ABSTRACT THE FUTURE OF CBMS IN SOUTH ASIA
ASMA PERVAIZ KHAN AND TAYYABA TANVIR*
South Asia for its major part remains the underdeveloped, misgoverned, inflicted with all sorts of intra as well as inter-state disputes. It has been more than a decade since
the end of Cold War, but still the remnants of that era could still be traced in the region .Its been more than half a century since Britishers left the subcontinent, but still we see that the legacy still lingers on in
one form or another. The regional organization SAARC is lying redundant and it failed to perform the functions that are expected of a regional organization. The fact of the matter is that India and Pakistan the two
large countries of the region inspite of over half a century of independence have not reconciled their differences. The entire region remains hostage to their conflicting relationship. Though India to an extent managed
to reconcile its differences with its neighbors under the Panchela but its relations with its immediate neighbor could not be mended. Thus the conflicting relationship between the two neighboring countries continues to haunt the entire region thus retarding the growth and progress of the region at
large. The biggest reason why no step at reconciliation or for better ties does take off is because such steps are viewed as discussed earlier with skepticism and mistrust. Though there have been instances where
disputes between South Asian countries were solved through confidence and external mediation but there has been a lack of consistency or continuity. Often the accord signed is followed by acts and measures, which
shatters what little trust has been developed. Suffice, it to say that CBMs is not a new phenomenon for South Asia. South Asian countries have cooperated ever since their independence with each other but it was only in
the late 1980s that the term really became pronounced .The present programs of CBMs between India, China and Pakistan go back to 1988.CBMs are not every thing. But they seem to be a necessary complement to other forms
of diplomacy and statecraft…India, China and Pakistan can and probably should do more in terms of mutual confidence building even though there is resistance to the idea. If countries are determined to wage war no CBMs
can stop them but from doing so. But CBMs can prevent, limit and terminate inadvertent war and given the possible consequences of war in South Asia this is a rational goal. In the longer term Confidence Building may
even help change basic conceptions of national interest and identity and there by eliminate conflict and war option altogether. While discussing the future of CBMs, it can be suggested that although it failed to
provide desired results, in view of heightening tensions but one should not overlook it, as the states have engaged them selves in the whole process and have benefited from it. Such steps are bound to take long time, to
get institutionalize, to be accepted by the public at large. CBMs in the correct sense of the word has a short history in South Asia. Given its limited past, its dwindling present one sees that it is still in transition. Given the nature of politics and conflicts in the region one has to be very
careful while dealing with an issue like the future of CBMs in the region. But yet once again the overtures are good. Now the question is what lies ahead? Should one be optimistic by looking at the prevalent conditions?
Or are we in a position to forecast the future in the wake of the prevailing uncertainty? *Cooperative lecturers, Department of International Relations, University of Karachi and Research Assistants, USIP/KUIRD Research Project. List of Abstracts Workshop Main Page |
