-SAARC video conference on COVID-19
-SAARC nations urged to devise coordinated strategy
By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: The de facto health minister, Dr Zafar Mirza, has urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lift Occupied Kashmir’s lockdown “in view of health emergency” as COVID-19, a mysterious pneumonia-like disease caused by the novel coronavirus, cases have been reported from the disputed valley.
“It is a matter of concern that COVID-19 has been reported from Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and in view of health emergency, it is imperative that all lockdown in the territory must be lifted immediately,” Dr Mirza was quoted as saying during a video conference of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) countries’ leaders on Sunday to discuss a common strategy against the contagious disease.
The Modi-led government revoked the semi-autonomous status of IOJ&K on August 5, 2019 after sending tens of thousands of troops in the already heavily-militarised disputed territory to quell any uprising against New Delhi’s illegal and unconstitutional move. Virus fear resurrects moribund SAARCThe Himalayan valley remains under siege ever since with a complete information and communication blockade, while top local political leaders are in detention. The Modi government is now reluctantly easing the draconian curbs after drawing flak from the international community. While other countries were represented by their heads of governments, Pakistan has deputed Dr Mirza to participate in the conference.
During the meeting, the state health minister proposed that Saarc secretariat be mandated to establish a working group of respective national authorities for information and data exchange as well as coordination for responses in real-time.
He also suggested the member countries to learn from and disseminate the experience of Saarc observer states, particularly China that is effectively addressing the challenge and can share valuable insights. Dr Mirza apprised the Saarc countries about the steps being taken by Pakistan to control the spread of coronavirus, which have been appreciated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as well.
The idea for a video conference came from the Indian premier. Using his Twitter handle, PM Modi sprang a surprise when he called for coordinated efforts by the Saarc countries to deal with the virus. Pakistan had accepted the offer acknowledging that the threat of COVID-19 required united efforts at regional and global levels.
However, the decision to pick Dr Mirza instead of Prime Minister Imran Khan himself participating in the leadership-level conference shows that Islamabad has tried to maintain a fine balance in its approach. So far Pakistan has reported 53 COVID-19 cases – 35 in Sindh, 10 in Balochistan, 4 in Islamabad, 3 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 1 in Punjab.
