Mr. Younus stated that he plans to seek a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the upcoming UN General Assembly session later this month.
 |
| Muhammad Younus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh interim government, during an interview to PTI. |
Bangladesh’s interim government head, Muhammad Younus, has called for a revival of the “spirit of SAARC,” emphasizing that the eight-member South Asian bloc could address many of the region's challenges. In an interview with PTI at his official residence in Dhaka, Chief Adviser Younus expressed concern that while the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was founded for a noble cause, it now exists largely in name only and is not functioning effectively.
SAARC, which comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, has been largely inactive in recent years. Mr. Younus revealed his intention to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the upcoming UN General Assembly session later this month and expressed hopes of bringing together the heads of SAARC nations for a symbolic photo opportunity.
"Of course, I will try to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Younus said. "I also hope to gather the heads of state from SAARC countries for a group photo. SAARC was created for a great purpose, but now it only exists on paper and is not operational. We seem to have forgotten about SAARC, and I’m working to reignite that spirit."
Prime Minister Modi is expected to address the UN General Assembly’s high-level session on September 26, according to a provisional list of speakers. The General Debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly will take place from September 24-30.
Younus lamented the long delay since the last SAARC summit, emphasizing that collective efforts could resolve many regional issues. Nepal has been trying to revitalize the organization, which has been largely dormant since 2016. The scheduled SAARC Summit in Islamabad that year was canceled following a terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir. India, along with Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Afghanistan, opted not to participate, leading to the summit’s postponement.
Younus pointed out that while the European Union, which was established with similar goals, has thrived through mutual cooperation, SAARC has struggled to make the same progress. "The European Union has achieved so much through collaboration. We must ensure that SAARC operates effectively. Look at the EU and how brilliantly it functions. Even if there are challenges with Pakistan, alternative solutions can be found. But SAARC must continue to function," he said.
0 Comments