With the SAARC outreach, India leads regional efforts to combat Covid-19

World is grappling with Covid-19. On March 11^th, after virus caused infections to 118,000 in 110 countries, WHO declared Covid-19 a Pandemic. Covid-19 has caused unprecedented disruption of global supply chains and exposed the weak links in the interconnectedness of globalisation. Blood bath on global stock markets is making the world jittery. Major sectors like services, hospitality, tourism, hotels and aviation have took a major hit. Large economies being resilient are able to take this major shock, travel restrictions are taking a huge toll on small economies reliant on tourism.

This sudden downturn in global economies dawned at time countries are recalibrating their position on openness and globalisation. This symptomatic “inward-looking” approach of the countries reincarnated as ‘America First Policy’ and the ‘Brexit’ reaffirmed their new found-caution and retrenchment from global platforms. As a result, the World is devoid of a global leadership, which is crucial for mitigating a pandemic.

India the second most populous country which shares nearly 3400km land border with China, the epicentre of virus is at a higher risk. Notwithstanding the threat of a massive outbreak, reflective of his proactive outreach, bearing the mantle of leadership in the region, Prime Minister Modi spearheaded a joint strategy to tackle Covid-19. True leadership is tested during the crisis. Instead of resorting to blame game and brow beating of neighbours for restrictions like China, India decided to play a constructive role.

Modi’s proposal came in the wake of Jim O Neill, the man who coined, “BRICS” and currently chair of Chatham house made derisive comments against India casting aspersions on India’s governance to handle the Corona virus. He said, “Thank God, this didn’t start in somewhere like India because there is absolutely no way that the quality of Indian governance could move to react in the way, the Chinese have done, that’s the good side of Chinese model, and I think you could probably say the same about Brazil too”. Social media activists rebuked his blatant loathsome attitude towards Indian government. Indian public health services have a rich legacy of dextrous handling of epidemics (including the most recent Napa virus outbreak in Kerala) and containing its spread with openness and transparency unlike the authoritarian Dragon. Similar, negative press against India began to gain momentum after India reported first death due to Corona virus.

At a time when global players are retracking from the multilateral forums due to self-inflicted contradictions, Modi inaugurated a fresh chapter in regional collaboration for crisis management through the existing regional platform-SAARC. While Modi’s use of SAARC rekindled fresh hopes in strategists about its revival, Modi is simply intent on exploring the possibility of fighting the pandemic as “one force”. South Asia home to one fifth of the humanity is densely populated and hence highly vulnerable to epidemic outbreaks. The report titled, “A world at risk: Annual Report on global preparedness for emergencies” jointly prepared by World Bank and WHO assessed that in an event of a Pandemic, South Asia might suffer economic losses to the tune of $53 billion¹. Invariably smaller economies are going to be worst hit. Assuring commitment to work together, beyond boundaries and raising above differences, India displayed a rare geopolitical maturity and offered to lead a fight against the Pandemic.

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka immediately welcomed India’s initiative. After much dillydallying Pakistan agreed to join the video conference scheduled for March 15^th. Barring Pakistan, heads of the state of SAARC nations attended the video conference. Pakistan was represented by special advisor to Prime Minister, Zafar Mirza.

Unlike Europe and other developed countries which were caught off guard, South Asian countries exercised caution and managed to restrict the infection till now. With the guiding mantra of “Prepare but not Panic” Modi exhorted his counterparts to create awareness among the vulnerable sections to contain virus spread. He highlighted India’s proactive steps like thermal screening at the ports of entry, tracing of contacts, isolation, quarantine, setting up of over 60 testing labs, evacuation of over 1400 Indian citizens from the disease hotspots (including 9 Maldivians and 23 Bangladeshis) and deployment of mobile testing laboratories abroad. After seeking inputs from SAARC leaders and responding to concerns of disproportionate impact on economies, Modi proposed creation of Covid-19 Emergency Fund from the voluntary contributions from the countries. India made an initial offer of $10 million to the fund for meeting the immediate requirements of SAARC countries.

