Desk Report,
Security challenges are being given importance for the development of member countries: BIMSTEC Secretary General
BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey said that the main priority of the regional alliance is development-oriented. However, security is also being given equal importance as security challenges are obstacles to the development aspirations of the member countries.
Security challenges are being given importance for the development of member countries: BIMSTEC Secretary General
Indra Mani Pandey said this in response to a question during an exchange of views with journalists at the BIMSTEC Secretariat in the capital on Tuesday afternoon.
Recently, some have criticized BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technological and Economic Cooperation) for giving more importance to security issues. When asked about this, Indra Mani Pandey said that although the organization is mainly development-oriented, it is also considering security challenges that are obstacles to the development aspirations of the member countries with equal importance. The BIMSTEC Secretary General said, “On the question of whether we are giving more emphasis on security or not, our main goal is to help the member countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In that context, we are also taking into account the security challenges that affect development aspirations.’
Indra Mani Pandey said that the security issues they are working on include human trafficking, drug trafficking, cyber security and maritime security. In this regard, the BIMSTEC Secretary General said, ‘If you look at these challenges, you will understand that if they are not addressed, since they have a transboundary nature, they will directly affect development. That is why certain aspects of the security of the member states have been identified for mutual cooperation.’ He said that if all the member states want to work together on a specific issue, then they will do so.
According to Indra Mani Pandey, through the existing framework, the member states will decide which challenges should be addressed regionally and which ones should be managed at the national level.
Asked whether the recent tension between Bangladesh and India has created any challenges in the way of BIMSTEC’s progress, the Secretary General of the alliance said that all the countries of the alliance, including Bangladesh and India, are committed to working together through BIMSTEC.
Indra Mani Pandey said that when challenges arise in bilateral relations, member states are capable of addressing them among themselves. He believes that countries will find ways to address the challenges among themselves.Security challenges are being given importance for the development of member countries: BIMSTEC Secretary General
