By Professor Aftab Kazi
Senior Fellow, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studis Program
What a pity that none of our nationalists seem to have addressed the Peoples SAARC idea without an understanding about the geopolinomical, strategic, historical, and the tacit and tactical issues shaped by the operating regional geopolitical environment as well as the realities of post-Soviet regimes regionwide.
Most statements demonstrate a primordial and parochial mindset. This is time that new geopolinomic realms are gradually emerging within and surrounding the region at such a faster state that even first hand projections are difficult to determine. Unlike the Sindhi perspective projected by these ‘nationalists’ , as they call themselves, the fate of Pakistan (more or less original Sindh) and Sindh (the administrative province of Pakistan stretched from Karachi to Jacobabad, hence little Sindh) the intercultural and international fate of Pakistan is bound to Central Asia, which is the similar and closest culture; cultural resemblance with India (unfortunately actually
the name India [which is Pakistan] is now being claimed by Bharat (modern India). The people of the Indus River Basin State from all backgrounds historically relate to Central Asian cultures, not India or Bharat. Present day cultural trends started after the establishment of Delhi Sultanats in the 11th century. The Cold War years, besides the Russo-British Great Game and consequent ban on normal historical intercommunication with the northwest regions of Eurasia has somehow created an unfounded belief that the Indus River Basin is culturally related to Bharat, which is modern India. The historical geopolitical processes have changed. Pakistan belongs more to Central Asia than Bharat. Indus River has had been the natural boundry between Southern Eurasia and Bharat.
Little knowledge is too dangerous! I advise those who seem to consider themselves as ‘nationalists’ to study and learn before offering inaccurate observations. I can enter into details, but I hope that the above words might help make some sense to them.
Briefly, emerging trends indicate that Pakistan gradually will be entering the Central Eurasian milieu as it historically has. Considering the globalization processes, India would eventually like to seek a piece of cake of emerging regional geopolinomic order through the transit rights to northwestern Eurasia from Pakistan. Nevertheless the geostrategic position of Pakistan will remain important with rewards. Present day hurdles in the development of SAARC (irrespective of the utopian “Peoples SAARC” ideas) has been hampered by the fact that it involves a hegemon; none of the South Asian countries want to have an socioeconomic order that could colonize them by India in the name of cooperation. The idea of “People’s SAARC” is thus like drums from a distance.
I take this opportunity to advise “nationalists” not to publicize primordial view point, which is Bound not to achieve anything except their own leadership temporarily, but it will only misguide the minds of poor public of Little Sindh.
Professor Aftab Kazi
Senior Fellow
Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studis Program
Joint Center at SAIS, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC and
Institute of Security and Development Policy, Stockholm
I am not an expert on this or any other issues. My views on this and other issues are just my personal views and they could be wrong. 
Yes, but did you see this:
Business Leaders Back Aussie PM’s Asian Open Borders Plan
SYDNEY
June 6, 2008
Leading Asian business leaders today endorsed Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s concept of an Asia-Pacific Union similar to the European Union by 2020.
Endorsing the Australian Prime Ministers Plan today the Young Members President of the Australia-Asia Business Leaders Forum, Mr Kenneth Ray, said that the Prime Ministers plan was “visionary” and would allow “young professionals in all Asia-Pacific countries to work, gain experience and expand cultural exchanges with other Asia-Pacific countries”.
“A substantial benefit of the European Union has been its open borders in relation to employment. The free flow of trade and employment has allowed business professionals from all EU countries to gain expertise in new and emerging eastern European markets, as well as solidifying cross border cultural exchanges. There can be no doubt that open employment borders enhance cultural understanding and underlying economic fundamentals” said Mr Ray.
Mr Rudd’s plan has attracted criticism from some quarters as being “aloof” and “unrealistic” in todays climate. The Prime Ministers plan would be pursued through APEC – an existing grouping of 21 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. APEC currently focuses on limited economic and political areas of dialogue.
The Australia-Asia Business Leaders Forum, Mr Ray said, had proposed a similar arrangement more than 2 years ago. “However, that idea was likely ahead of its time. But Australia and young Australian working professionals have a lot to gain from Mr Rudd’s plan. We hope that the Prime Minister sticks to his vision and leaves the nay-sayers behind”.