BIMSTEC: A natural choice for India to fulfil foreign policy priorities

Ahead of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation or BIMSTEC summit, India has called the 21-year-old grouping as 'natural choice to fulfil our foreign policy priorities'.

The 4th summit of BIMSTEC will take place in Nepal's capital Kathmandu from 30th to 31st of August.

Briefing the media, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, Preeti Saransaid, 'For India BIMSTEC is a natural choice to fulfil our foreign policy priorities which is our Neighborhood Frist and Act East policy."

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MEA also said,"Regional cooperation under BIMSTEC also extends to developments of the North Eastern states of India forming a bridge between South and South East Asia".

Pakistan must act on terror: New Delhi on SAARC

The statement comes at a time when SAARC summit has headed to a deadlock over terror emanating from Pakistan.2016 SAARC summit in Islamabad was cancelled after New Delhi along with other SAARC members spoke openly on Pakistan providing safe havens to terrorist groups. Last year, the then Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar called SAARC a 'jammed' vehicle.

On SAARC, New Delhi has called on Pakistan for a constructive attitude on the grouping and act on terror groups in the country. Ahead of the BIMSTEC summit, sources speaking to WION's Sidhant Sibal on SAARC said, "The ball is in Pakistan's court to revive the process by taking action against terrorists and terror groups operating from its soil and contribute meaningfully towards regional cooperation by adopting a constructive attitude."

Counter-terror, connectivity to dominate agenda

Counter-terror, connectivity will be the main focus area of this years BIMSTEC summit. Calling "connectivity is a very important component of our discussions within BIMSTEC", secretary east said, "projects such as Kaladan Multi-modal project, the Tri-lateral highway which directly ends up connecting the Northeastern states in India to the BIMSTEC countries."

A strong statement is expected on counter-terror front. BIMSTEC NSAs have already met twice —1st in New Delhi last year and then this year in Dhaka. In Fact, during the BIMSTECOutreach Summit in 2016 in Goa, all member countries had strong words on terror and countries supporting terror. The joint declaration without naming any country said, "they seek to disrupt and eliminate terrorists, terror organizations, and network and also identify, hold accountable and take strong measures against states who encourage, support and finance terrorism, provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups and falsely extol their virtues.”

NRC Fallout: Sheikh Hasina-Modi Bilateral?

A number of bilaterals are expected. While confirming meet with Nepal PM, the ministry of external affairs in response to WION's question did not confirm Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina's meet with PM Narendra Modi.

The Secretary east said, "I can confirm there will be bilaterals for sure with Nepal as it is the host country, but it is customary for our Prime Minister whenever he attends such regional summits, it is certainly a very important opportunity for him to meet his counterparts from the neighbouring countries."

The Bangla PM meet with Indian PM assumes significance in the backdrop of the draft list coming out under the National Register of Citizens or NRC for the eastern Indian state of Assam.

BIMSTEC has 7 members--Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Sri Lanka and is home to 1.6 billion people. With nearly 22 % of the world’s population, it has a combined GDP of $2.8 trillion. This is the 4th BIMSTEC summit. This is also the 4th visit by Indian PM to Nepal since taking charge in 2014 and 2nd visit in 2018.