Aspirants’ Spotlight Series

Reviving SAARC
(Inspired by Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry Article “Reviving SAARC”)

The article “Reviving SAARC?” argues that four decades after its creation in 1985, SAARC remains largely irrelevant due to India’s persistent suspicion of regional cooperation. India fears that smaller South Asian states may gang up against it, a concern the writer deems unfounded by comparing SAARC’s stagnation with the success of the EU and ASEAN. As the largest regional power, India must either take the bull by the horns and lead South Asia toward prosperity or allow SAARC to fade into irrelevance.

Another major impediment is unresolved political conflict, especially between India and Pakistan. India’s boycott of the 2016 Islamabad SAARC summit and its push for alternative groupings such as BIMSTEC and BBIN weakened SAARC without delivering meaningful integration. Ironically, the SAARC Charter already prohibits discussion of bilateral disputes, making India’s apprehensions exaggerated.

Smaller states, on the other hand, fear Indian hegemony, particularly in light of rhetoric such as “Akhand Bharat.” The article highlights that SAARC functioned most effectively during the 2007 India-Pakistan peace process, when landmark initiatives were launched. In an increasingly fragmented global order, regional cooperation has become the need of the hour. Pakistan and Bangladesh’s renewed efforts to revive SAARC reflect a pragmatic approach to unlocking South Asia’s collective potential.

Urdu Translation

یہ مضمون اس امر کی وضاحت کرتا ہے کہ 1985ء میں قائم ہونے کے باوجود سارک آج تک جنوبی ایشیا میں مؤثر علاقائی ادارہ نہیں بن سکا۔ اس کی بنیادی وجہ بھارت کا یہ خدشہ ہے کہ چھوٹے ممالک اس پلیٹ فارم کو اس کے خلاف استعمال کر سکتے ہیں۔ مصنف کے مطابق یہ اندیشہ بے بنیاد ہے، کیونکہ یورپی یونین اور آسیان جیسے ادارے اسی نوعیت کے خدشات کے باوجود کامیاب ہوئے۔

بھارت اور پاکستان کے مابین دیرینہ تنازعات بھی سارک کی ناکامی کا اہم سبب ہیں۔ 2016ء میں اسلام آباد میں ہونے والے سارک اجلاس کا بائیکاٹ اور متبادل فورمز کا قیام علاقائی انضمام کو کمزور کرتا رہا۔ حالانکہ سارک چارٹر کے تحت متنازع سیاسی امور پر بحث کی اجازت ہی نہیں۔

چھوٹے ممالک کو بھی بھارت کی بالادستی کا خدشہ لاحق ہے، خصوصاً “اکھنڈ بھارت” جیسے تصورات کے تناظر میں۔ 2007ء میں پاک-بھارت امن عمل کے دوران سارک نے نمایاں پیش رفت کی، جو اس ادارے کی صلاحیت کا ثبوت ہے۔ بدلتی عالمی صورتحال میں علاقائی تعاون ناگزیر ہو چکا ہے، اور پاکستان و بنگلہ دیش کی کوششیں جنوبی ایشیا کے مشترکہ مستقبل کے لیے امید افزا ہیں۔

Main Points

• SAARC’s failure largely stems from India’s suspicion of regional cooperation
• India-Pakistan tensions have repeatedly stalled SAARC’s progress
• Alternative forums excluding Pakistan have not delivered effective integration
• SAARC performed best during the 2007 peace phase between India and Pakistan
• Regional cooperation is vital in an increasingly anti-globalist world

Idioms

• Take the bull by the horns
• Need of the hour

Facts & Figures

• SAARC established: December 1985
• Member states population: Over 2 billion (≈25% of world population)
• Last SAARC summit held: 2014 (Nepal)
• Boycotted summit: 2016 Islamabad Summit
• Most active phase of SAARC: 2007 (14th Summit, New Delhi)
• Afghanistan joined SAARC: 2007
• China, EU, US, Japan became observers: 2007
• China’s BRI connects: 150+ countries

A Mind-map for Quick Revision!

Core Problem

• Indian suspicion
• Regional power asymmetry
• Political Obstacles
• India-Pakistan conflict
• 2016 summit boycott
• Charter Constraints
• No bilateral disputes allowed
• Golden Phase (2007)
• Food bank
• SAARC University
• Visa liberalisation
• Current Context
• Anti-globalism
• Regionalism resurgence

Way Forward

• Inclusive cooperation
• Pakistan-Bangladesh initiative
• Learning from China (BRI) 

Expected Essay and Key Questions for CSS Exam:

International Relations

1. “Critically analyses the causes behind SAARC’s institutional failure in South Asia.”
2. “Can regional organizations survive without leadership consensus? Discuss with reference to SAARC.”

Pakistan Affairs

1. “Evaluate Pakistan’s role in promoting regional cooperation through SAARC.”
2. “How do India-Pakistan relations affect regional integration in South Asia?”

Current Affairs

1. “Is regionalism replacing globalization in contemporary world politics? Discuss with reference to SAARC and BRI.”
2. “Assess the future prospects of SAARC in an increasingly multipolar world.”

Essay Topics

• Regional Cooperation as a Catalyst for Economic Development
• Challenges to Regional Integration in South Asia
• The Future of Multilateralism in a Fragmented World
• Economic Regionalism in the Post-Globalization Era