Peace, progress, prosperity
Both the ECO and the SAARC were set up in 1985. The SAARC made significant achievements, particularly in recent years, that included signing a South Asia Free Trade Agreement. The ECO on the other hand has failed to fulfill most of the goals set at the time of its formation. This despite its three founding members – Pakistan, Iran and Turkey – having earlier worked together as members of the RCD. Among the political reasons were the estrangement between Pakistan and Iran that set in under Zia and, in later days, the expansion of the militant outfits’ activities to Central Asia. This created suspicions in some of the countries about Pakistan’s role. When the organisation was expanded in 1992 to include seven new members, commonality of religion was put forward in Pakistan as one of the motivating factors. The Central Asian states had recently gained independence as a result of the breakup of the Soviet Union while the Soviet forces had just left Afghanistan. The euphoria about common religion however soon gave place to realism as it met with little response from the Central Asian Republics.
There can be no two opinions about the importance of the ECO provided an appropriate physical and institutional infrastructure is put in place. This includes not only roads and railways but also the necessary agreements and a banking system to help and sustain the economic activity. Equally important is the provision of a secure environment for intra-regional trade. Oil and gas cannot flow from Central Asia all the way to India, nor can industrial products from South Asia reach Central Asia and beyond till the terrorist threat is brought under control. Thus despite the ECO region having bright trading prospects, some of the goalposts like establishing the common trade market by 2015 may not be altogether realistic. This answers some of the questions raised by President Zardari regarding why the ECO has not progressed like other regional blocs like the European Union and the ASEAN.
Pakistan needs to play its pivotal role in bringing peace on both sides of the Durand Line. It should also seek cooperation from other countries having stakes in the peace and development of the region. For the time being it should give greater priority to SAARC and bilateral ties with India where immediate progress is more likely to take place. Pakistan should also continue to develop closer relations with Russia and seek the membership of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation keeping in mind that it takes years to develop new friendships. Meanwhile Islamabad would do well to maintain good relations with old allies like the US.
