Saarc

By Abdullah Al Mahmud UK
9 September 2005, 18:00 PM
I was reading a letter on the issues of Saarc in the DS letters column of August 26, 2005. I would like to share some ideas on the referred issues.

In my opinion many of us do not realise that Saarc is a concept of integration.

If such effective integration is made, many of the problems or conflicts within the region, such as Kashmir and so on will automatically be solved as a result of the working economic integration.

Very close to the conflicts within the Saarc region is the aspect of religion, which is again misunderstood by many of us. In simplification all countries are countries of the Creator. Such as Americans say, 'God's country' or 'In God we trust' so call the creator Allah. America certainly without any doubt pays the most, as we pay 'Zakat'. As such the dreams of estabilishing 'Islamic states' are superfluous. Moreover such ideas are also imposed on one community by another which regard the former as being outside theirs.

If there had been really any pragmatic model with the existing Islamic States then there would have been maximum integration among the OIC countries with Oic; let alone within the countries of the Middle East.

It is the people who can be followers of Islam or not. Whatever the real Islam is, in fact, every nation on the earth believes in the Creator or followers of Deen in other words. In Islam there is no street fighting. Rather there are lifelong education, principles, values and practice. Therefore everybody would continue with his or her own belief. There is no harm with the system. People also will be rewarded or restrained by the Creator according to their deeds based on beliefs.

As such the lesson is not to waste time on any Utopian idea, rather it is to give priorities to economic freedom, principles, values, education, science and arts, commerce and so on. Deliver justice and charity.