Unit 4: India in South Asia: Debating Regional Strategies

Do you think terrorism is the major concern in Indo-Pak bilateral relations?

Identify the major constraints to regional cooperation in South Asia.
How does terrorism impact regional security in South Asia? Discuss India's strategies to
counter state-sponsored terrorism.
Critically analyze/ examine India's foreign policy challenges vis-a-vis its South
Asian neighbors.
India's image as 'Big Brother' is a major challenge for cooperation in South Asia.
Discuss India's foreign policy challenges in the regional politics of South Asia.
(a)
(b) India-Nepal Relations
(a) India-Nepal Relations
(d) Water Dispute between India and Bangladesh

Q. Discuss the role of India in the multipolar world .

Q. Write short notes on any two of the following:
.
Identify the major constraints to the regional cooperation in South Asia.
What is the main source of conflict between India and Pakistan and why?
Point out any two major bilateral issues between India and Nepal.
When and in which city India-Sri Lanka Agreement on the Maritime Boundary in the Gulf of
Manaar and the Bay of Bengal was signed?
Write a note on the Indo-Sri Lanka bi-lateral trade relations with some of its recent trends.
b) What are the major areas of conflict between India and Bangladesh--- discuss, in brief.
c) Mention, in brief, the recent developments in Indo-Nepal relations.

Q. Write short notes on the Significance of SAARC

Overview of SAARC
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an economic and political
organization of eight countries in South Asia. It was established in 1985 when the Heads of State of
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka formally adopted the charter.
Afghanistan joined as the 8th member of SAARC in 2007. To date, 18th Summits have been held and
Nepal’s former Foreign Secretary is the current Secretary General of SAARC. The 19th Summit will be
hosted by Pakistan in 2016.
SAARC is the short name of ‘The south Asian Association Regional Corporation’. It is an
intergovernmental foundation or organisation for the improvement of regional integration and
economic condition. in year 1985 SAARC was founded by the initiative of seven states. In the
year 2005, the country of Afghanistan requested its accession as a member of SAARC and
applied formally for membership. SAARC was established on 8th December in the year 1985 in
Dhaka. Potential future members such as Russia and Turkey had also applied for the
membership of this organisation. The members that are involved in this organisation are from
eight different states and there are nine observer states which are involved in this organisation.
The establishment of this organisation has created a chance for creating or building strong
internal relations between different countries or states.
Historical Background of SAARC
The idea or concept of establishing regional cooperation in the country of South Asia was first
generated in the year 1980. In the month of May of 1980, the first initiative was taken for
establishing or forming SAARC. The foreign secretary of the seven-member countries came for
the first time to Colombia in the year 1981 in the month of April. At first five key areas and after
that other key areas were added to the list for regional cooperation. This organisation was finally
established after the formal adoption of the Charter on 8th December in 1985 in Dhaka by the
heads of the governments of Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri
Lanka. The areas that were identified as the key areas for the working of this organisation were
rural and agricultural improvement, social affairs, development of tourism and human resources,
trade, finance and economics and many others.

Countries as the Members of SAARC

SAARC was established with the initiative for creating South Asian regional cooperation between
the countries that are situated in the region of South Asia. The importance of SAARC is related to
the building of powerful international relations between the countries which are situated in the
region of South Asia. The importance of SAARC can be realised by the countries which are the
members of this organisation. There are mainly eight states that can be identified as the
members of this organisation and the other nine states are engaged as the observer states in
this organisation. The members of this organisation are listed below.

SAARC State Members SAARC Observer States

 Bangladesh  China
 Bhutan  Myanmar
 Afghanistan  European union
 India  Australia
 Nepal  United States
 Pakistan  Republic of Korea
 Maldives  Mauritius
 Sri Lanka  Japan
 Iran

These are the members who are directly engaged within the organisation, SAARC. With the
establishment of this organisation these countries have the opportunity for building a strong
international relationship.
Structure and Process
Cooperation in SAARC is based on respect for the five principles of sovereign
equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference in internal
affairs of the Member States and mutual benefit. Regional cooperation is seen as a
complement to the bilateral and multilateral relations of SAARC Member States.
SAARC Summits are held annually and the country hosting the Summit holds the
Chair of the Association. Decisions are made on an unanimity basis while bilateral
and contentious issues are excluded from the deliberations of SAARC. In addition to
the eight Member States, nine Observer States join SAARC Summits: China, the US,
Myanmar, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Mauritius and the European Union.

