With renewed pledges to establish sustainable development and materialise enhanced regional cooperation, the 13th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) concluded on Wednesday on a rather high note. It is notoriously difficult to ascertain its outcome this early. Given the rejuvenated vigour of the heads of ten member states to collectively fight “the challenge of terrorism” and push for greater collaboration as they left for their home countries, however, it looks as if the sun might finally shine on the regional “Vision 2025” plan to expand trade and prosperity among member states.
Whether the successful moot would be able to spell out a vibrant economic block, only time will tell. The dismal implementation of ECO commitments in the last 32 years ever since Turkey, Iran and Pakistan had founded the organisation in 1985, definitely, does not paint a favourable landscape. This time, nonetheless, another more personal game is afoot. Even though an agreement is not a done deal but the member states have already called for doubling intra-regional trade in the next five years. By recognising the ECO potential as a vital imperative in pursuing individual as well as collective socioeconomic development goals, the delegates have clearly signalled a favourable turn of the tide.
As for Pakistan, the country has well utilised the summit as an opportunity to not only show its potential as one of Asia’s emerging markets. The very fact that the administration did not allow either the recent spate of terror attacks, claiming more than 125 lives across Pakistan or its fast escalating border conflict with Afghanistan to deter its determination in reaching out to potential key allies is itself tantamount to enormous success. Had this summit also followed the route undertaken by the SAARC conference last year, which was cancelled after India and Afghanistan refused to attend over Pakistan’s alleged involvement in terror attacks in their respective lands, the country would have, unfortunately, succumbed to its estranged neighbour’s diplomatic crusade to internationally “isolate Pakistan.” This success aside, Islamabad could have done better to make use of the summit to embark on an economic crusade of its own. The authorities could forge larger commercial ties with the representatives of other ECO member countries on the sideline of the summit; an initiative facilitated by the ongoing infrastructural developments under the umbrella of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Agreements with Iran and Afghanistan hold particular significance because of their close geographic proximity. We should now look forward to seeing greater overland linkages with Iran, including friendly borders laced with customs facilities, to carve out an efficient road map for free trade. If India and Afganistan can jointly work to promote a deep sea port in addition to an undersea gas pipeline in Iran despite not being connected at all, surely, we can also evolve our relationship with Iran into a viable trade partnership. Convincing the Iranian administration to streamline commercial matters in order to increase the volume of trade should have been long prioritised by our government.
The ever-deepening strains in our relations with Afghanistan, though, might not be resolved with as much ease. Only diplomatic solutions hold the key to thaw the current extremely acrimonious nature of our cross-border ties. However, if Pakistan truly believes in the manifestation of regional integration for progress, as was rightly desired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, it is high time it realises the tremendous scope of moving away from its security narrative that has long defined its policies, both domestic and foreign.
Having seen calls for regional cooperation ring hollow on numerous occasions, ECO summit might seem as an expression lopsided towards failure to many. Still, believing in the commitment of the dignitaries, especially when they appear to grasp the fast evolving nature of international relationships, does entail merits even, if few of its own.
In short, the battle is far from won, but there are reasons to hope and strive for our victory. Pakistan could very well strengthen its feasibility as a key player in the world economy by treating its economic revival as a matter of national security.
