Pakistan, on Thursday, pledged $3 million to the SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, weeks after PM Modi proposed to set up a fund to fight the pandemic.
“While communicating Pakistan’s decision to the Saarc Secretariat, it has been conveyed that all proceeds of the fund should be administered by the Saarc Secretariat and that the modalities for the fund’s utilisation should be finalised through consultations with the member states as per the Saarc Charter," a statement by Pakistan's foreign office read.
In what appears as a clear jibe to Pakistan, spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs, Anurag Srivastava, said, “The degree of seriousness of each nation can be gauged by their behaviour.’’
“It is for each SAARC country to decide on the timing, manner and implementation of their SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. Where India is concerned, the commitment made by the prime minister is today in advanced stage of implementation. Assistance in material and services has been extended to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. These SAARC countries have also made early commitments to the fund,’’ he said.
Pakistan’s reluctance to join the initiative has been obvious from the start.
While all the leaders in the region was prompt in replying to Modi's call for a video conferencing on COVID-19, Pakistan had responded only the next day. While Prime Minister Imran Khan opted out of the conference, the country was represented by his special assistant Dr Zafar Mirza. The event saw the acrimony between the two nations being played out with Mirza making a mention of Kashmir only for Modi to snub it.
One of the reasons for Pakistan's tepid response to the initiative was the fact that it was proposed by India. This is not the first time that Pakistan has been less than enthusiastic about an Indian suggestion. The SAARC Satellite—mooted by PM Modi in 2017—to support internet services and broadcasting, had to be renamed South Asia Satellite, as Pakistan declined India’s “gift’’. The SAARC Motor Vehicle agreement too met the same fate, as Pakistan refused to sign.
Pakistan’s reluctance, however, plays perfectly for India. It is yet another instance for India to prove that Pakistan is not serious about regional connectivity. “It is like saying I would like to do regional cooperation. But I am not going to allow connectivity, not going to give you MFN (most favoured nation status). Then, obviously, you are not serious,’’ said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at a public function in the Capital recently, while responding to why India had chosen to back BIMSTEC over SAARC.
On April 8, Pakistan did not attend the trade officials video conferencing that had been organised by India. The earlier conferencing, involving health officials, had Pakistan in attendance. The idea of the conference on trade was to ensure that the pandemic did not adversely affect regional trade. Pakistan declined to attend, stating that the activities, “could only be effective if spearheaded by the SAARC Secretariat. Since, the SAARC Secretariat was not part of the video conference, Pakistan chose not to participate.’’
