"Since its inception the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has failed to deliver on its promises." What initiatives should be taken to reinvigorate the organization ?.(UPSC CSE Mains 2018 - Political Science and International Relations, Paper 2)
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on 8 December 1985. The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first raised in November 1980. After consultations, the foreign secretaries of the seven founding countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—met for the first time in Colombo in April 1981. Afghanistan became the newest member of SAARC at the 13th annual summit in 2005. The various problems faced by the association are as follows :
- Bilateral dispute and differences.
- Geopolitical tensions
- Internal problems constituting social, economic and developmental issues.
- Lack of financial resources and advanced technologies
- Large variety regional and cultural differences.
- Low level of Intra SAARC trade
- Policy of non-interference
- Political instability
- Suffers from an acute resource crunch and Underdeveloped Infrastructure
- Trust deficit and lack of social cohesion
Road ahead
SAARC, as an organization, reflects the South Asian identity of the countries, historically and contemporarily. This is a naturally made geographical identity. Equally, there is a cultural, linguistic, religious and culinary affinity that defines South Asia.
- In a region increasingly targeted by Chinese investment and loans, SAARC could be a common platform to demand more sustainable alternatives for development, or to oppose trade tariffs together, or to demand better terms for South Asian labour around the world.
- SAARC, as an organisation, reflects the South Asian identity of the countries, historically and contemporarily. This is a naturally made geographical identity. Equally, there is a cultural, linguistic, religious and culinary affinity that defines South Asia.
- The potential of organisation to maintain peace and stability in the region should be explored by all the member countries.
- SAARC should be allowed to progress naturally and the people of South Asia, who make up a quarter of the world’s population should be offered more people-to-people contact.
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