Latest Developments
The 18th SAARC Summit held in Kathmandu in 2014 concluded with the adoption of
the SAARC Declaration. The Declaration recognizes labour migration as an issue in
need of collective action. Article 21 states that SAARC countries agree to collaborate
to ensure the protection of migrant workers from South Asia. During the Summit,
SAARC leaders also called for authorities to tackle and prevent the trafficking in
women and children.

In regards to the Post-2015 Development Agenda, participating countries aim to

initiate an inter-governmental process to appropriately contextualize the Sustainable
Development Goals at the regional level.

Role of SAARC
The main role of SAARC is to work for the development or growth of the people who live within
the region of South Asia by achieving the common or same goal related to cultural, social and
economic development.. The functions of SAARC includes
 Promotion of the welfare of the South Asian people and developing their quality of living
 Enhance the power of mutual trust between different countries for understanding and
appreciating each other’s problems
 Accelerate social progress, economic development and cultural growth in the region of
South Asia by giving every individual an opportunity for living in dignity and realising their
potentialities
 Promotion of active collaboration and mutual help in the fields of social, technical, cultural
and scientific
 Provide and strengthen the collective self-reliance among the members or countries
situated in South Asia
All these functions of SAARC play a vital role in creating a mutual international relations among
all the countries situated in South Asia.
OBJECTIVES OF SAARC  To promote the welfare of the people of South Asia and to improve their
quality of life.  To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the
region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full
potentials.  To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia. 
To contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another‘s problems.  To
promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and
scientific fields.  To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries.

Importance of SAARC
The importance of SAARC can be observed in various fields. The importance of SAARC is:
 This organisation plays an important role to prevail peace among the member countries
situated in South Asia
 It helps in creating mutual trust and promoting political stability
 To create a chance for friendship among the people of South Asia for working together
 Helps in developing the quality of life of the people of South Asian region

Conclusion
It can be concluded that the establishment of SAARC plays an important role in order to create a
friendly international relationship among the countries that are members of SAARC. There are
eight states that are members of this organisation. There are nine observer states that are
involved in this organisation. The role of SAARC includes the promotion of the welfare of the
people who live in the region of South Asia. This organisation plays an important role in having
opportunities regarding social, economic, cultural, technical growth and also improving the quality
of life.

(a) Role of India in SAARC

SAARC nations are very vital as India shares geographical boundaries with India. It is
not in lines with the China’s OBOR initiative which involves engaging with countries
like- Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka for development in social and economic
aspects. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) comprises 8
member countries in South Asia - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives,
Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. India, being the largest economy, population and
military power in the region plays a key role in SAARC. India sees regional
cooperation under SAARC as important for promoting economic growth, social
progress, cultural development and security in South Asia. India has supported
various SAARC initiatives focused on connectivity, trade, agriculture, poverty
alleviation, energy, tourism and more.

Role of India in SAARC

India is a founding member of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation
(SAARC) that was set up in 1985 as an organization to build a connected and integrated
South Asia with the larger aim of promoting the development and progress of all countries in
the region. India continues to support various initiatives in the SAARC framework to achieve
closer cooperation in diverse areas. Out of the eighteen SAARC Summits held so far, India
has hosted three, viz. the second (Bengaluru, November 1986), the eighth (New Delhi, May
1995) and the fourteenth (New Delhi, April 2007). India enjoys excellent bilateral relations
with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. As per our
‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, India is an active development partner and is engaged in
several projects in these countries. Our engagement with these countries is based on a
consultative, non-reciprocal and outcome-oriented approach, while focussing on delivering
benefits like greater connectivity, improved infrastructure, stronger development cooperation
in various sectors area, security and broader people-to-people contacts.

India has been steadfast in its commitment of sharing the fruits of technological advances
with like-minded countries in its neighbourhood. In this context, India's initiative of
extending its National Knowledge Network (NKN) to the countries of South Asia has been
extended to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bhutan. The Prime Minister of India inaugurated the
extension to Bhutan in August 2019. Extension to other participating SAARC countries is
under progress. India launched a South Asian Satellite (SAS) in May 2017 from Sriharikota.
Demonstration terminals of SAS have been installed in Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan,
Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka..

