The 4th South-Asian Speaker’s Summit on achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recently concluded in Male, Maldives, amidst intense discussions between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue. The joint statement made by the leaders present at the summit underscored their unanimous support for India’s stance on the matter. Notably, the summit also involved the participation of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
The Kashmir Issue: A Point of Contention
Tensions mounted during the summit as a heated debate over the Kashmir issue flared up between India and Pakistan. However, India maintained its stance, strongly rejecting any attempts made to politicize the forum by discussing the internal issues of any particular country.
In response, the joint statement released by leaders, including the likes of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, offered full support to India’s bid regarding Kashmir. Overlooking Pakistan’s claims, they collectively upheld that the issue was an internal matter of India.
The Indian Delegation at the Summit
At this global platform, India was represented by its Lok Sabha Speaker who led the Indian delegation. Their key role was to ensure legislative oversight and highlight representative and budgetary functions. They played a significant part in developing dialogue and nurturing parliamentary cooperation to achieve the SDGs.
The Role of IFPRI in Summit
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) was also present in the summit with a significant role. They discussed their commitment to achieving SDGs 2 & 3 targets which focus on establishing Nutrition and food security as drivers of maternal, child, and adolescent health in the Asia-Pacific region.
A Glance at Some Key Facts about the Summit
| Summit No. | Location | Main Discussion Topic | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4th | Male, Maldives | Kashmir Issue and Achieving SDGs | India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives & IFPRI |
The Summit’s Purpose and Participants
The summit aimed at hosting the Speakers of the Parliaments from nine participating nations namely- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. It emphasized the critical role played by these parliaments in securing a sustainable future for both the current and upcoming generations.
It offers an interactive platform for these parliament speakers to foster dialogue and collaborations focused on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This forum is seen as an influential arena where the legislative oversight, representative, and budgetary functions of these nations are highlighted and discussed effectively for the common goal of sustainable development.