SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION (SAARC)

INTRODUCTION
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation is a regional organisation aimed at promoting economic and social development in South Asia. For beginners in International Relations, SAARC helps in understanding regional cooperation, neighbourhood diplomacy and India’s regional challenges. From an OPSC prelims perspective, SAARC is an important static topic because questions are frequently asked on its origin, membership, objectives, institutions and limitations.

ORIGIN AND BACKGROUND
• Established in 1985
• SAARC Charter was adopted in Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Idea proposed by Bangladesh President Ziaur Rahman
• Created to promote cooperation among South Asian countries

HEADQUARTERS AND MEMBERSHIP
• Headquarters: Kathmandu, Nepal
• Total members: 8 countries

Member countries:
• India
• Pakistan
• Bangladesh
• Sri Lanka
• Nepal
• Bhutan
• Maldives
• Afghanistan

OBJECTIVES OF SAARC
• Promote welfare of the people of South Asia
• Accelerate economic growth and social progress
• Strengthen collective self-reliance
• Promote mutual trust and understanding
• Collaborate in economic, social, cultural and technical fields

PRINCIPLES OF SAARC
• Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity
• Non-interference in internal affairs
• Decisions taken on the basis of unanimity
• Bilateral and contentious issues excluded from SAARC agenda

INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE
• SAARC Summit – highest authority (Heads of State/Government)
• Council of Ministers – foreign ministers
• Standing Committee – foreign secretaries
• SAARC Secretariat headed by Secretary-General

IMPORTANT SAARC INSTITUTIONS
• SAARC Development Fund (SDF)
• SAARC Disaster Management Centre
• SAARC Agricultural Centre
• SAARC Arbitration Council

KEY AGREEMENTS AND INITIATIVES
• SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA)
• South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA)
• SAARC Food Bank
• SAARC Satellite (India initiative)

INDIA AND SAARC
• India is the largest member economy
• India promotes regional connectivity and development
• India has shifted focus to sub-regional initiatives like BIMSTEC

CURRENT RELEVANCE
• SAARC Summits remain stalled due to political tensions
• Reduced effectiveness due to India–Pakistan relations
• Greater emphasis on alternative regional platforms

PRELIMS NOTES AND COMMON CONFUSIONS
• SAARC is not a security alliance
• SAARC works on unanimity, not majority
• Bilateral disputes cannot be discussed under SAARC
• BIMSTEC is not part of SAARC
 

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Subject: International Relation

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