As a yet another major contribution of India to cooperation in the SAARC framework, India
is home to South Asian University (SAU). It was established through an Inter-Governmental
Agreement at the 14th SAARC Summit (April 2008) to provide world class educational
facilities and professional faculty to students and researchers from SAARC countries. It
offers Master’s and M.Phil/PhD programs in eight disciplines. Presently, there are over 550
students and around 60 faculty members. SAU’s operational budget is on the basis of
contribution by all SAARC countries, with India being the largest contributor.

India also hosts the Interim Unit of the SAARC Disaster Management Center (IU) at the
Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (GIDM), Gandhinagar. It has been operational
since November 2016, serving the needs of all SAARC member states through policy advice,
technical support on system development, capacity-building services, and training for holistic
management of disaster risk in the SAARC region.

India is fully aware of challenges in South Asia, with cross-border terrorism being the most
serious of those challenges. At the last Informal Meeting of SAARC Foreign Ministers held
in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on 26 September 2019, India
stressed how the problems that beset SAARC were not just a story of missed opportunities
but also of deliberate obstacles, terrorism is one of them and that elimination of terrorism in
all its forms is a precondition not only for fruitful cooperation, but also for the very survival
of our region itself.
SAARC and Its Impact on Indian Economy
From the notes mentioned below learners will be able to get answers to, how does
saarc affect indian economy and also impact of SAARC on Indian economy project.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) comprises India and 7
other South Asian nations. Though SAARC has made progress in certain areas, its
impact on the Indian economy has been limited due to various reasons.

Potential benefits for India are sent below.

o A thriving regional market: Deeper economic integration within SAARC can

create a large regional market for Indian goods and services. This could boost
Indian exports and the manufacturing sector.
o Attract investment: An integrated South Asian economy could attract more
foreign investment into the region, including into India.
o Improved connectivity: SAARC initiatives to enhance regional connectivity
through transport and energy infrastructure could benefit India's economy.
o Common policies: Harmonizing economic policies in areas like trade,
investment and agriculture could benefit India.
o Job creation: Thriving regional trade can boost labour-intensive manufacturing
in India, helping generate more jobs.
o Attracting FDI: A liberalised investment regime within SAARC can help attract
more foreign direct investment into high-potential sectors in India.
o Technology transfer: Improved cooperation in areas like agriculture,
renewable energy and IT can facilitate technology transfer to India from other
members.
o Improved food security: Initiatives to boost agricultural trade, research and
technology sharing within SAARC can improve food security in India.
o Infrastructure boost: SAARC projects in transport, energy and digital
connectivity sectors could support India's infrastructure needs.
o Poverty alleviation: Regional cooperation initiatives in areas like microfinance,
rural development, healthcare and sanitation can benefit the poor in India.
o Tourism promotion: Promoting South Asia as a single destination under SAARC
can boost tourism in India.
o Containing extremism: Effective security cooperation within SAARC can help
India contain extremism and terrorism originating from the region.

Also read about Foreign portfolio investment.

However, these benefits are yet to materialize fully due to challenges like.

o Low intra-regional trade: Trade among SAARC nations is still low at around 5%
of India's total trade. Most SAARC members also share similar export bases.
o Slow implementation: SAARC initiatives have seen slow implementation due
to political tensions, bureaucracy and lack of adequate resources.
o Tensions with Pakistan: Political tensions between India and Pakistan have
limited SAARC's effectiveness in realizing its objectives.
o Reluctance to integrate: Some smaller SAARC nations are reluctant to deepen
economic integration, fearing loss of policy space.
While SAARC has positives for India, its impact so far has been limited. Further work
is needed to realize the full potential benefits of regional cooperation. This includes
resolving political issues, fast tracking implementation, harmonizing policies,
expanding institutional capacities and strengthening economic complementarities
within SAARC.

CONCLUSION
SAARC remains an important platform for India to engage with its neighbors and
advance its development agenda. While many challenges persist, continued Indian
efforts to strengthen regional cooperation under SAARC can help unlock its full
potential to transform South Asia into an integrated, stable and prosperous region.
Deeper economic integration and cooperation within SAARC focused on the priorities
of all members can help unleash sizable benefits for the Indian economy and the
region as a whole. But much work still needs to be done to make this a reality.

