ISSI hosts round table discussion with SAARC Secretary General

By TRN Online, Kathmandu, May 22: The India Study Centre at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) organised a roundtable discussion titled “Prospects and Challenges of Regional Cooperation in South Asia”, with Secretary General of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Golam Sarwar, on Tuesday. 

The participants in the roundtable discussion highlighted the importance of SAARC for the region, which was attended by diplomats, academics, practitioners, and researchers of various Islamabad-based think tanks and Universities.

SAARC is a people-centric organization. It has played an instrumental role in addressing myriad common challenges member states face, such as food insecurity, growing population, natural disasters, and deficient intra-regional trade and connectivity. Currently, among other things, the organisation envisions a ‘SAARC Youth Charter’, which will help promote cultural cooperation among the youth of member states, according to the press release issued by the Embassy to Pakistan to Nepal. 

During the roundtable discussion, participants focused on the need for improving implementation of SAARC’s decisions; strengthening economic cooperation and trade; and deepening regional integration and connectivity. 

The need for resolving long-standing disputes and reducing bilateral tensions was emphasized by participants as a means of creating a conducive environment for regional cooperation, read the press release. 

DG ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood delivered welcome remarks, while Chairman BoG ISSI, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, made concluding remarks in the program.