In South Asia, due to increased movement of people to other countries, employment opportunities will increase and this will also strengthen the hopes of establishing peace in the region. This is the time when there is an urgent need to strengthen the spirit of SAARC and enhance mutual cooperation, otherwise the humanitarian crisis in the South Asian region will take a formidable form.