In 1984, South Asia’s regional states came together and established the organization SAARC. The regional members include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, covering 3 percent of the total landmass of the world. The motive of SAARC’s creation was to promote regional cooperation, peace, stability, respect for sovereignty, and economic prosperity among member states. According to Article I of SAARC’s charter, the goal is to work for the welfare of the regional people, improve the quality of life, foster trust and understanding and promote collaboration in the economic, socio-political and scientific domains.
Regionalism has gained momentum in economic and political domains during the 21st century. Today, economic integration is being considered the backbone of regional development. In this regard, in September 2024, Chief Adviser of the interim Government of Bangladesh Dr Muhammad Yunus emphasized, “the need for the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) as a primary platform for regional cooperation in South Asia”. A month later, a bilateral meeting was held on 19 December, 2024 at the sidelines of the D-8 Summit in Cairo between the Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, where he reiterated his stance for SAARC’s revival by emphasizing, “I am a big fan of the idea of SAARC. I keep harping on the issue. I want a summit of SAARC leaders, even if it is only for a photo session because that will carry a strong message.”
Apart from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal have also been calling for SAARC’s revival. On 13 June, 2024 SAARC’s Secretary General met with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the President Secretariat in Colombo, where they discussed the importance of SAARC and its revival. Sri Lankan President had remarked on the occasion that “Sri Lank will provide a permanent venue for SAARC cultural center in Colombo.” Last year, Nepal’s Joint Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr Gyan Bahadur Magar had also stressed on SAARC’s revival. SAARC has been dysfunctional since the last summit, which was held Kathmandu in 2014. The refusal of India to attend the 19th summit of SAARC in 2016, which was scheduled to be hosted in Islamabad, further, dashed any hopes for organization’s revival.
Regional integration can create many opportunities to boost trade, reduce tensions among member states, and allow the free flow of goods, services, and people across borders without restrictions. European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can serve as a great example of regional integration for other regions of the world. Historically, having fought two major wars, EU countries like Germany and France, once arch-rivals, set aside their political differences and consolidated into a single market, reaping significant benefits. Similarly, despite having political differences, ASEAN member states have largely remained united and contributed towards the organization’s success.
Contextually, South Asia holds great potential in terms of natural resources and represents more than 25 percent of the world’s population, making it a massive market if consolidated into a single entity. The region is home to approximately 1.8 billion people with different religious and cultural diversity. According to a World Bank report (2023), the collective GDP of South Asia is around USD 4.3 trillion; however, trade within the region accounts for only 5 percent compared to ASEAN’s 25 percent. Moreover, if SAARC countries’ economies were consolidated, they would form the third-largest economy in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) after Germany and Japan. According to a 2017 report by Research and Information System (RIS) suggested that the “complete elimination of tariffs under the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), which was signed in 2004, may increase intra-regional trade up to 1.6 times.”
However, this potential remains unrealized after the power transition in New Delhi and advent of Modi as PM. India has designed hostile policy toward regional states instead of enhancing regional cooperation. India has focused on isolating Pakistan at the regional level. Further, India’s neighbourhood first policy which claims to strengthen relationships with neighbouring countries. However, it is pursuing an aggressive policy toward other regional states as it has issue with Bangladesh over water sharing and migration, also with Nepal over Kalapani and Lipulekh areas. Similarly, with Sri Lanka India has dispute over fishermen over Sri Lankan waters and with Bhutan India has issue over Doklam area.
Additionally, on many occasions India also refused to engage with Pakistan on regional and international forums even though Indian refuses to allow its cricket team to visit Pakistan for ICC champion trophy which is scheduled in February, 2025. Importantly, Pakistan has consistently supported regional harmony, believed in South Asia’s stability and development and played a constructive role in strengthening SAARC. Moreover, Pakistan supported peace deal between US and Afghanistan for regional peace and provided shelter to Afghan refugees and also facilitated Indian Sikh community to visit their holy place Kartarpur located in Pakistan.
Pakistan also has good bilateral relations with other regional states as well and also signed free trade agreement with Sri Lanka. In addition to, in 2023, Pakistani former Foreign Minister visited India for SCO meeting and also Pakistan allowed its cricket team to visit India for ICC world cup 2023. Last July, at the UN Security Council, Pakistani Ambassador to the UN Munir Akram highlighted SAARC’s importance, stating “we must strive for a collective vision that benefits all.”
As the region continues to grapple with a multitude of challenges like poverty, hunger, food insecurity, malnutrition, health issues, security threats and climate change due to a lack of regional cooperation, it is imperative that concentrated efforts must be made for SAARC’s revival. Notably, despite facing significant challenges, South Asia possesses great potential that can be realized if all member states join Pakistan’s hand for the revival of SAARC for the sake of regional peace and prosperity. To make SAARC a vibrant organization here are a few suggestions: (i) First, by enhancing intra-regional trade and investment among member states; (ii) Second, by reducing the trust deficit across the region and addressing traditional issues such as border disputes and terrorism through bilateral dialogue; (iii) Third, by deepening regional cooperation through cultural, educational and scientific programs; and (iv) Fourth, India must rethink and reconsider its “India “Neighbourhood First” policy, abandon its dominating stance and cooperate for the revival of SAARC because India is itself a big market having 1.451 billion population can be benefited more than other countries. Notably, the revival of SAARC can unlock South Asia’s full potential.
The author is, holding a degree in International Relations from University of Sindh, Jamshoro. Also completed an internship as a Research Intern at the Center for International Strategic Studies Sindh (CISSS).
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