Examine the strengths and weaknesses of SAARC as a regional organization for promoting
peace and security in South Asia
SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) has
both strengths and weaknesses as a regional organization for
promoting peace and security in South Asia. Let's examine them:
Importance of SAARC
The importance of SAARC can be observed in various fields. The importance of SAARC is:
 This organisation plays an important role to prevail peace among the member countries
situated in South Asia
 It helps in creating mutual trust and promoting political stability
 To create a chance for friendship among the people of South Asia for working together
 Helps in developing the quality of life of the people of South Asian region

Strengths:
1. Regional Platform: SAARC provides a platform for dialogue
and cooperation among South Asian countries, including
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal,
Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It brings together countries with
shared historical, cultural, and geographical ties, allowing
them to address common challenges and work towards
regional peace and security.
2. Peaceful Conflict Resolution: SAARC provides a forum for
member states to engage in peaceful conflict resolution
through dialogue and negotiations. By encouraging peaceful
means to resolve disputes, SAARC helps prevent conflicts
from escalating into armed confrontations.
 3. Economic Cooperation: SAARC promotes economic
integration and cooperation among member states.
Initiatives such as the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA)
aim to enhance regional trade and economic cooperation,
which can contribute to stability and peaceful relations
among the member countries.
4. Cross-Cultural Understanding: SAARC facilitates cultural
exchanges, academic cooperation, and people-to-people
interactions, fostering cross-cultural understanding and
goodwill among member states. This can contribute to
building trust and reducing the likelihood of conflicts.
Weaknesses:
1. Bilateral Conflicts: SAARC's effectiveness is hindered by the
presence of longstanding bilateral conflicts among member
states, such as the India-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir.
These conflicts often spill over into SAARC meetings, causing
a lack of consensus and hindering progress on regional
cooperation.
2. Trust Deficit: Mutual trust among member states is crucial
for the success of any regional organization. However,
SAARC has suffered from a trust deficit, particularly between
India and Pakistan. Historical grievances, security concerns,
and divergent political interests have often hindered
effective cooperation and prevented SAARC from achieving
its full potential.
3. Limited Progress on Agreements: SAARC's progress in
implementing agreements and initiatives has been slow.
Many regional agreements, including those related to trade
and connectivity, have faced delays and roadblocks due to
political tensions and lack of consensus among member
states.
4. Absence of Strong Institutional Mechanisms: SAARC lacks
strong institutional mechanisms and decision-making
processes. Its decision-making is based on consensus, which
can lead to gridlock if member states have divergent
interests or are unable to reach consensus on key issues.
The absence of effective dispute resolution mechanisms
further limits SAARC's ability to address conflicts and
promote peace.
5. Non-Participation in Comprehensive Issues: SAARC has been
criticized for its limited focus on comprehensive security
issues, such as terrorism, transnational crime, and
environmental challenges. The organization's inability to
 effectively address these issues weakens its role in
promoting peace and security in the region.
6. Dominance of Major Powers: The dominance of major
powers, particularly India, in the region can create
imbalances in SAARC. Smaller member states may feel
marginalized, and their concerns may not receive adequate
attention and consideration, impacting the effectiveness of
regional cooperation.
In conclusion, SAARC has the potential to promote peace and
security in South Asia through its regional platform, peaceful
conflict resolution mechanisms, and economic cooperation
initiatives. However, the organization faces significant challenges
due to bilateral conflicts, trust deficits, slow progress on
agreements, weak institutional mechanisms, and limited focus on
comprehensive security issues. Addressing these weaknesses and
enhancing cooperation among member states are crucial for
SAARC to effectively contribute to peace and security in the
region.

Do you think that SAARC has failed to promote regional cooperation, conflict resolution
and ensuring lasting peace in South Asia? Comment.

SAARC was set up by a Bangladeshi initiative in the 1980s. India and Pakistan,
the two largest powers of SAARC were initially very suspicious of the
organization. However, they too were to later join SAARC.

SAARC was founded in 1985 with seven South Asian countries —

Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The
membership grew to eight when Afghanistan joined in 2007.

The organization aims to achieve peace, freedom, social justice, and

economic prosperity by promoting a shared understanding, good
neighborly relations, and meaningful cooperation.

Body

It is a regional organization that gives its participants a platform to interact. It is

a wholly indigenous project not introduced by an outside power and this makes
the regional forum free of foreign interference.

Unlike the European Union and the ASEAN which were formulated as US-aided,
localized resistances to outside hegemons like Russia and China, SAARC came
into being out of a genuine need for regional integration.

