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By Rabi Raj Thapa

Today, the Gen-Z revolt is no longer a national problem or concern alone. Gen-Z has now caused a lot of socio-political impacts. The situation has proliferated from national to regional. Each government seems to be failing to function properly and adequately over the mandate they are given by their respective governments.

Compare SAARC member countries with ASEAN member countries today. There is a brutal war of attrition in Myanmar today; there are bloody border clashes going on between Thailand and Cambodia. Still, things look like they have got these problems under control. Visit their website; you will see all prime ministers and foreign ministers holding each other’s hands tightly and smiling.

For a common observer, Afghanistan has a problem with Pakistan; Pakistan and India have been in a loggerhead since partition; now India is having protests, threats, and problems with Bangladesh, whom it had rescued and supported wholeheartedly in 1971.

For many South Asian countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, Gen-Z looked like a savior for a short period of time. But now it looks like they are also leading towards wrong political pathways and are being guided, driven, or manipulated by the unseen designs of some deep states or extremely selfishly motivated elements.

Today, everything looks crystal-clear, easy, and simple. But the re-emergence of the Gen-Z movement, scuffles with police, and arrests of Gen-Z do not look normal or convincing. People don’t seem happy with the same leaders they themselves selected to run the government. The most alarming thing is that their actions, or lack of proper action, seem to breed more chaos and confusion, proliferating spillover effects beyond national borders and territory.

Since Nepal became the chairman of SAARC, it seems to have hibernated or lost all power to initiate, pursue member states, bring them into its orbit, and work together. SAARC is now totally marginalized and overshadowed by other global initiatives of the Global South, Indo-Pacific, QUAD, AUKUS, and SCO. Nepal could not even utilize or benefit a bit from regional events like BIMSTEC.

Sometimes, a barking dog can perform far better service than a sleeping tiger that always hibernates.

Nepal has always talked about anti-terrorism, cross-border organized crime, and so on. But what is happening today in Bangladesh, if the events proliferate into radicalization and extremism in any part of South Asia, will definitely affect all other regions adversely. The recent lynching of a 27-year-old Bangladeshi Hindu factory worker should not be taken as a remote case. This naturally raises deep concern for all Hindus living around the world. When there is the highest percentage of Hindus in India and Nepal, it is natural that they show more concern and voice it. Indian media have even blamed Bangladesh for inciting Hindu-phobia. Nepal, being a Hindu Rashtra for a long time, should show some serious concern over such matters.

Blaming one country for the assassination of a politician of another country within the SAARC region is a grave and serious matter. The assassination of prominent Inkalab Munch leader Osman Haidi has opened blame and counter-blame between two neighboring countries, India and Bangladesh. Such incidents can happen in Nepal at any time in forthcoming elections.

What is Nepal doing as the founding member and the current chair of SAARC? Maybe the time has come to unfold and start working on the SAARC Charter, its goals, and objectives, and take initiative to pacify extremism and radicalism and bring regional peace through reinvigorated SAARC initiatives once more. Otherwise, Nepal as chair may declare SAARC redundant and as good as deadwood, or activate and reinvigorate it to bring understanding, peace, and harmony among the member states once again.

Maybe it is time for regional think tanks, diplomatic community leaders, NGOs, and institutions like the Council of World Affairs to come forward to initiate a good, cordial, and conducive atmosphere in Track-Two initiatives once again.