India pledged to assemble Rapid Response Team of doctors and specialists, testing kits and other equipment. Offered to arrange for online training capsules for emergency response teams and shared the software- Integrated Disease Surveillance Portals used to trace contacts of infected persons. Modi sought to use SAARC Disaster Management Centre and creation of common research platform supported by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to evolve best mechanisms to control epidemic diseases.

India’s political decisions in the recent past has potentially widened the fissures in the region and Nepal’s growing closeness to China raised apprehensions about India’s Neighbourhood first policy. Other than Pakistan’s pathological hatred towards India, Post-CAA India’s relations with neighbouring Muslim countries took a hit. India is privy to anti-India barbs from Bangladesh. But sporadic anti-India sloganeering at anti-CAA in Afghanistan caused significant discomfort, denoting trust deficit. Disregarding this brewing discontent, India sought the cooperation of all neighbours. Modi’s promise of training personnel through distance learning was particularly hailed by Afghanistan shares open borders with Iran and hence highly vulnerable to Covid-19. India’s enthusiastic drive substantially temporarily subdued animosities in the neighbourhood. Setting the stage ready for the health experts led by health ministries of respective countries to carry forward this mission, Modi successfully flagged off a regional cooperative effort to tackle Covid-19.

SAARC leaders hailed Modi’s forward-looking approach of evolving common SAARC Pandemic Protocols and plans to mitigate economic losses from Covid-19. As the resident power of the region while India showed magnanimity, Pakistan with its blatant political posturing has forever cemented its position as the “disrupter-in-chief” of the region. By deputing an advisor to represent its country, Pakistan has not disrespected the SAARC, but displayed its meanness. Pakistan brazenly shirked the responsibility of evacuating its citizens from the epicentre of infection, Wuhan, Pakistan to express solidarity to China. By doing so, it consolidated its status as a vassal state of China. Reiterating servility, Pakistan recommended that China should oversee SAARC countries joint strategy against Covid-19 as an Observer of the group.

Demonstrating its lack of commitment and seriousness to combat Covid-19, Pakistani Prime minister deputed a proxy, Mirza to rake up Kashmir issue at the conference. Mirza is currently probed for his involvement in the smuggling of 20 million face masks to foreign countries ². Also, while SAARC leaders appreciated and thanked Modi for the collective effort, Mirza refrained from acknowledging Modi but wished good health to Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Oli who underwent surgery recently. After India refused participate SAARC summit at Islamabad, Pakistan blamed India for making regional grouping SAARC defunct. Debunking, Pakistan’s false propaganda, Modi used SAARC platform to engage with leaders in the immediate neighbourhood signalling India’s commitment towards SAARC. While all SAARC leaders dispassionate assessed the current situation, Pakistan evaded disclosing confirmed numbers akin to its master. In the past 24 hours Pakistan’s number shot up suddenly, surpassing India, touching 183 infections standing out as the epicentre of Corona virus infection in the region. Devoid of the seriousness to assess the threat of Corona threat, Pakistan might soon be the ‘Sick man of South Asia’.

Lauding Modi’s efforts, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, offered to coordinate G-20 leaders for a collaborative effort to combat Wuhan virus. Taking a cue from Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron proposed a video conference of G-7 leaders to discuss measures to strengthen financial markets and rev up cooperation to develop a vaccine.

India has peerless reputation as first responder and true to its credentials, on March 12^th, as per directives of Indian government, INS Shardul, delivered 600 tonnes of rice to flood-ravaged Madagascar³. Despite the ban on the export of medical products, India dispatched medical supplies to China and Israel. India sent a consignment of 5.5 tonne medicines and 14-member medical team to Maldives. India have always been at the forefront in offering assistance to neighbours in peril and Modi’s regional efforts to fight Covid-19 hold testimony to India’s soft diplomacy.

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