Regional rapport

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s statements during his three-day visit to Washington where he attended the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism were intended essentially to persuade the US to rethink its most recent policies, especially concerning relations with India. But while this may or may not happen, a proposal put forward by Nisar to hold a regional summit of South Asian nations to combat terrorism is certainly worth considering. As Nisar pointed out during his talks with senior US leaders, militancy is a complex problem tied in to our politics and geopolitical realities. His suggestion that nations in South Asia sit together to work these out is a good one. While a meeting at the foreign secretary level between Pakistani and Indian officials is now expected to go ahead, it would be useful to involve other countries in the terrorism problem that affects every country in the area. In this we hope Washington can assist Pakistan in turning the suggestion into reality.
There is a lot to discuss as far as militancy goes. There is also a lot to learn. Key players Pakistan and India also share the issue of violence in Kashmir and the resulting tensions. But there is also more to this problem. Sri Lanka has had its own struggle with militancy, while Bangladesh too combats extremist threats. Sharing ideas, thoughts and strategies will only help this region’s countries. Bringing South Asia closer together could also boost economic growth, which is an important key to defeating militant violence. The idea then is one that needs to be followed up on. Regional integration in the case of South Asia is a goal all these countries need to focus on. That would mean sharing intelligence, devising interstate strategies of counterterrorism, as well as opening up trade. Chaudhry Nisar’s three-day visit should have helped explain some of Pakistan’s dilemmas to the US. Ties with India are a crucial part of this. And Washington’s policies have an immediate impact on happenings in Pakistan. It is, therefore, important that the world work together to tackle the militant threat that has overwhelmed more and more nations. This is especially true at a time when Islamic State continues to cast its evil shadow over the Middle East. The reminder from Nisar, echoed by President Obama, that militants cannot be classified by religion is an important one. Rather than pointing fingers, it is essential that all countries act together and for this purpose persuading the nations of South Asia would be an important first step towards building a wider global alliance.