SAARC
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was
formed on 8 December 1985 with the signing of the SAARC Charter in
Dhaka. It started with seven founding countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan,
India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Later, Afghanistan
joined in 2005. The SAARC headquarters is in Kathmandu, Nepal.
SAARC operates based on key principles like sovereign equality,
political independence, non-interference in each other’s internal
affairs, and mutual benefit. SAARC does not replace bilateral or
multilateral cooperation but complements it.
The eight member countries of SAARC work together in areas such as
economic development, social progress, agriculture, environment,
trade, education, energy, and poverty alleviation. Some of SAARC’s
key achievements include establishing a Free Trade Area (FTA) to boost
internal trade and reduce trade gaps, the South Asian Preferential
Trading Agreement (SAPTA) to promote trade, and initiatives like the
SAARC University and SAARC food bank.
SAARC’s importance is immense—it represents 21% of the world’s
population and 3.8% of the global economy. The region faces
common challenges like poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, and natural
disasters. By working together, SAARC members can find common
solutions to uplift their people and improve their socio-economic
conditions.
However, SAARC also faces challenges. The tensions between India and
Pakistan have slowed down the progress, and there is a need for more
frequent meetings and better implementation of agreements like
SAPTA.
In conclusion I would like to say that for India, SAARC plays a vital role in
its “Neighbourhood First” policy. It helps India build stronger ties with
its neighbours, support regional stability, and showcase its leadership in
South Asia.