BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) is not a parallel organization to SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) but rather a complementary one. While both organizations focus on regional cooperation among Asian countries, BIMSTEC is primarily aimed at enhancing connectivity and cooperation between countries surrounding the Bay of Bengal, whereas SAARC focuses on South Asia as a whole.

The similarities between BIMSTEC and SAARC include the shared objective of regional integration and cooperation. Both organizations aim to promote economic growth, cultural exchanges, and regional collaboration among member countries. They also work towards addressing common challenges such as poverty, terrorism, and climate change.

However, there are also significant dissimilarities between the two organizations. SAARC includes eight South Asian countries, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. On the other hand, BIMSTEC includes countries from both South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka) and Southeast Asia (Myanmar and Thailand). This broader regional composition enables BIMSTEC to foster collaboration beyond South Asia.

Indian foreign policy objectives are realized by forming BIMSTEC in several ways:

1. Enhancing connectivity: BIMSTEC provides India with an opportunity to improve connectivity with Southeast Asian countries through various projects such as the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project. This promotes India's "Act East" policy, intended to deepen economic and strategic engagement with Southeast Asia.

2. Countering regional challenges: BIMSTEC allows India to address common challenges such as terrorism, illegal trafficking, and natural disasters through collaborative efforts with member countries. This aligns with India's goal of maintaining peace and security in the region.

3. Economic integration: BIMSTEC offers India a platform for expanding trade, investment, and economic integration within the Bay of Bengal region. This supports India's larger objective of strengthening economic ties with neighboring countries.

4. Diversifying strategic partnerships: BIMSTEC provides India with an avenue to diversify its strategic partnerships beyond SAARC, especially given the challenges in India-Pakistan relations that often hinder SAARC's progress. This allows India to engage with countries like Myanmar and Thailand more closely.

In summary, BIMSTEC and SAARC are not parallel organizations but serve as complementary platforms for regional cooperation in Asia. Indian foreign policy objectives are realized through BIMSTEC by enhancing connectivity, countering challenges, promoting economic integration, and diversifying strategic partnerships.

BIMSTEC and SAARC: Parallels and Divergences

BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) is often seen as a parallel organization to SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) due to their shared geographic focus on South Asia and their overarching goal of promoting regional cooperation. However, crucial differences exist:

Similarities:

• Geographic Focus: Both organizations encompass South Asian nations, with BIMSTEC additionally including Myanmar and Thailand.
• Objective: Both aim to foster regional cooperation in various sectors like trade, infrastructure, and development.
• Multilateral Framework: Both provide a platform for member states to engage in dialogue, negotiations, and collaborative initiatives.

Dissimilarities:

• Membership: BIMSTEC includes non-SAARC members like Myanmar and Thailand, expanding the regional focus.
• Structure and Focus: While SAARC is more focused on political cooperation, BIMSTEC emphasizes economic and technical collaboration.
• Progress and Effectiveness: BIMSTEC is often seen as more pragmatic and action-oriented, with a faster pace of implementation compared to the relatively stagnant SAARC.
• Political Dynamics: BIMSTEC's membership includes countries with more diverse political systems and interests, potentially contributing to a less politically charged environment compared to SAARC, which is often strained by Indo-Pakistani tensions.

India's Foreign Policy Objectives through BIMSTEC:

India's involvement in BIMSTEC reflects its strategic objectives:

• Economic Growth: BIMSTEC presents opportunities for trade and investment, benefiting India's economy through regional connectivity and enhanced market access.
• Strategic Importance: BIMSTEC's geographic focus on the Bay of Bengal region, a key strategic waterway, allows India to strengthen its influence in the region and counter potential Chinese influence.
• Regional Stability: By fostering cooperation and dialogue, BIMSTEC contributes to a more stable and peaceful environment in the region, furthering India's security interests.
• Act East Policy: BIMSTEC complements India's "Act East" policy, emphasizing engagement with Southeast Asia and expanding India's regional network.

Conclusion:

BIMSTEC is not a direct substitute for SAARC, but rather a complementary organization with a distinct focus on economic and technical collaboration. India sees BIMSTEC as a valuable platform to advance its strategic interests, promote regional growth, and enhance its regional influence. While both organizations face challenges in achieving their goals, BIMSTEC's pragmatism and action-oriented approach offer a potential for greater success in realizing regional cooperation aspirations.

BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) is indeed often seen as a parallel organization to SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), but with some key differences. Here's a breakdown of the similarities and dissimilarities between the two:

Similarities:

1. Regional scope: Both BIMSTEC and SAARC are regional organizations focused on promoting economic cooperation and integration among neighboring countries in South Asia.
2. Economic focus: Both organizations aim to enhance trade, investment, and economic growth among member states.
3. Multisectoral approach: Both BIMSTEC and SAARC cover a range of sectors, including trade, transportation, energy, tourism, and culture.

Dissimilarities:

1. Membership: SAARC has eight member states: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. BIMSTEC, on the other hand, has seven member states: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
2. Geographical scope: SAARC's scope is limited to South Asia, while BIMSTEC's scope is broader, encompassing both South Asia and Southeast Asia (with Thailand's membership).
3. Focus areas: While SAARC focuses on traditional areas like trade, transport, and energy, BIMSTEC places additional emphasis on newer areas like counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, and sustainable development.
4. Decision-making process: SAARC has a more complex decision-making process, which often requires unanimity among member states. BIMSTEC, on the other hand, operates on a more flexible, consensus-based approach.

Now, let's discuss how Indian foreign policy objectives are realized through BIMSTEC:

Indian foreign policy objectives:

1. Act East Policy: BIMSTEC helps India implement its Act East Policy, which aims to strengthen ties with Southeast Asia and promote economic cooperation.
2. Neighborhood First: By engaging with neighboring countries through BIMSTEC, India strengthens its relationships with countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia, a key aspect of its Neighborhood First policy.
3. Countering China's influence: BIMSTEC provides a platform for India to counterbalance China's growing influence in the region, particularly through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
4. Economic integration: BIMSTEC promotes economic integration among member states, which aligns with India's goal of creating a more integrated and interconnected region.
5. Regional security: BIMSTEC's focus on counter-terrorism and cybersecurity complements India's security concerns in the region.

By forming BIMSTEC, India aims to:

1. Create a more flexible and effective regional organization, which can complement or even bypass SAARC, given the latter's limitations.
2. Foster economic growth and integration in the region, thereby promoting Indian business interests.
3. Enhance its influence in the region, particularly in Southeast Asia, and counterbalance China's growing presence.

Overall, BIMSTEC offers India an alternative platform to promote its foreign policy objectives, particularly in the context of regional integration, economic growth, and security cooperation.