It has survived numerous disputes between its two leading member states India
and Pakistan, and boasts a concentrated focus on socio-economic development.
However, despite such promising statistics, SAARC appears to be failing in its
stated aim. It came into being to promote intraregional connectivity through
trade but intra-SAARC trade stands at a meager 5%.

South Asia is one of the least integrated regions in the world. Promoting
intra-regional connectivity through trade is one of the primary focus areas
of SAARC However, even after three decades of existence, intra-
SAARC trade stands at a meager 5% of South Asia’s total trade.

In the last 33 years, SAARC has held only 18 Summits. In the last decade,
the frequency of summits have also reduced. The meetings have been
installed due to bilateral issues between members, such as tension
between India Pakistan.

SAARC’s charter provides that decisions at all levels shall be taken based
on unanimity and bilateral and contentious issues shall be excluded from
the deliberations. However, the unanimity clause enables any member to
veto any proposal, and the prohibition on the raising of bilateral issues
reduces the possibility of solving conflicts and concerns of member states.
For instance, the trans-South Asian road connectivity project has been
hindered due to Pakistan.

Due to the high level of mistrust, power asymmetry and persistence of

bilateral conflicts, it has proven hard for SAARC countries to come
to a unanimous agreement on vital issues.

Trade and foreign direct investment inflow and outflow from the region is
significantly low as compared to other regional blocs and other emerging
markets in Asia. Despite the thrust for regional economic integration
propelled by SAFTA, there are critical obstacles to optimal economic
integration in South Asia.

Despite its existence since the 1980s, SAARC has been unable to achieve its
objectives for several reasons. It has not been able to increase trade between
the member states despite the promulgation of SAFTA or the South Asian Free
Trade Agreement.

Many of the SAARC members’ largest trade partner is not a fellow South Asian
nation but the People’s Republic of China.

SAARC has been unable to implement its plans for regional welfare leaving much
of the population in adverse socioeconomic conditions.

The region is home to the world’s 400 million poor people, which means
nearly 30 per cent of the region’s population lives below the poverty
line.

All the SAARC countries have a rather low ranking on the human development
index (HDI), which according to the Human Development Report 2016 is: Sri
Lanka (73), the Maldives (104), India (130), Bhutan (132), Pakistan (147),
Bangladesh (142), and Nepal (145). The HDI ranking is based on achievements in
terms of life expectancy, education, and real income. The low HDI ranking
reflects poorly on these vital indicators in the region.

Tensions between member states leaves space for external powers to intervene
in South Asian politics.

It can be asserted that much of the SAARC’s failures are rooted in a

variety of reasons which are listed below.

1. Internal Threat

SAARC, as stated before, was a wholly indigenous project and not initiated
by a foreign power. It was also not caused by the menace of an outside
hegemonic power. However, the bitter reality is that the hegemon is not
outside the SAARC but inside it. India is the largest member of SAARC and
dominates the South Asian region due to its size and population. It
borders nearly every landed member except for Afghanistan and is the
nearest to the island members of Sri Lanka and Maldives.

This makes India the local hegemon or the “core state” in the words of
Barry Buzan. India has used its power to forward its hegemonic designs
often at the expense of the SAARC. The recent postponement of the
Islamabad SAARC conference through Indian machinations is an example
of how SAARC has paid the price for Indian ambitions.

Weaknesses:
1. Bilateral Conflicts: SAARC's effectiveness is hindered by the
presence of longstanding bilateral conflicts among member
states, such as the India-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir.
These conflicts often spill over into SAARC meetings, causing
a lack of consensus and hindering progress on regional
cooperation.

2. Indo Pak Inertia

While SAARC has survived the various Indo-Pak crises it has not escaped
the ill effects of the enmity between its two largest states. The tensions
between the two leading powers of South Asia have caused great damage
to SAARC, often stunting its growth and development. The lingering
Kashmir dispute has become a great obstacle in its path to progress as
complications arising from Indo-Pak tensions tend to have a negative
impact on the organization. Other issues like Sir Creek and Indo-Pak
mistrust often hamper efforts for greater regional integration.

1. Trust Deficit: Mutual trust among member states is crucial

for the success of any regional organization. However,
SAARC has suffered from a trust deficit, particularly between
India and Pakistan. Historical grievances, security concerns,
and divergent political interests have often hindered
effective cooperation and prevented SAARC from achieving
its full potential.

