SAARCPOL for South Asia Policing

At the time when criminals have joined hands across countries, governments still operate along hierarchical lines and are further hindered by bureaucratic rivalry and competition, interagency antipathies, and reluctance to share information and coordinate operations. Understanding network structures and operations make it easier to identify vulnerabilities against which concerted attacks should be directed. Particularly important in this connection is the identification of critical nodes. These attacks could be of two natures: external (core attacks) and internal (using crossovers to feed misinformation into the network). To counter the criminal groups, there is need for carefully orchestrated, finely calibrated, and implemented operation in a comprehensive and systematic fashion. For this, clear delineation of objectives and enhanced intelligence assessments are the prerequisites. Besides this, international collaboration is a must. The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) is one such body to facilitate international policing efforts.
A concept of regional policing came into the discussion during the SAARC Conference on Police Cooperation Matters held in Kathmandu. The Nepal Police proposed for a much hybrid concept of South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Police or SAARCPOL. The vision of establishing this SAARCPOL was to muster cooperation in matters of policing terrorism, serious and organized crimes in the region. This concept was proposed to commensurate the need for quick and effective actions against the criminal networks in South Asia. Similar regional policing systems have been started in Europe as European Police (EUROPOL) and South East Asia Police (ASEANOPOL). This concept was welcomed by almost all the member countries albeit some technical arrangements were suggested to be developed by the SAARC Secretariat. In the following year, this proposal was again raised by Nepali police delegate (headed by this writer) in Islamabad conference. Again, due to lack of clear operational framework this was again set aside for the next meeting. Although the Police Conferences so far have deliberated on a number of important matters relating to networking arrangements among Police Authorities in the Member States, revised Concept Paper on the establishment of SAARCPOL, prevention of organized crimes, combating corruption, drug abuse, drug trafficking and money laundering and training requirements of police officers and networking among police authorities, nothing concrete has emerged or the public is not informed of any progress made.
The growing complexity of the business of policing has warranted increased knowledge and information gathering and management, and police need a process to better derive decisions and improve efficiency. The successful investigations of multinational organized crimes depend upon the baseline groundwork of any organization responsible for preventing and controlling these types of crimes and the international collaboration. We are aware that the SAARC has signed some Conventions of importance, for example, trafficking of women and children for prostitution; mutual assistance in criminal matters; narcotics drugs; suppression of terrorism etc. However, the implementation is nowhere to be seen. The mechanism of SAARCPOL can be of great help to implement conventions. Since the prime minister is heading for SAARC Conference, this issue of regional security mechanism must be an agenda at the secretary level in the conference. Like Interpol, it can help the member countries in various aspects of policing:
Identify, establish and maintain contacts with experts in the field
Monitor and analyze information related to specific areas of activity and criminal organizations
Mdentify major criminal threats with potential global impact
Pursue strategic partnerships with various organizations and institutions
Aassist in finding solutions to problems encountered by law enforcement agencies (LEAs)
Monitor, evaluate and exploit information and reports received at the SAARCPOL, LEAs, open sources, international organizations and other institutions
Initiate, prepare and participate in programs to improve the international sharing of information Promote and carry out joint projects with other international organizations and institutions active in specific crime areas
Research, develop and publish documents for investigators
Provide support to member countries in ongoing international investigations on a case-by-case basis