Pakistan, China led to new regional blocks in the form of SAARC stalls

Islamabad: Pakistan and China are starting a new regional platform amidst increasing dissatisfaction on freeze in SAARC activity, both sides have held counseling to create an alternative block to carry forward connectivity, trade and political dialogue.Diplomatic sources in Islamabad confirmed that there was a discussion going on, with a Chinese-Pakistan-Pakistan-Bangladesh tripartite in the Chinese-Pakistan-Bangladesh tripartite recently. While formal details live in wraps, the proposed group is expected to include several South and Central Asian countries including India. However, Given the relations of the present state of India with both Beijing and Islamabad, New Delhi is unlikely to participate.A Pakistani official, familiar with the developments, said, “The idea of ​​creating speed in the area is not to wait indefinitely to move the SAARC.” Islamabad and Beijing allegedly see the current regional vacuum as an opportunity to reopen multilateral cooperation through new alignment.SAARC has not held a summit since 2014, with a meeting in Islamabad in 2016, India was thrown out in view of the Uri terrorist attack indefinitely. Since then, the block remains inactive.China, not a SAARC member, has enhanced its footprint in South Asia through Belt and Road initiative, and is seen as a major driver behind the push for a new platform. Analysts say there was a test balloon to gauge interest among small regional players like Bangladesh.A new block can also provide China and Pakistan another multilateral platform to align CPEC, Infrastructure Financing, and Shared Climate and Business Challenges, to align out of the rigorous SAARC framework.No timeline has been set for a formal announcement, but the authorities indicated that a blueprint may emerge by the end of the year, possibly tied in the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meetings where both India and Pakistan are members.While this step indicates a change in regional thinking, a lot will depend on the other South Asian countries-especially Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh-how they respond to the idea of ​​changing the SAARC with a China-backed structure.Bangladesh refused to create a “any new alliance” with Beijing and Islamabad last week. On 26 June, Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs advisor MD Tauhid Hussain said that “there is no new alliance between Bangladesh, China and Pakistan”, as he addressed questions from reporters at the 19 June Bangladesh-China-Pakistan meeting in Kunming. “We are not doing any alliance. It was an official meeting, not at the political level... There was no element of the formation of any coalition, “Hussain said, emphasizing Dhaka’s relationship with New Delhi is now in the” re -adjustment “phase and” there is no lack of goodwill from our side “. Hussain described Kunming Meet as” nothing big and not structured “.With Ahsan Tasnim’s input in Dhaka