South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC): Prospects for Development

In: The Pakistan development review: PDR, Volume 43, Issue 4II, p. 933-941

Abstract

Recently, the South Asian Association for Regional
Co-operation (SAARC) completed two decades of its existence. The heads
of states or governments of its member countries, viz. Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, once again
would meet in Dhaka and reaffirm their faith in the organisation and its
charter. Considering the political reality within the individual SAARC
nations, and especially the relationship between the two biggest members
of the association, one could feel satisfied that the association has
survived so far. But its movement in terms of achieving the objectives
for which it was formed has been slow and it is criticised as a house of
cards or a house built on sand, which can fall apart any time. There is
a big stress in the interrelationship between neighbours.