3. Focus on Socio-Economic Development

SAARC was developed as a platform with a deep focus on socio-economic

development. All contentions and bilateral issues between member states
are not discussed in the SAARC. Its share in the global GDP is less than 3
per cent. The poor trade performance of SAARC stands in marked contrast
with that of the neighbouring regional alliance – the Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN). The ASEAN countries account for merely 8.4
per cent of the total world population. However, their share in total world
trade is nearly 7 per cent. ASEAN’s contribution to Asia’s total trade is 23
per cent.

This was asserted to be a boon but has instead become a bane. The
incapability of SAARC to provide a platform for conflict resolution has
become its greatest weakness. As low politics is a domain exclusive to the
SAARC, it is often held hostage by high politics which in turn weakens its
performance.

4. Lack of Connectivity

The lack of connectivity among member states is another weakness of the

SAARC. This ties in with the lack of a proper infrastructure of member
states. This infrastructure deficit in turn leads to reduced connectivity
among the SAARC nations. South Asia needs to invest up to $2.5 trillion to
bridge its infrastructure gap over the next ten years, says a 2014 World
Bank report. Women, the poor, and marginalized social groups are
particularly affected by the region’s infrastructure gap.
 2. Limited Progress on Agreements: SAARC's progress in
implementing agreements and initiatives has been slow.
Many regional agreements, including those related to trade
and connectivity, have faced delays and roadblocks due to
political tensions and lack of consensus among member
states.
3. Absence of Strong Institutional Mechanisms: SAARC lacks
strong institutional mechanisms and decision-making
processes. Its decision-making is based on consensus, which
can lead to gridlock if member states have divergent
interests or are unable to reach consensus on key issues.
The absence of effective dispute-resolution mechanisms
further limits SAARC's ability to address conflicts and
promote peace.
4. Non-Participation in Comprehensive Issues: SAARC has been
criticized for its limited focus on comprehensive security
issues, such as terrorism, transnational crime, and
environmental challenges. The organization's inability to
effectively address these issues weakens its role in
promoting peace and security in the region.
5. Dominance of Major Powers: The dominance of major
powers, particularly India, in the region can create
imbalances in SAARC. Smaller member states may feel
marginalized, and their concerns may not receive adequate
attention and consideration, impacting the effectiveness of
regional cooperation.
Conclusion In the end it can be concluded that while SAARC has had a lot
of significance, a variety of internal issues have led to an undermining of
its effectiveness and performance. It is vital for the region that the
organization is strengthened. Whatever the flaws of the SAARC so far may
be, it is the only platform where the local leaders meet and discuss issues
of a region containing 1.6 billion people. It is up to the SAARC leaders to
work together for a developed, peaceful, and prosperous South Asia.

In conclusion, SAARC has the potential to promote peace and

security in South Asia through its regional platform, peaceful
conflict resolution mechanisms, and economic cooperation
initiatives. However, the organization faces significant challenges
due to bilateral conflicts, trust deficits, slow progress on
agreements, weak institutional mechanisms, and limited focus on
comprehensive security issues. Addressing these weaknesses and
enhancing cooperation among member states is crucial for SAARC
to effectively contribute to peace and security in the region.
Achievements of SAARC
SAARC enjoys several advantages that boost its significance. It is home to
approximately 22.5% of the world’s population; this gives it an edge over more
successful organisations such as the Although it has a large source of human
capital, it is marred by high levels of illiteracy, poverty and unemployment.

SAARC has achieved significant success in economic field and has

ventured into vital cooperation in the core sectors of trade, commence,
finance and money.

The most important agreement, SAFTA, has led to abolition of double

taxation, free movement of certain commodities across the border and
preferential treatment to regional trade than trade outside the region.

o SAARC has gained lot of momentum in the fields of Education,

Sports, Culture and media. South Asian University has become fully
functional and there are scholarships & fellowships for research in
various fields. Cultural exchanges takes place through film festivals,
literary seminars, cultural festivals, media programmes and food
festivals, etc.

Conclusion:

o The vision to integrate the South Asian region requires that the
challenges are addressed judiciously by member countries. It
requires that conflicts among the countries are recognized and
resolved through peaceful discussions.
o SAARC may be used as leading mechanism to resolve the conflicts
among the members. There should be understanding among
members that cancelling or postponing summit meetings will be loss
to socio-economic well being of South Asia.