South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

PRERNA FOR IAS

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a regional intergovernmental organization established on 8 December 1985 through the SAARC Charter signed at Dhaka, Bangladesh. Its permanent Secretariat was set up in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 1987. SAARC comprises eight member states—India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Afghanistan (joined in 2007). It also has several observer members, including China, the European Union, the United States, Japan, and South Korea. The organization seeks to promote regional cooperation in economic development, social progress, cultural exchange, education, health, agriculture, and poverty alleviation.

Major initiatives under SAARC include the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), SAARC Development Fund (SDF), SAARC Food Bank, and the South Asian University in New Delhi. India, the largest member, has consistently supported regional cooperation through initiatives such as the South Asia Satellite and the COVID-19 Emergency Fund, in line with its Neighbourhood First Policy.

However, SAARC has remained largely inactive since the 2014 Kathmandu Summit. The principal reasons are persistent India–Pakistan tensions, cross-border terrorism, and the organization's consensus-based decision-making, which has delayed or blocked major initiatives. Following the 2016 Uri terrorist attack, India boycotted the Islamabad Summit, leading to its postponement.

Recently, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu called for the revival of SAARC and urged member states to overcome political differences. While India continues to support regional cooperation, it has increasingly focused on BIMSTEC and other sub-regional platforms that avoid the political deadlock affecting SAARC. Despite its present stagnation, SAARC remains an important institution for promoting peace, connectivity, trade, disaster management, and sustainable development in South Asia.

Analytical Questions

Question 1. Why does SAARC continue to remain relevant for South Asia despite its limited progress in recent years?

Answer: SAARC brings together all South Asian countries on one platform. The region shares common challenges like poverty, climate change, disasters, health, and food security. Even if political disputes continue, cooperation in these areas remains necessary. Reviving SAARC can improve regional trust, connectivity, and long-term economic growth.

Question 2. How has the India–Pakistan relationship influenced the functioning of SAARC? What lesson does this offer for regional organisations?

Answer: Political tensions between India and Pakistan have delayed summits and blocked important decisions because SAARC works on consensus. This shows that regional organisations become less effective when bilateral disputes dominate collective interests. Successful regional cooperation requires mutual trust, dialogue, and keeping common development above political differences.

Question 3. Why has India increasingly focused on BIMSTEC while continuing to support the idea of SAARC?

Answer: India supports regional cooperation but prefers platforms that can deliver practical results. BIMSTEC avoids the political deadlock caused by India–Pakistan tensions and focuses on connectivity, trade, security, and development. At the same time, India has not abandoned SAARC and remains open to meaningful regional cooperation when conditions improve.

Question 4. If SAARC is revived, what should be its immediate priorities instead of focusing only on political issues?

Answer: SAARC should first strengthen trade, digital connectivity, disaster management, public health, climate action, energy cooperation, and educational exchanges. These areas directly benefit people and create trust among member countries. Practical cooperation can gradually reduce tensions and make political dialogue more productive in the future.

Question 5. What role should India play in making regional cooperation in South Asia more effective?

Answer: As the largest economy in South Asia, India should lead through partnership rather than dominance. It should promote connectivity, capacity building, technology sharing, disaster relief, and people-to-people contacts. At the same time, it must firmly address security concerns while encouraging cooperation based on mutual respect and shared development.